And I have no power. Nothing like a brownout on moving day. Trust me, that bites. This post will be short and sweet to ensure I finish it before my laptop battery is depleted.
The “truck” I hired turned out to be a trike with a sidecar basket. It took five trips with the trike and my drivers car full of crap to complete the move.It was a little dicey with a heavy load of a fridge and freezer, but we got it done without an accident.Now I have to unpack and rehang things like the television.Turns out Lucky didn’t want to move
When it came time to load the dogs, Lucky wouldn’t come. When I reached under the table to pick him up, he went into full attack mode. He was out for blood and he got it, inflicting several deep bites. A couple are still oozing blood hours later.
The finger bite is most painfulThe arm bite is plenty deep.And another on the front of the arm.
So, Lucky has now literally bit the hand of the one who feeds him. He is that stupid and disloyal. My first response was to retaliate in kind, but I let him live despite my anger. I’m still not sure how I will deal with this long-term, but at the moment, I’m feeling no love. He is still at the other house, but my helper will dog-walk him back here later. As of now, my plan is to make him an outside dog 100% of the time. I don’t want to be around him.
Power is not due to be restored until 5 p.m. It is hot inside with no fans to stir the air. I hope I haven’t moved into a cursed house. Nothing to do but ride it out.
My daughter messaged me this morning asking if I had a picture of her when she was in the Homecoming Court during high school. It seems my eldest granddaughter (the one who just turned eighteen) is following in Mama’s footsteps.
My daughter Reneewith me as her escort all those years ago.
While I was searching for that photo above, I came across pictures of some houses from my past.
My house in Lexington, South Carolina. With my Dodge Ram pickup truck and Jeep Grand Cherokee in the driveway. Damn, I was living large back then.And that’s where I lived in Stafford, Virginia.
Let’s hope my life here on Bryce Street in Barangay San Isidro, Subic, is a good and long one!
And so it is just about time for the maiden voyage to life in my new digs on Bryce Street. The movers will be here at 0900 tomorrow, and it shouldn’t take long to load up my meager possessions and carry me to whatever the future will bring.
Kitchenware and pantry items all boxed up and being guarded by my Buddy-boyI’ll be home in the morning
The consensus of the commenters on this post is that disaster awaits me. I was impressed with the insights my readers offered and quite touched by their concern. Welp, there is no turning back now, and I’m going into this with eyes wide open. If it works out for me, great. If not, well, I’ve been there before, and I’ll find my way back to wherever it is I belong.
Swan has promised me that things will be different for us once I move in. So, in that sense, my time has come. In my heart, I believe that Swan is a good woman without bad intent. She may not share in all my interests and activities, but I think we’ll find things we enjoy doing together (like travel), and I’ll convert some of my bar time to home-together time. I trust we’ll both make compromises and that we will be comfortable together. We’ll both maintain our share of “me time” as well, and I’m good with that. Again, I respect the views expressed by those with contrary opinions and recognize that I could be completely wrong in what I believe to be true, but there is only one way to find out. We will know one way or the other soon enough.
Swan told me in a message this morning, “I love you.” Prompted by something a commenter suggested, I asked her what it is she loves about me. She responded that I respect her, that I’ve been patient with her, and she loves everything about me. Hmm, it’s hard to argue with that!
Last night, I treated myself to dinner at John’s Place.
I perched myself at the third-floor open-air bar and enjoyed the view from there.The Philly cheesesteak sandwich was pretty good, too.It would have been nice to have some company. Oh well, maybe next time.
After dinner, I planned to use more of my voucher at Whiskey Girl. On the way, I ran into Troy, and he told me Jim was drinking alone at It Doesn’t Matter, so I decided to join him for a beer. We had a couple, and then Jim accompanied me to WG. Whiskey Girl has a “buy one, get one” happy hour, so I didn’t get to use my coupon much. Gary, another hiking buddy was there, and between him and Jim buying drinks, I didn’t have any more room. I did, however, keep the thirst of Jenn and Kim satiated with lady drinks.
There’s yet another new bar that just opened in Barretto, and since it is next door to Whiskey Girl, we decided to check it out.
It’s called Klimaks and bills itself as a “comedy bar.”Me and Jim were the only white guys in the place, and most of the dialogue was in Tagalog. Yep, it’s probably not a venue that will cater to my tastes, but everyone was friendly, and I wish them well.
We finished our night on the town at Queen Victoria. I rather enjoyed my next to last night of “freedom,” or whatever it is I’ll call this chapter of my life that is now drawing to a close.
My full moon view from the balcony. It will be lovely from the new house too, I’m sure.
Ready for some memes?
There are plenty of consequences, though.Right, Mr. Brand?I’ve already gotten a couple of laughs using this line…
Anyway, that’s where things stand with me as of now. I’ll be doing the SOB later today at The Green Room.
I baked my final batch of brownies here to share with the girls tonight.
And now for my last shower and shave on Shenandoah Bend.
And all I can do is keep on telling you
I want you
I need you
But there ain't no way
I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Rawhide, of course. (There’s a method to my madness; wait for it.)
Shall we start with some photos from the Wednesday Walkers trek? Alright, here you go:
Behind that green wall is the construction site for what will be Barretto’s newest culinary experience. Yes, McDonald’s is finally coming to town!We had seven walkers show up (Jim couldn’t be fucked with getting in the shot, and Scott took the photo)Off we go into Alta VistaThe shortcut to Shenandoah BendHeading out of the ‘hoodMarching along the My Bitch trailThose clothes ain’t gonna wash themselves!A brief rest stop at Four CornersThe Easter Mountain viewA cookie delivery at Onelia’s mountain hideaway.Beginning the downward portion of our journeyI’ve seen worse. Much worse!On the outskirts of a villageDown we go…You got this in the bag, Scott.Like a walk in the parkEvidence that the wheel was indeed invented in the Philippines.On the road againCreeksidelivingStrolling through the backstreets of BarrettoShort and sweet (around 5K), just the way I like it!
A shower, a nap, and a blog post filled the afternoon hours. Thanks again for those comments with words of wisdom and advice. The jokes were good, too!
Before heading out for the Hideaway feeding, I fed myself. The pork chops (cooked in the crockpot with cream of mushroom soup) came out tender and tasty. I took a couple of servings along with me for Joy and the girls to sample; they all seemed to like them, too. I know it ain’t pretty, but looks can be deceiving.
The vendor lady I’d been buying meals from on Wednesday wasn’t available, so the girls ordered some food from a local Korean eatery.
They deliver for a 30 peso fee, which is fair, I suppose. The food cost 1800 pesos versus the 1000 I normally spend on the vendor lady.The hungry faces of anticipation.Don’t ask me. It looks like rice with some Korean sides, but the girls seemed to enjoy it. Something different for a change.Joy with chopsticks is a first.
I had a pleasant visit in Hideaway. I took over the DJ duties and played some shit no one there had heard before. The kind of music my daddy listened to when I was a boy. Like the Frankie Laine classic “Rawhide.” And there you have the big reveal of why I came up with the convoluted post title referencing uncooked meat. I was surprised to find a post from 2009 titled Rawhide, so I had to get creative for this one.
My view as I walked up the highway after my departure from Hideaway.
Of course, I wasn’t done yet. I’ve got SOB coupons to expend, and I decided to put that 1500 peso voucher to work for me. Woohoo! Free beer. I started in Alaska and had three there (and two lady drinks). Then, I moved next door to Wet Spot and used the voucher for two additional beers. The coupon is only good for customer drinks, so I was out of pocket for the drinks I bought Aine, my waitress, and the bartender. Manager Brett comped me a beer, and so did owner Dave. That provided me the satisfactory level of inebriation I require of myself, so I called it a night and triked on home.
Six hundred pesos spent, 900 more to go. Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me tonight!
