You can’t taste the goodness of the Thanksgiving gathering at The Rite Spot, but at least you can see how it looked.

I apparently neglected to photograph the fruit salad and candied yams. There was also dressing and gravy.

I wasn’t sure how many to expect. I put the word out; some acknowledged it, while others kept their options open. A couple I was expecting messaged later that they couldn’t attend. I told folks we’d start drinking at three and eating around four, but not many people were present when we kicked off the feast. I figured we’d have plenty of leftovers, but some members of Swan’s family showed up later (that’s how Filipino time works), and we filled the seats.

We had bought some takeout containers to give away whatever leftovers remained. Quite a few folks brought the sides and desserts home with them when the party ended. My one-day reprieve from the diet was over and I didn’t need any temptations hanging around the house.

And now for the damage done:

Back on track today. No breakfast and a 7K hike that included another climb up to the Kalaklan Ridge. I weighed myself just now, and I’m at 246.6, DOWN one pound from yesterday. Go figure.

Anyway, it turned out to be a nice gathering, and I enjoyed hanging out with the guys and downing lots of beers. I’m thankful for that opportunity.

Facebook memories presented a video I posted twelve years ago of me playing in the finals of a dart tournament: “Finals of 11/17/2012 KDF tourney in Seoul featuring Alister “All-Star” Tarbett (Scotland) versus John “The Walrus” McCrarey (USA). Best of 5 501 legs. John took the first two legs, Alister came back to take the next two, setting up a classic showdown in the final leg.”

Today’s YouTube video advises avoiding ten common mistakes retired expats make. I’ve made some of these, but after more than six years here, I’ve learned to avoid most self-inflicted problems.

Today’s dose of humor:

Okay, what’s next? I’m skipping the SOB this week in favor of a relaxing evening on Baloy Beach. I guess I’m just In The Mood.

May your blessings on this day of giving thanks be plentiful.

Busy morning getting ready for the Thanksgiving gathering on the rooftop. My last portion of the feast to prepare is the candied yams, but I’m waiting for the oven to free up. Turkey is done, but now it’s the chicken’s turn to get roasted.

Meanwhile, up on the roof:

Three more hours until guests start arriving, so I’ll share some of my yesterday. The Wednesday Walkers took a two Jeepney (blue and red) ride out to Olongapo City’s Gordon Heights barangay. There’s a road to the top of Kalaklan Ridge (half paved, half dirt), and we took it. It was a 1.6K uphill trek to the ridgeline. I don’t know why, but road climbs, especially straight ones, kick my ass more than trails. Once at the top, we had the usual amazing views that made the struggle worth it. Getting down was a bit of a challenge, too, because the grass was thick and high, making it hard to stay on the trail. We fought our way through and had an overall enjoyable hike.

I told Swan I was treating her to dinner at Sit-n-Bull (I had a 15% discount coupon I needed to use) and asked if she wanted to have a drink before dinner. She said she did. So, Outback, BarCelona, or Sloppy Joe’s to start? As I expected, she answered “Outback” without hesitation. It has beach views.

And then off to dinner.

A nightcap at Wet Spot, then home for a good night’s sleep before the big day.

Speaking of which, I weighed in a day early so I could assess the damage of the Thanksgiving cheat.

• Today’s weight: 247.6
• Last week: 248.6
• November 1: 267.1
• Net loss: 19.5 pounds

Belly is still 49″ circumference. Waist is down to 43.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen:

Looking back to ten years ago, I was alone in Columbia, South Carolina for Thanksgiving. That didn’t stop me from preparing a feast:

Today’s YouTube video carries us back to the first Thanksgiving and dispels the so-called myths surrounding this American tradition.

And give thanks for these jokes:

Anyway, time to get ready to greet the guests who will be arriving soon. Oh, I almost forgot, we had an earthquake this morning.

Okay, Happy Thanksgiving to both of my readers. I will give you a full report on the celebration and feast tomorrow.