Not that I have anything to worry about. It is what it is, and what will be will be. Of course, living in the moment is even easier when you drown any dissenting thoughts in copious amounts of San Mig Zero. I’ve become a master of that technique!
You can’t go wrong starting the day with banana-walnut muffins…
I brought groceries from Royal home to Shenandoah Bend for the last time yesterday morning. Everything is on for the big move on Saturday. I packed some more boxes and don’t have much furniture besides a stove, fridge, freezer, and bed to haul to the new place. I arranged for a crew with my driver to do the heavy lifting.
I am meeting with my current landlord’s representative and the new tenant tomorrow morning. I’m not worried about it, though. Over two years of wear and tear on the furniture, but no real damage to the apartment. Since I broke the lease, I don’t expect to see any of my security deposit returned anyway. I’m still glad a new tenant was found so my landlord doesn’t suffer any loss with my move.
I asked Swan to join me for dinner last night. I had a hankering for some barbeque meats at Pujon Corner. Swan declined my invitation with a curt “I don’t want to.” Alrighty then. Looks like I’m still at the bottom of her priority list. Honestly, these past couple of months have been my loneliest time since moving to the Philippines. Since I consider myself in a relationship, I can’t be with anyone else, but the one I care about doesn’t seem to want to be with me. Something will change soon, and I expect the move will resolve the questions lingering in my head. One way or the other, I am not going to continue living in no-man’s land.
When I left the house for my evening in town, I planned to visit John’s place for my solitary dinner. But halfway there, the skies opened up, and even the small umbrella I carried couldn’t keep me dry. I had a “buy one, take one” coupon in my wallet for Green Room, so I took shelter there. And wound up staying until my quitting time. That’s very unusual for me not to change my venue over the course of a night out.
One thing that made it easier to extend my stay (besides the half-price beer) was I finally put my foot down and told the girls “no” when they surrounded my table. That Rule #1 ain’t gonna enforce itself, after all! I enjoyed having some quiet time, but I also purchased one lady drink each for my two waitresses, but not until after my third beer. Now, that’s self-discipline!
When hunger pangs occurred, I satiated them with a pizza from Sit-n-Bull. I ate my fill, then shared the leftovers with the waitstaff.I posed for a selfie with Crazy Horse, who keeps watch over the Green Room. The bar manager saw the pic on Facebook and commented that I made the statue look better. I hope that’s worth a free beer!
During the course of my time in Green Room, I got to hang out with two different buds, Bruce and Jim. I was actually in the process of leaving (I’d already paid my tab) when Jim arrived, so I stuck around for another beer. We discussed changing our scenery, but in the end decided, why bother? I admit my discount coupon may have influenced me.
But that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone. A pleasant group hike this morning, some pork chops are stewing in the crockpot, and a feeding for the Hideaway girls is on tap for later today. And I’m just not going to worry about the future; whatever happens, I’ll deal with it. Maybe a solitary life is my destiny.
These are golden oldies, but it’s the best I got for today:
Yeah, yeah, that post title is bad grammar. You are also likely to encounter some sloppy punctuation as well. You’ve been warned!
So, let’s talk about yesterday’s Hash. It was a strange one. I wound up doing my own trail, a little over 6K, but mostly flat. I walked from my place out to where the official trail started, then walked back to the On-Home at Johansson’s. I had planned to get to the Coral Street beginning point before the 2:00 p.m. start time but arrived a couple of minutes late. Everyone had left by then, so it was an easy decision to turn around and go back. I did reward myself with a beer stop at Hideaway on my return journey.
That’s from Goldfinger’s last Hash a couple of weeks ago. He lived in Angeles but came up on the bus to join us almost every week. The woman, Stinky Foxhole, is his Barretto partner who always joined him at the Hash. When I got to the On-Home yesterday, I was surprised to see her there. I figured she must have come as a final goodbye gesture to Goldfinger. I nodded and said, “Sorry,” then sat away from her on the other side of the bar. (We were never close; honestly, I don’t care for her). Anyway, as other Hashers arrived, a couple went and spoke with her. Then she got up and left. Apparently, she hadn’t heard about Goldfinger’s passing and had come to meet him as usual. That was a strange turn of events.
When the Hare arrived, he told me there were only five Hashers at the start of the trail. Another strange happening. Like me, a couple of other folks had done their own trail, but when the circle started, we only had eight people in attendance. I’ve never seen a turnout that low. And to make it even weirder, we had zero females in attendance. Like I said, it was a strange Hash. Not sure what was going on, but hopefully, we will be back to normal next week.
Here are some photos if you care to share my adventure:
The trail, as intended by the Hares, was a little over 6K with the nasty climb to the Kalaklan Ridge.My trail was the same distance but without the ass-kicking climb.The journey begins as I leave my house.I took note of the threatening skies and factored that into my decision not to venture up into the hills. However, the rain held off until late in the evening after I was safe at home.A smoke signal from the natives in the squatter village?In the ‘hoodLeaving the ‘hoodThrough a narrow alleyway…And onto La Union StreetA left on Gabaya StreetHa! I inadvertently wound up doing part of the Hare’s trail after all. I love it when that happens!Del Pilar StreetAnd then my stroll along the National Highway begins in downtown Barretto.This hospital will be opening soon, and it will be good to have one in Barretto again, just in case of emergency…On the National Highway out of BarrettoThe starting point of the official Hash trailCoral Street ends in the hills. Nope, not going there this time.Instead, I crossed the highway and headed back in the other direction. As you can see, that narrow shoulder leaves little margin for error.A bay view from the highwayIs that Barbie’s house?Back in BarrettoThe Hideaway alleyTime for a quick beer check.Joy was surprised to see me on a Monday and happy for the lady drink and cookies.Now, to finish my trail, let’s hit the beach!And there it be!The low tide always reveals the hidden contents of the bay waters.But if you can’t see it, you can pretend that it just isn’t there.The passage back to the highwayAnd my trail comes to an end at Johansson’sDiscussing the trail with one of the Hares, Anal Receptive.Half of those in attendance are on the ice. Crazy.
Anyway, that’s the way it goes sometimes. The beer was cold, and there was plenty of it. After the Hash, most of us went to It Doesn’t Matter and had a few more. I gave up drinking at seven (don’t worry, I plan to start again this evening) and went to Sit-n-Bull for a banana split to bring him home with me. My Fitbit says I was asleep before 8:30. What a life!
I guess you have to trust the science on this:
Hard to argue with this logic:
Your body, your choice. But leave them kids alone!
Yesterday’s Swan-hosted event at her/our house seemed to go well. I arrived at the appointed hour of 1:00 p.m. and was a little surprised to see so many children running about. But they weren’t a problem, and as more of the adults arrived, the kids mostly confined themselves to the bedrooms. I wasn’t sure what to expect beyond the normal eating and drinking that occurs when Filipinos gather. I teasingly told Swan that I had prepared a short speech announcing that we were now officially a couple. Swan clarified that this group of trusted friends and relatives already knew about me, which is why they had been invited. So, I guess our relationship is still technically a secret. I’m looking forward to moving in next weekend and seeing how things change for us, for better or worse.
Prawns and musselsSomething fishyPork and rice. My chili contribution is in that pot. It seemed pretty popular with the guests.My cornbreadBrowniesChips and salsa. The gals at my table drank red wine; I was having beer.Rum and coke is a Filipino favorite. It’s interesting how they drink it. A shot with a coke chaser. Served individually, one at a time, in turn.It is not unusual for some form of gambling to break out as well.It is usually some kind of card game, but yesterday it involved a box of these tiles and dice.I don’t have a clue as to how it works.My shy girlfriendA Sunday afternoon get-together in progress.Thanks for having me, Swan
So, I sat and drank beer from one until five. When a carload of guests were departing, I caught a ride down to the 7/11 on Baloy and had a couple more beers at Snackbar. My idea for ending my evening there was to avoid walking back to my place from Swan’s in the dark. I was able to catch a trike home after my nightcap.
I had a good time as the token white guy at the party. I’m sure I’ll be having similar gatherings in the future. It’s every bit as much fun hanging out and drinking at home as it is in the bars. Although I don’t mean to imply that I’ll be discarding my barlife entirely. I’ll find the right balance, I’m sure.
It’s Hash Monday. I haven’t decided yet whether I’ll do what the Hare admits is a tough trail or make my own. The problem is the official trail starts about 3K out of town in an area I’m not that familiar with. That makes it tough to shortcut. I’ve got a couple of hours to decide.
And speaking of the Hash, I learned today that one of SBH3’s oldest members, Goldfinger, has passed away.
He hadn’t been physically able to do a trail for a couple of years, but he still attended the Hash circle most weeks. Sorry to see him go.
Goodbye my friends
Maybe for forever
Goodbye my friends
The stars wait for me
Who knows where we shall meet again
If ever
But time
Keeps flowing like a river (on and on)
To the sea
To the sea
When my time comes, this is the song I’d like to have played before my ashes are scattered on the Hash trail.
UPDATE: Oops! I’ve used the Party Time moniker once before. Way back in July 2005. It was kind of interesting to reminisce about my first 4th of July party in Korea. And seeing Mi Soon, my first Korean girlfriend, again. Ah, an old man and his memories…
This afternoon is the long-anticipated “coming out” gathering. Well, maybe that is overstating it, but Swan has select family members and friends coming to the house to eat, drink, and meet me. I know it is a big deal to her, and culturally speaking, being introduced to the family is an important step on the relationship ladder. I’m not sure if this is a test I could potentially fail, but all I can do is be my usual charming self, and they can love me or leave me. I’m curious to see if today’s get-together means that Swan will be more open about our relationship status. I hope so; this pretending we are not a couple is beyond tiresome. Next week, we’ll be living under the same roof. As roommates or lovers remains to be seen.
Swan is preparing a feast for the family, including fish and pork in Filipino fashion. I’m contributing a pot of chili with cornbread. I’m also baking brownies for dessert. At least no one will go home hungry.
Chili in the crockpot
Since I will be otherwise occupied this evening, I did my Hideaway feeding last night.
The delivery from Jewel Cafe. It was kind of funny when I went in to place my order, and the waitress told me, “It’s not Sunday yet!” I acted surprised and said, oops! And turned to walk out. Then we all had a laugh.The Hideaway crew enjoying their meal.As is Joy
With my duty done at Hideaway, I headed back to my side of town. Last night was the 15th anniversary of the opening of Wet Spot, so I popped in to say congrats.
Unfortunately for me, the party wasn’t slated to begin until 9:00 p.m. Welp, that’s my bedtime, so I knew I wouldn’t be around for the celebration. I had a couple of beers and treated Aine and my waitress to a lady drink before departing.
I wasn’t quite ready to go home just yet, though. I’d heard Barretto’s newest drinking establishment was having its soft opening last night. It’s only a block away on the highway from Wet Spot, and I wanted to see what it was all about.
Welcome to Red Bar! My first impressions were very positive. It was well-appointed, well-lit, and offered something for everyone: dancers on stage, a pool table, and a dart board. The dart set-up was actually quite nice, and I could see myself coming here to practice if the urge to play again strikes me.The bar also has several of these couch seating setups that look quite comfortable. That’s a big step down to the floor, though, and I can foresee a drunken fool taking a tumble one night soon. I’ll stick to the bar or a table just to be on the safe side.
So, as I’m sitting at the bar, taking it all in, I hear a voice from the dance floor calling out to me. Well, I’ll be. It was Tin-Tin, formerly a waitress at Queen Victoria, now dancing for Red Bar. I hadn’t seen her for a couple of years, so I invited her down to say hello and buy her a drink.
Nice to see you again!
A couple of hiking buddies, Troy and Ric, also showed up, so it was good to share the opening experience with them. But as always seems to happen, time passed, and I knew I should be making my way home, and that’s just what I did.
It was a good night out, though. Let’s hope things go well at my meet-the-family event today.
Well, I drink twice that many, and I don’t give a fuck.
When I posted that cartoon before yesterday’s hike, I had no idea how prescient it would be.
It was only the two slow old fogeys who showed up for the Friday group hike, me and Scott. Scott said he wasn’t up for a hill climb, so I suggested we try the Naugsol valley walk. The problem is that a lot of our normal paths are flooded during the rainy season, but me, in my infinite wisdom, thought I recalled an elevated trail we could take to avoid the wet spots. Things went south pretty quickly, and we had wet feet from wading through puddles by the time we reached the higher path. And that’s when things started really going wrong. As we marched along the higher road, I recall seeing a path on the left leading to the valley floor, but it seemed too early in the hike head down–I felt sure we could stay on high until we reached the far side of the valley and avoid dealing with the rice paddies. It turns out that wasn’t the case, or at least, if such a trail exists, we couldn’t find it.
So, when we lost the path, our options were to retreat or bushwhack our way forward, hoping to find a new trail to take. That really sucked because this time of year, the grass is high, and the bushes are thick. Even worse, there are stickers, and some of the blades of grass have sharp edges.
Here’s how my knees looked when I got back home. I never fell; that’s just what pushing my way through the growth caused.
Poor Scott was really struggling with some stamina issues yesterday, and they got progressively worse as we extended our hike. At one point, it seemed that he would have to stop and rest every hundred yards or so. I felt bad for him and sorry that I had extended his suffering by getting us lost. Once we eventually made it back down to the valley and onto a dirt road, I went ahead to try and find a trike to carry us back to Barretto. I eventually did get lucky and rode back to pick up Scott. We then crossed over Bridge #4 (the first time either of us had ever done anything other than walk across) to Sawmill Road and the 3K or so ride back to Barretto. It was quite the adventure, but not the good kind. Still, it might have been worse. Shortly after arriving home, a massive thunderstorm poured down rain for an hour. Had we still been struggling to find our way back, it would have been an even more of a nightmare.
Here are some photos of our miserable journey:
Things didn’t go as planned. This is the first time we’ve had to abandon the hike and catch a ride home.Our journey began with a stroll through Alta Vista and a nice view of Easter Mountain.Exiting the neighborhood with Easter Mountain still prominently on display.Scott was feeling fine early in the hike.These kids from Marian Hills seemed happy to score some cookies.One of my regularsI’m not sure if school was out or what, but I gave away most of my goodies during the first kilometer of the hike.That’s all…the only thing left to deliver was disappointment.Easter Mountain from the valley floor.The path ahead. What could go wrong?This guy seemed attracted to Scott but, thankfully, didn’t attempt to consummate the relationship.We had already been forced to wade through water at this point, so we had the freedom of not caring as we moved forward.These ducklings seemed to be enjoying themselves.The view from the higher path.So far, so good.Did I miss a branch in the trail?Okay, what happened to our trail? It was here a minute ago…Scott took a break while I poked around, looking for the way ahead. We could hear dogs barking in the distance, and Scott was blowing his whistle, hoping a local might come by and offer some guidance, but no one did.We made our way through here in search of an easier way back down to the valley.Eventually, we found this abandoned shack where Scott took another rest.So that’s where pineapples come from!At last, we made it back down to the rice paddies. We had to do the tedious walk across the berms, but so be it.A rest along the way.I recognized this house and knew we’d have an easier path to walk from there.Scott took advantage of the opportunity to lie down for a bit.A fallow field.As I walked ahead in search of transportation, I was stumped by what kind of creature this might be.We gave the trike driver 200 pesos to carry us back to Barretto. It probably made his day.
All’s well that ends well.
My day wasn’t over yet, though. I still had an SOB to attend. Last night’s performance was at one of the newer bars in town, La Oficina. It was their first time hosting an SOB, and I arrived early to ensure I had a comfortable seat.