And surely you knew this would be the song of the day:

A busy day ahead as I make final preparations for tomorrow’s feast. It’s been seven years since I last attempted to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, and I’m thankful Swan is here to assist. One of my chores today will be trying a dry brine recipe helpfully provided by a commenter. Thank you, Mr. Kim! I’m also attempting a candied yams recipe I found online. I hope it tastes as good as the one Mom used to make. I’ve already got my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad chillin’ in the fridge. An apple pie is in the oven, so while that’s baking, I’ll share a little about my yesterday.

As usual, I start my Tuesday by baking up a batch of muffins. I don’t get to partake these days, but my housemates, driver, and “mama” enjoy them.

Next up was a trip to Royal for the weekly grocery shopping adventure. This time, the cart was overflowing with the extra goodies I purchased for the upcoming big meal.

In keeping with my No! vember objectives, I engaged in my newest Tuesday routine–a neighborhood walk after shopping.

Renewing an old Tuesday tradition, Swan and I took a walk out to Baloy Beach late in the afternoon.

A nice evening on the floating bar. Not as crowded as Saturday was, but still a good crowd for a Tuesday. Certainly better than the Kokomo’s beach bar ever does.

Man does not live by salad alone. I only ate one enchilada last night (350 calories) and one for lunch today. And I’m still skipping breakfast, which is a bit of a surprise; I didn’t think I had the willpower to ignore those morning hunger pangs. I’ve discovered they go away if you ignore them long enough.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen:

And I had these two beauties delivered:

And here is the result of my first time trying brine on a turkey:

I’ll add a butter-based glaze with additional seasonings before I pop the turkey in the oven early tomorrow morning.

Next up on my agenda is the candied yams.

I’ve decided to wait until after the turkey is cooked tomorrow to make the yams. Reheating them seems fraught with peril.

Swan is still busy in the kitchen making a green bean casserole, roast potatoes, and a small ham. We’ve also got roast chicken, dressing, and mashed potatoes with gravy on the menu. Some of our guests will be bringing their favorite sides, so no one is going home hungry. We’ve also purchased some “take out” containers so we can send everyone home with leftovers. I’m only going to cheat one day!

Oh, and the old banner didn’t survive the rainy season, so this new one will be there to greet our guests at the Rite Spot tomorrow:

We’ve enlisted Swan’s sister, Chloe, to manage the assembly line bagging the candies for Sunday’s Candy Walk.

Today’s YouTube video discusses hiring a “tour guide with benefits” when visiting the Philippines. Those days are over for me, but as a tourist coming from Korea back in the day, I took this route, and for the most part, it worked well. My mistake was falling in love with my regular guide (Loraine), and that didn’t end well for me. Live and learn.

Today’s dose of humor:

And it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving if I didn’t post this old gem:

Okay, my work here is done now. I’m going to shower up and head into town for some Thanksgiving Eve revelry. Tell you about the Wednesday Walkers and my night out tomorrow. I hope you’ll be Thankful for that!

Damn, it’s been awhile since I’ve heard from Sawyer Brown. Still love this classic:

Another Sunday Funday. I dropped some coin but dispelled the myth that money can’t buy happiness. We were happy putting smiles on the faces of over 200 children during our weekly Candy Walk, that’s for sure.

But I wasn’t done spending money on Joy.

And then it was time to purchase some happiness for me and my girl.

We had our nightcap at Green Room, and the largesse continued. Four of the girls received lady drinks, and everyone else received lollipops. Another gin and soda night, and I am starting to learn my non-beer boundaries. Whether that will stop me remains to be seen.

The last time we called our “regular” trike driver, he failed to show up as scheduled. So, we agreed we’d not bother calling him and just went to grab a ride at the trike stand. As fate would have it, our regular guy was first in line. A happy ending to the night for all!

Twelve years ago, I was immersed in the best times of my Korea life.

Let’s have some fun with today’s YouTube video. For some reason, I thought of this one during my visit to Hideaway Bar. I requested it be played on the big-screen TV, and everyone had a good laugh—especially the Filipinas.