The empty stage from my elevated vantage point. That’s one feature of this bar I like–tiered seating.The stage with the regular La Oficina dance crewAnd the stage with all the SOB participants gathered at the show’s start.Queen Victoria finished 4th last night.Wet Spot took 3rdThe Alaska team was 2nd.
And last night’s champions:
The La Oficina crew. That’s the first time they’ve ever won, although I voted them first the previous two weeks. I seem to be out of sync with my fellow judges of late, but last night, there was no dispute. Congratulations!
As usual, I’m toasted by the show’s finish at 8:00 p.m. It was a good time, though. Oh, there is always a raffle for a set of coupons in which I rarely participate, but last night, I splurged and bought a package for 2000 pesos.
I wonder how much these will wind up costing me. My favorite is the 1500 peso voucher. The one I’m sure I won’t use is the all-you-can-drink in one night in one bar for 1000 pesos.
I’m doing the Sunday feeding at Hideaway tonight because I’ve got plans of a different kind tomorrow. Yep, I’m going to hang out with some of Swan’s friends and family at what will be our place in a week. This is a pretty big deal. Let’s hope I pass the test!
Threw all the ingredients for a beef stew into the crockpot.And eight hours later, I filled a bowl and then my stomach.
On my way into town, I dropped some stew off at my future residence for Swan and the landlord to enjoy as well. They gave it a good review.
My mission for the evening was to expend the 500 peso voucher coupon for Voodoo that was due to expire at midnight. Voodoo doesn’t open until 6 p.m., so I killed an hour drinking beers at Sloppy Joe’s and hanging with Chris and Shyrel. Jim showed up a bit later and joined the party. When the witching hour for Voodoo rolled around, Jim joined me there.
Beers at Voodoo are 100 pesos each, so I needed to consume five to achieve full value for my coupon. And by golly, I did it! When it came time to pay my tab, I only owed 1130 pesos for the lady drinks I purchased for Josie and Lyn. I’m not good at math, but I’m sure that coupon saved me big time!
Jim and I crossed the highway for a nightcap at Cheap Charlies, and then I knew I’d had enough. Caught a trike and was homeward-bound.
I also got some confirmation that I’m not the biggest sucker in the Philippines. Reekay, who does the Life Beyond the Sea vlog, posted this story of a slow learner:
Now, I’ve been scammed a few times and been overly generous to undeserving recipients occasionally, but never in the amounts that this guy routinely gave. And that fuck up with the last girlfriend’s niece was something I never would have even thought about trying. So, perhaps there is hope for me after all!
I had quite an adventure on today’s hike that I’ll write about tomorrow. Now it’s time to prepare for another SOB Friday, and this will be the first contest at the La Oficina bar. It’s a small venue, so I’ll try to arrive early and grab a good seat. That’s all for now.
It’s one of those Hendrix songs that didn’t stick with me, but nice to hear it again fifty years later.
I arrived at the VFW forty-five minutes early to try and get some practice in before the dart league games commenced. It wasn’t pretty, as in missing the board entirely far too often and suffering numerous bounce-outs. In less than thirty minutes of warmup throws, I had broken two shafts and destroyed a flight. Having run out of spares, I gave up on practice to ensure I had a functioning set of darts for the competition to come. The good news is that the team I played with yesterday won the match, 12-1. That blemish of a loss was my failed effort in singles cricket. I did prevail in my doubles matches, thanks to having a partner to help carry the load. I managed to hit the winning dart (a double-out in 501) as my only highlight on the afternoon. Yep, I sucked every bit as bad as I feared I would. I don’t recall throwing that poorly, even as a beginner. Well, maybe I’ll be motivated to start practicing at home again and rediscover my lost talent for the game.
It’s been a long time since I participated in a darts competition. And it showed.
The match was over at 4:30, and I hustled across town with the funds needed to feed the Hideaway girls. I picked up a dozen Dunkin’ Donuts on the way as I didn’t have time to bake the usual brownie dessert.
The hungry faces of anticipation as the meals are handed out.
Once again, the vendor woman prepared and delivered the food. It is reasonably priced (less than 100 pesos per meal) and the girls seem to enjoy it.
There was something fishy about Joy’s selection.Down the hatch
The thing I dislike the most about dart league is starting at 2:00 in the afternoon. Starting drinking beer at 2:00, I mean. It just throws me off my rhythm. I left Hideaway at 6:30 and headed back towards my side of town with no real destination in mind. I considered crossing the highway and visiting Voodoo (I have a 500 peso voucher coupon), but there was no break in the traffic, so I just decided to use the coupon tonight and kept walking. Wasn’t in a Cheap Charlies mood and proceeded onward toward Whiskey Girl. A voice from the balcony called out as I passed Adam’s bar. It was Eunice, one of my former regulars at Cheap Charlies. Okay, I’ll go up and say hello.
Once inside, another gal whose name I don’t recall but used to work at the floating bar, sat on one side with Eunice on the other. Yep, the girls have me pegged as an easy mark. I made them wait until I finished my first beer before rewarding their patience with a lady drink. It was nice to see them both again, but not enough to stay for a second round.
Back on the street, I continued to make my way in the homeward direction. I’d lost the urge for Whiskey Girl and just kept going until I reached Snackbar. There were surprisingly few customers there, so I sat outside and spent some time catching up with Jenn. Mama was sitting outside the 7/11, so I sent Jenn to get Mama (the umbrella lady) and the Snackbar girls an ice cream cone. The owner arrived a bit later, and we chatted for a bit before I pulled the plug on my night and grabbed a trike home.
I apologize if the excitement of my life is overwhelming. I could be on the cusp of a significant lifestyle change, so I’m doing my best to enjoy these wild days while I can.
I’m trying not to sweat the small stuff, but we are in the midst of the scheduled brownout now and I’m sweating like a motherfucker as I sit down to write this post. Y’all are the only fans I have at the moment!
While not completely resolved, the traffic situation I mentioned in yesterday’s post has at least improved quite a bit. I was able to get to Royal for my groceries without much trouble. Getting off the base to the highway going home, there was a back-up in traffic, but only about a fifteen-minute delay, not the hours folks experienced earlier in the week.
This too, shall pass
My appointment with Dr. Jo went well. We discussed the dosage of some meds I’m taking because they aren’t as effective at the lower levels I’ve been trying. She agreed to a brief two-week increase to try and clear my sinuses. Still, she reiterated that the problem would persist until I submitted to the necessary surgery to remove the nodules in my nose. She understands my reluctance to undergo general anesthesia with my COPD but reassured me with a quality anesthesiologist, I would be fine. Dr. Jo will assist me in finding a good doctor and said she’d stand by during my surgery if needed. So, that’s the way ahead.
And now for the big news. After my appointment, I walked to Alley Cats bar. It was just a little after three in the afternoon, and I was the only customer at that early hour. The girls were surprised to see me, but the shocked look on their faces when I pulled out my darts was priceless. Yes, it has been over a year since I retired in June 2022, and yesterday was the first time I’d thrown since then. Suffice it to say the time away did not improve my game. The gals asked if I was resuming my darting life, and I told them that was not my intention. Troy talked me into filling in for an absent player on his team in today’s Dart League match. I guess I’m better than a forfeit. So, I’ll be throwing in a competition this afternoon at the VFW. The Alley Cats crew asked me to stay for the Tuesday tourney, but getting beat in practice games was all my pride could handle. I do plan to install my dart board after I move, so hopefully, I’ll be motivated to start practicing at home again. Stay tuned.
Yet another new bar is slated to open in Barretto. I fear we are reaching the saturation point.
After my darts excursion, I had dinner at Sit-n-Bull, then hung out at Wet Spot until it was time to go home. I had a “buy one, get one” coupon, and I really did try to make it have some value. But Aine plopped down next to me as soon as I took my seat, so any potential savings were devoured in lady drink commissions.
I did give my personalized coozy a workout.
And that was how I spent my Tuesday. Well, goading my lefty Facebook friends was part of the fun:
No dumber than the other shit he says.
And speaking of dumb:
Let my sheeple go!
Completed the lease process with my landlord this morning. Well, I still need to transfer 308,000 pesos ($5000+) to her bank account, but I’ll get that done soon.
Thanks for everything, Alicia.No extra charge for the view.
So, dart league, and then I will stumble over to Hideaway to feed the girls. I reckon it will be an early night since I’m starting before 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. Even if I take up darts again, I will not be playing in the league. It just doesn’t fit into my 4-8 drinking window.
Tomorrow we are due for a day-long scheduled power outage. That’s something to look forward to. Ah well, I’m still counting my blessings. At least I’m not living in a Manila slum eating a local delicacy called pagpag. My foodie friends should check this out if they have the stomach for it:
I’ll take a pass, thank you.
Anyway, here’s the down and dirty on yesterday’s Hash. As I mentioned, there was a reworking of the trail brought about by the inaccessibility of the National Highway due to construction. So, we started at the entrance to Alta Vista instead, and the Hares laid out a very nice trail, especially for a last-minute effort. I naturally took a shortcut with the other oldies, but the 4K effort was still enjoyable.
Yesterday’s trail with a purple shortcut.Gathering at the start. We had a smaller-than-normal turnout yesterday.And we are On-On!On the streets of Alta VistaOff the streets and into the wild.Follow me boys!The same hills as the My Bitch trail, but a different path this time. It had been long enough that it felt new again.A tree and a goatLiving a recycled lifestyleGetting back to our woodsy roots…Granny kept a watchful eye as I handed her little granddaughter some cookies.The path took us down through this guy’s front porch…he was friendly and nice about it, though.This portion of the trail was a real downer.On-Home in back of It Doesn’t MatterHash GashCircle up!
We went back up front to the bar for more imbibing after the hash, and then a few of us crossed the highway for a couple more at the Annex bar. And then, with bedtime looming, I called it a night and headed back home. And so ended the day of my two-hundred and sixty-fourth run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.
I’m off to see Dr. Jo this afternoon for some advice on my meds and after that I’ll roam the streets of Barretto so you don’t have to. Glad to be of service.
Here’s my provocation on Facebook today:
I don’t always believe the shit I post on FB, but I do enjoy the reactions.It seems that way sometimes!
Or is Sunday the first day? Not that it matters; when you are retired and a slave to your routines, every day is pretty much like all the others. Here’s a brief recitation of how I spent my yesterday.
Some banana-nut muffins to start the dayAnd then a sweet little 7K stroll through Marian Hills, San Isidro, Santo Tomas, and down Baloy Beach.Over the Matain River on Bridge #1. That’s my future home way off in the distance (the one to the right of that big white monster).The shippy waters of Subic Bay as seen from Baloy…
Later in the day, when it was time to head to Hideaway for the Sunday feeding, I knew something was up when the traffic on one of the backstreets I walked was crazy with cars. Gabaya Street parallels the highway, so I figured there must be an accident or road work causing people to seek alternatives. Once I reached the National highway, my suspicions were confirmed.
The worst I’ve ever seen. Apparently, a road collapse/landslide in Kalaklan reduced the highway to one lane. So, all that weekend traffic trying to get back home was jammed up.(I lifted this photo from a FB post; it ain’t mine.)A friend who lives on SBMA told me it took him 2 hours to get home from Barretto (it’s usually a ten-minute drive). He said people were getting out of Jeepneys and trikes and walking because it was faster. (this is another stolen photo)
I don’t know how long this situation will persist. Today’s Hash was supposed to start about 2K up the highway towards Olongapo but has been changed to the 7/11 in Barretto instead. I’m now worried about my shopping excursion to Royal in the morning. Surely, they will have something in place by then. Oh, wait. This is the Philippines. They really do need to build that bypass road they’ve talked about for years. There is no alternative route to take from here.
The food from Jewel Cafe arrived at Hideaway, but I guess the delivery girls had to walk to get there. Sorry about that! I tipped a little extra for the trouble.
The food has arrived. The girls ordered tapsilog and sisig dinners…I added chicken wings to the mixIn Joy
It was crazy walking back to my side of town. I always walk facing the traffic, but that might have been a mistake. With the backup, the scooter drivers were more insane than usual, and it felt like I was playing dodgeball (dodgebike?). I took refuge in Cheap Charlies for a bit to calm my nerves.
Definitely safer upstairsAlma and Nerissa provided some companionship.
I made it an early night. Crossed the highway (which is actually easier with traffic stopped for intervals) and grabbed a trike for home.
Now it’s time to prepare for a mystery Hash. I feel sorry for the Hares having to rework a trail with so little notice, but they are old-timers and shouldn’t have much trouble coming up with a plan B.
One of the Hashers posted this photo he took on last week’s trail. Said the spider was as big as his open hand.Apparently, it was one of these. I don’t like spiders and snakes, so I’m glad I missed it.
Here was what I shared on Facebook yesterday for my liberal friends to attack me over.
It is rather entertaining to listen to the argument that trains are a better method of transport than pipelines. But what about climate change? Hypocrites.
And can you imagine not liking Tolkien?
I like it!
Here’s today’s funny:
What a way to go!
Back tomorrow with another dose of goodness! And just a reminder that not all Traffic is bad:
I got lucky last night! No, not in THAT way, but still. Here’s how it went down.
I had promised Nikki, the waitress at Whiskey Girl I drank with on Thursday, that I’d bring the brownies she’d been craving on Saturday. So, I baked up a batch before heading out. Whiskey Girl doesn’t open until 6:00, and I didn’t want to wait that long for liquid refreshment, so I made Sloppy Joe’s my first stop.
I arrived a little before five and was surprised to see so few customers and no one I knew. The music was playing loud, but at least the playlist was classic rock that I could enjoy. I started into my downing San Mig Zeros routine and ignored my waitress’s not-so-subtle hints that she was thirsty for a drink commission. I’m really trying to up my game in that regard. Anyhoo, around about 5:30, the Sit-n-Bull waitress came by, so I ordered a burrito for me and some lumpia to share with the girls. I also relented and sprang for a lady drink for the waitress. When the food arrived, I started to chow down, and my waitress friend informed me she was off-duty at six and going home. Ah, so much for my dinner party. She didn’t share the lumpia either. Lesson learned. Or, knowing me, maybe not.
I ordered my last beer and paid my tab. Just before I finished my beer, Jim came in and joined me at my table. He plays golf on Saturday and had been drinking at other venues all afternoon. I told him I was heading out to Whiskey Girl and invited him to join me, and he indicated he would come by later. When I arrived at WG, my regular gal Jenn escorted me to my table, and my backup Kim was close behind. Well, Jenn was there first, and I gently let Kim know I wouldn’t be buying them both lady drinks all night. I sensed a slight attitude shift, but she continued to provide good service.
The owner of Whiskey Girl was in town and throwing a big party for his customers last night. The festivities included a raffle drawing for cash once an hour. The first drawing was at 8:00 with a 1000 peso prize. The amount would double every hour until 10:00. There was also a big pot for a pool tournament scheduled to begin at 9:00. The same guy also owns Voodoo and La Oficina, so he had some select dancers from those bars join the Whiskey Girl crew for the night. It’s good I got there when I did because, by 7:00, the place was getting packed. Some familiar faces were there, including Dr. Jo and her husband Chris.
Oh, and what about Nikki and the brownies? Nikki didn’t show up for work, so she missed out again. The other gals seemed to enjoy them a lot, though. So, her loss.
Jim eventually arrived and sat next to me and Jenn. He relieved me of some pressure by buying Kim and another waitress lady drinks, and we settled in to enjoy the party atmosphere. Every time you purchased a drink (or a lady drink), you received a raffle coupon. By the first drawing, I had accumulated a nice little stack with my name on them. Sure enough, when the first drawing took place, they called out “Gwapo!” (my bar name). I walked to the stage and happily collected my prize.
A crisp new 1000 peso note.
Jim was done for the night, and I wasn’t far behind. Didn’t want to miss my 9:00 p.m. bedtime! I gave Jenn half of my winnings and tipped Kim 170 pesos (the same amount I would have paid for the lady drink I would have bought her eventually, but she got it all), and everyone seemed happy when I left. When I said goodbye to the group at the table where Dr. Jo was seated, I announced, “I’m leaving early because my doctor says I need to drink in moderation.” That got a laugh. I had to walk all the way to the 7/11 to catch a trike, but I made it home safe and mostly sound.
In other news, I heard from my current landlord yesterday, and he has found a replacement tenant for me. I was happy to hear that because I felt guilty about breaking my lease. My landlord asked if I would mind answering some questions for the incoming resident, and naturally, I agreed. We got hooked up on Messenger, and he is coming by on Monday to chat and look around.
I move into the new place in two weeks and began packing some stuff I don’t use much yesterday. I’d forgotten about this Hash shirt I never wear:
It’s from our outstation run in San Antonio in November 2019.I don’t wear it because that depiction of the spiritual adviser is just a tad too crude for public consumption.That’s the one where we got detained by the Philippine Navy for trespassing on their firing range. Oops! Well, we all survived, and we weren’t deported, so all’s well that ends well.
I mentioned yesterday that I’ve been sharing mask and vaxx memes to show support and solidarity with the growing chorus of voices saying we won’t get fooled again. Unlike during the scamdemic, Facebook hasn’t been blocking them. Yet. Still, they are causing some of my liberal friends to offer rebuttals–all saying I’m stupid. I just respond, “thank you for your feedback.” Here’s today’s version:
I’m not in total agreement with this one. You can argue that life begins when the fetus can survive outside the mother’s body. I don’t believe in abortion, but I’m not on board with making it illegal from conception. I think eight weeks is a fair compromise.
I don’t follow many expat vloggers, but this guy is one of the better ones. I just happened to come across this account of how he discovered his Filipina fiancée was cheating on him. Some of the circumstances were a little too close to things I’ve experienced for comfort. Anyway, he offers some good insights and advice. Give it a look if you are so inclined.
My Friday began with a pleasant morning stroll. Only one other participant showed up for the group hike, but hey, four legs are better than two, right?
The morning view from Alta VistaGary is the only one who showed up for the Friday hike.So, they missed views like this…And Easter MountainJust about 7K all in…
I confined myself to one bar last night–Queen Victoria for the SOB competition. I arrived around 4:30 to ensure I got a good seat and so I got to watch the Queen Vic girls practicing their routine. I was very impressed with the energy and devotion to detail they demonstrated. All the teams put on a good show, but in the end I ranked the top four as La Oficina, Queen Victoria, Alaska, and Wet Spot.
The other judges didn’t see it quite that way:
Final results: Alaska, La Oficina, Wet Spot, Queen Victoria
A slight controversy developed after the SOB when the Queen Vic owner posted on Facebook that his girls were discouraged from having finished fourth two weeks in a row despite all their hard work. It happens that way sometimes. I thought they were very good and are definitely improving week-to-week, but so are most of the other competitors. Don’t give up!
I don’t have any photos from this week’s performance, but here is a video of La Oficina last week if you care to see them in action:
And here are my raffle prizes this week:
The 500 peso voucher is always my favorite, so I will be back to Voodoo at some point to put it to work. I also appreciate a “buy one, get one” ticket. It almost feels like half-price!
I don’t bother much with politics on social media these days, it just seems so pointless. But I have witnessed a groundswell of memes being posted mocking the scamdemic Nazis. I’ve taken to sharing them to help spread the word that we won’t get fooled again.
My body, my choiceOne commenter asked if that applied to the polio vaccine as well. Yeah, if COVID were polio AND the vaxx had been tested like the polio vaccine and proven effective, I’d get the jab. But, of course, that didn’t happen.It has been satisfying to see some of the things I posted back in 2020 that I was mocked for believing have proven to be correct. If we all stand together they won’t be able to fuck us this time.Never forget!
I used yesterday’s morning walk to carry me to the Savers appliance store, where I purchased a stove and refrigerator for use in my new residence. I had intended to buy a big side-by-side fridge/freezer but couldn’t pull the trigger on spending over a thousand bucks for one. So, I settled for a regular-sized unit for less than half that price.
The new fridge. One crazy thing they do here is take appliances out of the box and plug them in to demonstrate that they are in working condition. Then, they will repack it for delivery.And my new stove. I was disappointed that I could not find one with a width of 27″, the distance between the gap in my kitchen counter. This one is 24″. I’ll have to figure out how to fill in that space.
My new gear will be delivered on Saturday. I’m moving in on the 30th, but with Swan moving her stuff out on Sunday, she’ll need a stove and fridge until I arrive.
Of course, the big news from yesterday is that I survived my “free beer in every SOB bar” adventure.
Mission accomplished!
And since I lived to tell about it, here goes:
Some of the included bars don’t open until six, and I didn’t want to push my luck drinking while I waited for them to open. So, I left the house a little later than normal and started the evening out with some dinner at John’s place.
FIRST STOP: JOHN’S SUSHI AND STEAKHOUSE
I was craving some Mexican and had read some Facebook posts raving about John’s Birria tacos. John was present when I arrived, and when I mentioned I was thinking about ordering the tacos, he went into a long story about how what we Yanks call tacos are nothing like the authentic ones from Mexico. He’s a foodie, so naturally, he described what’s involved in creating them while I listened politely. I don’t recall having ever previously eaten a taco by that name, but I was excited to give it a try. I placed my order and headed upstairs to the third-floor bar for my dining experience.
John’s upstairs barThat’s where I like to sit when I’m here.Enjoying a beer and watching the world go by while I await my food.And here they are!I loved everything about them. A unique flavor, and the beef was tender and delicious.
I was actually full after I devoured two of them, so I invited my waitress over to help me out with the third taco.
MJ had never sampled before either, and she also loved it.It was 5:30 now, and time to move on to start my quest.
Damages: Two beers
SECOND STOP: VOODOO BAR
Voodoo is one of the bars I suspected didn’t open until six, and I was a little surprised to see the “we’re open” sign flashing as I walked by, so I was happy to stop in and deploy my coupon. It was deadly quiet when I entered (usually, the music is blaring in this bar), and I asked if they were open. The bartender replied that they could serve me, but the girls wouldn’t arrive until six. Okay, that’s fine. When I handed her my free beer ticket, I thought she might have rolled her eyes a little, but maybe I just imagined it.
So, my plan was to drink a free beer in each bar, but I figured it was only fair to have a second out-of-pocket or perhaps a lady drink for a deserving girl. Since no gals were present, I assumed I’d be going the second beer route. And then, just as I finished my first beer, who should walk in but my old regular Josie and my new friend, Lynn.
A second beer and two lady drinks, please.
I told them of my quest and that I wouldn’t be staying after this round. They wished me well, and I headed out.
Damages: Two beers (one free) and two lady drinks.
THIRD STOP: THE GREEN ROOM
I was a little worried a passel of ladies would once again besiege me, but I was able to grab my usual small table near the pool table, apparently unnoticed by the thirsty ones. My waitress, Mary Anne, was the girl I met at Arizona Resort thirteen years ago as a tourist. I wrote about our reunion here. I bought her a drink for old time’s sake. Then, the woman I’ve been buying food from for the Hideaway girls approached my table to thank me again for yesterday’s purchase. We got to talking, and it turns out she’s friends with my ex, Marissa. What a small town. I wound up buying her a drink, too.
Everybody’s so different; I haven’t changed. That’s all I’ve got to say.
Damages: one beer (free) and two lady drinks
FOURTH STOP: LA OFICINA BAR
Up a flight of stairs to this second floor venue. Took an elevated seat above the stage to better enjoy the view.
No ifs, ands, or butts about it!
I wasn’t looking for love last night, so I called the least attractive of the dancers to join me for a drink. She’s the one who remembers me from Whiskey Girl.
Blame it on the beer or old age (or both), but I don’t recall her name today.
I heard her tell the waitress she wanted a bottled beer (the dreaded 300 pesos double), and I told her no, only a single lady drink. She had to chase the waitress down to change her order. I reminded the waitress I needed my free beer coupon back, and she said she’d already returned it. I checked my wallet, and it wasn’t there. She went back to look, and eventually, the cashier came over with the coupon, saying she had had to make a photocopy. Okay, no problem. When I finished my beer, I handed the waitress my bill cup and said, “Bill out, please.” She returned with another beer. I might have been a tad rude in my response, but damn, it just weird to confuse “bill out” with “bring me another beer.” A manager came over and apologized, saying the waitress was new. I had calmed down and felt bad, so I apologized to the waitress when she brought my change. She didn’t appear receptive to sorrys. Oh, well. I tried.
Damages: one beer (free) and one lady drink.
FIFTH STOP: ALASKA CLUB
Back down the stairs and into Alaska. My regular, dancer Joy, wasn’t working, but the new waitress I’d met on an earlier visit was happy to join me.
Nice to see you again, Shyrel.While trying to take that selfie with Shyrel, I didn’t have the camera in selfie mode. So, I have this bonus photo of the Alaska dancers. You are welcome!
Damages: Two beers (one free) and two lady drinks.
SIXTH STOP: WET SPOT
Right next door the journey continued. The “backslappers” table was full, but bar owner and SOB founder Daddy Dave came and joined me at mine. I congratulated him on his successful program of giving away free beers to increase profits, noting that my night of not paying for my beer was costing me a lot more than I normally spend. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear this news and he thanked me with, you guessed it, another free beer. Not to be outdone, I bought my regular waitress a lady drink.
Thanks, Irene. And thank you, Dave. TWO free beers covered the cost of the lady drink and left me a few pesos ahead for the first time all night!
Damages: Two beers (both free) and one lady drink.
SEVENTH STOP: WHISKEY GIRL
Back outdoors and the always dangerous crossing of the National Highway, then a stroll on the shoulder for several blocks to arrive at my next-to-last destination. My semi-regular Kim was with another customer, and my favorite, Jen, was absent. But before I could order my beer, a young lass was seated next to me. She asked if I remembered her, and I honestly didn’t. She reminded me that I had met her on her first night working several months ago. Oh yeah, nice to see you again.
How could I forget you, Nikki?
Of course, I bought her a lady drink. Nikki also said I had promised to bring some of my brownies for her. I apologized and told her I would bring a batch for Saturday’s party (the manager had brought me a ticket for a free drink and raffle entry when I arrived). I won’t forget this time.
Damages: One beer (free) and one lady drink.
EIGHTH (AND LAST) STOP: QUEEN VICTORIA
Back across that damn highway and into my final venue of the night. A girl I didn’t recognize called out to me by name as I made my way to sit at the bar. Turns out she used to work on the Kokomo’s floating bar, but again, I didn’t remember her specifically. I was ready to finish my business, so I ordered my beer and offered her a lady drink, which she naturally accepted.
I didn’t know her name then and I’ve forgotten it again now. Sorry about that!
I’m not at Queen Victoria much, but when I visit, I usually am joined by a girl named Irish. I didn’t see her at first, but she came by later and appeared a little perturbed that I had neglected her. Well, I felt bad about that, but not bad enough to buy her a drink. She got her backpack and went home before I left. I’ll be back tonight for the SOB; perhaps I can treat her then.
Damages: One beer (free) and one lady drink.
Last night’s journey took me from one side of town to the other.I’ve highlighted my stops in yellow.
So, it was an experience. I’ll just say that I hope any coupons I get tonight are more traditional discount varieties…I can’t afford those free beers on a regular basis!
The Wednesday Walkers ventured out to Tibag for a change of scenery. I always enjoy the beauty of the area, but because there is no easy way to get there without a vehicle, it’s a trip we only make once or twice a year. There were eight of us yesterday, and Ed squeezed us all into his Toyota Club cab pickup truck. It was a beautiful morning for a hike, right up to the point where we began to head back (meaning the furthest we would be from our transportation) when it began raining. Oh well, it did have a cooling effect, and once you are wet, what difference does it make?
A Google-eye view of our there and back again 7K routeGathering up at our meeting spot for the drive out to Naugsol and the start of our hike.We have arrived. The two gals are friends of my new landlord and were visiting with her from Manila. They invited themselves along, and I told them everyone was welcome. They seemed to enjoy themselves and found the mountainous surroundings awesome. Of course, compared to the shithole city of Manila, Tibag is paradise on earth.Our pre-hike group shot.Let’s roll!This house sits right on the river, and it’s for sale. Hmm. I do love this area, but it is just a tad too isolated for my blood.The proverbial house on the hillPassing through the unmanned military checkpointMarching onwardOn the road to TibagMushrooms growing on a log is a rare thing to see.A view of mountains I don’t see every day is a nice change.The road goes up to get to Tibag. It’s nothing crazy, just a gradual climb.How the locals liveGetting close now.When you ain’t the fastest or the slowest in the group, you frequently walk alone.Scott and one of the new girls, Doris, bringing up the rear.Tibag countrysideSome of the group crossed this bridge and looked for a suitable trail on the other side of the river. This time of year (rainy season and high grass), it is not a good option.I didn’t feel compelled to take my chances on this dicey construction.We hung out with a couple of the locals, waiting for the bridge crossers to return.Here they come.The local schoolhouseA happy cookie recipientLeaving the pavement behind for a bit.A horny goatStuart’s new friendSplendor in the grassA stare fight with a carabao…I won!Regrouping on the pavement after the rain began coming down.They’ve built a landfill just past Tibag, and periodically we’d make way for these big-ass trucks full of garbage to pass by.A farm in the dale…What a rainy day in Tibag looks likeThe ducks seemed to be enjoying the weather.We all made it back to the truck, wetter but no wiser. Fortunately, the rain stopped and the guys riding in the back didn’t have to suffer.
I went straight home after the hike as I had a meeting with the landlord to sign a lease extension. Basically, I’ll pay my rent one year in advance, which helps her fund the ongoing repairs on the house. I initially only agreed to pay four months in advance, but I’m more comfortable now that everything is legit. Swan is moving her stuff out this weekend, so the time for the realignment is nearly upon us. We are going to have a get-together next week with some family and trusted friends of Swan’s, which I guess is our coming out with the “we’ll be living together” announcement. I’m still taking it one day at a time, but I feel a little more confident now that we can work it out.
The feeding at Hideaway went well. I again purchased food for the girls from the local vendor.
That’s her and her basket of goodies. I guess selling thirteen dinners in one go makes her day. She seemed happy about it.Joy loved her some chicken.
After Hideaway, I headed to the Green Room. Turns out, I’ve really created a problem for myself there. As soon as I sat down, I had several girls surrounding me. I absolutely hate that! It’s worse than dogs begging at the dinner table with those hungry eyes. Again, I’m not opposed to buying a lady drink or two, but I get to choose the when and the who. I finished my beer and left without buying any. And I even had a coupon that gave me a free beer if I bought a lady drink. I’m either going to have to toughen up and tell the girls there to leave me the hell alone or find another bar. There are plenty of options, after all.
Like next door at Alaska Club.
It was the day after Joy’s birthday, so I bought her a drink and used my coupon to get me a free beer. I only bought one, though.
I did my nightcap next door at Wet Spot (the Maze really is aMAZEing in that regard), got myself a beer, and had a sandwich delivered from Sit-n-Bull (also next door) along with some food for my waitress and her pals. And that was it for me last night.
Tonight’s challenge. This is the last chance to use the coupon before it expires. There are seven SOB bars. Can I make it to all of them without losing consciousness? Only one way to find out!Facebook memories reminded me of a meme I created years ago in Korea. It seems appropriate for tonight’s challenge.
When you ain’t got nothin’, but you owe your loyal readers their daily bread, this is what you get. Sorry!
Tuesdays are always on the blah side, but even the mundane chores need attending to, and I’m happy to report that the weekly grocery shopping excursion has been accomplished. I stayed when we dropped Swan off at her place to meet with the landlord. Progress continues on the repairs and improvements, and the house should be good to go, or at least good enough, come 1 October.
Here comes the rain again! My view of Easter Mountain as I walked back to my place. I wondered if I would make it home before the downpour hit me. I did. Barely.
It rained for an hour or so, but by the time beer o’clock rolled around I was able to leave the house without an umbrella. I didn’t have an agenda in mind, but walking past Sloppy Joe’s I saw Chris, so went in the join him for a beer or three. Jim showed up a bit later, and we started an impromptu bar crawl with stops at Cheap Charlies, Voodoo, and Wet Spot. I ended my evening out there, and came home to enjoy some pecan pie a la mode before hitting the hay.
That’s how the pie looked before being smothered in vanilla ice cream.
Tomorrow’s post will have more substance, including photos from the Wednesday Walkers hike in Tibag. I’ve also got the Hideaway feeding to attend to later today.
I’m not sure that this qualifies as a trend, but I’m seeing more and more memes like this one on my Facebook feed. Will people stand up to the authorities if they attempt another variant of the scamdemic? Perhaps there is hope.
Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you’re always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away
Who knew I’d be singing and relating to those protest songs for the 1960s again.
A good Hash event yesterday. I probably only did half of the trail Leech My Nuggets worked so hard to provide, but with my additions (primarily starting from my house), my hike was almost equally as long. My partners in crime (if shortcutting is a crime) were Pubic Head and Buddy Fucker, and as is our custom, we eliminated some of the Hare’s unnecessary ups and downs. One good up per hike satisfies whatever urge I may have to climb.
Going my wayEarly in my trek, I found myself on the Hare’s trail. That’s always nice in a “great minds thinking alike” kinda way.Feeling tired.And then retired.Walking near the gathering place for the official Hash trail. See y’all On-Home!Arriving right on schedule at the meet-up with Pubic Head and Buddy Fucker.Those two.The first part of our hike was also on the Hare’s trail–our first climb was his second.If stairsteps ever got back to their roots, this is what it would look like.The guy in the middle told us he now has title to this piece of land and has put up a barbwire fence to prove it. We found a way to bypass his blockage, and he was nice enough about it. He told us of his dream to build a resort up here. Of course, he’ll need to start with a road. Good luck with that. In the meantime, he has fucked up one of our most popular hiking routes–the My Bitch trail.A bit further down our path, we had a visit with the first family of the mountain.Jennifer and her youngestMountain mama OneliaThe Easter Mountain view you’ve been waiting for.These two Hashers caught up with us as we continued on our way.My little town.The path aheadThe other side of BarrettoWhat happened to Pubic Head? He was right behind me…This picture doesn’t really do it justice, but this was the scariest part of the hike. Lose your footing here, and you are going down a deep ravine, and it is doubtful you’ll be walking out again. And that damn tree exacerbated the situation by partially blocking an already too-narrow path. We made it, though.Steppin’ down into townMaking my way to the On-Home at VFW.Circle up!Hash GashHashy birthday!The breast cake of the day!
At the conclusion of the Hash, several of us made our way to It Doesn’t Matter to continue the infusion of alcoholic beverages into our bloodstream.
My waitresses were Santa and Armie. Their efforts and willingness to laugh at my lame jokes earned them each a lady drink or two.
And when I’d had enough, I paid a visit to Sit-n-Bull for my weekly banana split. Home even earlier than usual (not even eight yet!), but that’s how it goes sometimes. I had a good night’s sleep, and now I’m ready to rock my Tuesday. We’ll see how that turns out.
I will never forget that fateful morning 22 years ago. I was working in DC at the time and had an up-close exposure to the mayhem that ensued. Several of my neighbors in suburban Virginia died at the Pentagon that day. The subdivision erected a monument in their honor.
My life was changed as a result of those attacks. It opened my eyes to some realities I had ignored as a member of the liberal hivemind. I came to understand that my primary source for news, The Washington Post, was little more than a purveyor of propaganda. I discovered other sources on the internet, like Instapundit, that helped me see the big picture and think for myself. I learned that the bias in the MSM is as much about what they DON’T report as it is about the lies they peddle. Coincidentally, I haven’t voted for a Democrat in a national election since. And ultimately, it led me to leave the cocoon of a sheltered American life and seek employment overseas. I was proud to spend the final years of my working life in support of the U.S. Army in Korea. It’s been said there is no going back, and in my case, that proved to be true. That’s why I live in the Philippines now.
After my morning coffee with Swan yesterday, I took the long way back to my place.
Right at 6K, door to door.
When the time arrived to pursue my love affair with beer, I hit the streets once again.
The way things looked as I left the ‘hood.
I popped into Jewel Café and placed the dinner order for the Hideaway crew.
Forty dollars worth of grub, but who can put a price tag on good feelings?Enjoy your meal, ladies!Joy just can’t help herself…
After my aMAZEing experience the night before, I knew I wasn’t up for a bar crawl last night. I did, however, step up to Cheap Charlies for my nightcap.
There I enjoyed the sunset view…And the company of Alma. It occurred to me that I’ve been sharing lady drinks with her for over five years now. Time flies!
I brought home a pecan pie from Sit-n-Bull as my bedtime snack and chalked up another day of stayin’ alive in the Philippines.
AndI enjoyed sharing a morning coffee with Swan to kick off the new day.
Here are a few Philippines-related tidbits I came across that some readers may find of interest.
It’s a Filipino movie filmed in Angeles City. Its plot revolves around Alma’s life as a bargirl. It’s not realistic in the sense that in the film, her customer love interests are all Filipino men, but it is a movie by and for local audiences, so that’s understandable.
There is also this news story about a foreigner who claims he was framed on drug charges by the government drug enforcement authorities. Scary shit, especially since he has been in jail for TWO years waiting for a hearing. That’s my nightmare scenario, so I try to avoid putting myself at risk as much as possible. I don’t drive here, I won’t allow myself to be around underage females, and I have no interest in illegal drugs whatsoever. This guy must have pissed off the wrong person, and that’s something you have to avoid as well. Good luck to him, although I wouldn’t bet on his chances to survive long enough to have a day in court.
Speaking of crime, there was a Filipino serial killer in Angeles City back in 2010 who targeted foreigners:
As of 2018, when this video was made, the killer had not been convicted. I read somewhere that he has now been sentenced to life in prison. Still, when it comes to criminal violence, I feel much safer in the Philippines than I would back home in the USA.
And that’s about it for now. It’s Hash Monday, and I’ll be meeting up with Pubic Head for our shortcut version of the trail. Getting to the start has me hiking some of My Bitch by myself again, but I’ll take it slow and watch my step. Assuming I survive, I’ll be back tomorrow with a full report.
YouTube doesn’t want to make it easy to see the images from New York City on 9/11 because of “violent imagery.” You have to click on the link to see it on YouTube, but it is worth the trip.