That’s a good lead-in to more funny shit:

Hash Monday has arrived once more. Sadly, the trail start is midway up Rizal Extension, making it a pain in the ass to get to. I have no idea where the trail goes from there, but the Hare isn’t one of my favorites, so I have low expectations. My plan is to hike the My Bitch trail from my house, then down Rizal Ext from there. Once I arrive at the start, I’ll decide whether to do the Hare’s trail or find my own way to the On-Home at Red Bar. Check back tomorrow to see how that works out for me.

Another Saturday has come and gone. We did another hike to the Subic marketplace to stock up on sweets for the upcoming Candy Walk. Nothing special about that anymore. The highlight was visiting the Kokomo’s floating bar on Baloy Beach for this season’s grand re-opening. We followed that event with dinner at Treasure Island and enjoyed listening to a band called Star Network for the first time. All in all, a good day.

The walk to the market is so routine as to be boring, so I wasn’t motivated to take many photos. But I can’t resist those funeral banners for some reason:

Next up, a walk to the beach!

It was good to enjoy some time on the water again. I assume it was so crowded because it was opening night and also Saturday night. Lots of big spenders were on board, plying the staff with lady drinks. Several of the gals were stumbling around drunk. It was a bit different vibe, but Tuesdays were always my Kokomo’s day, and I expect things will feel more like normal next week.

Then it was dinner time. TI has live music every Saturday, but on previous visits, it was the Engine band playing. Last night’s group featured three female singers and a different sound. I enjoyed hearing them play, which is not always the case with bar bands.

A trike ride home and some sugar-free pudding to end the evening. Speaking of sugar-free, my order of sugar-free sugar was delivered yesterday:

Some memories:

Today’s YouTube video is from a guy I’d never seen before. So many of my fellow expats seem clueless. We all have to find our way in life, and sometimes, that’s the hard way.

How about a taste of some nasty humor today?

Soon, I will be heading out for my usual Sunday routine. I’ll start by feeding the Hideaway girls, and then I’ll have a Sunday dinner with Swan. This was posted on Facebook:

I will be back with more of my drivel tomorrow.

And the “first time hearing” video:

The Friday hiking group tackled Black Rock yesterday. The getting up part isn’t so bad, but the coming down can be a bitch. That was the case with yesterday’s descent. It’s always steep and rocky, but add in patches of slick and slippery, and it can be a real pain in the ass. Literally. We all made it down safe and sound, and the remainder of the trek was mostly pleasant–except for a creek crossing and the portion on the highway. But that’s all part of the adventure, I suppose.

The afternoon adventure was attending the SOB dance competition held this week at La Oficina. I do not visit this bar often; in fact, the last time I was there was several months ago, also for an SOB. I arrived a little before the 5 p.m. opening but was allowed to come in, sit down, and order a beer. It always amazes me when the waitress remembers my name in a place I almost never frequent, but mine did. I secured two seats as Swan would be joining me when the show started at six. I entertained myself by watching the La Oficina dancers practice their routines. Not long after five, another customer came in and asked that the four seats next to mine be reserved for him and his friends. The waitress did so, and he departed.

As time went on, the bar rapidly began filling up with SOB attendees. One guy came to sit in the previously reserved but still empty seats and went ballistic when told he couldn’t do so. He screamed at the bar manager, then yelled at Daddy Dave, who runs the SOB, before storming out. I don’t think he got a refund. Shortly thereafter, the four guys came and filled the seats. By the time the show started, there wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

The SOB format includes free local drinks during show hours between six and eight, which are included in the 700 peso price of admission. I take it as a challenge to consume my money’s worth. When Swan arrived, she ordered her usual glass of red wine. When the waitress brought the wine, she said, “That will be 150 pesos.” Swan told her drinks were supposed to be free, and the waitress responded that wine isn’t considered a “local drink.” Swan told her to take it back then. A bit later, the waitress returned looking glum and said that the glass of wine was being deducted from her salary. Shit. I know that would be at least half of her daily pay, so I had her bring the wine back, and I paid for it. I complained (civilly) to Daddy Dave. He went and spoke with the manager, and then the manager came to me and said the next wine would be free. When Swan was ready for a second glass, she told the waitress what the manager had said. When the waitress returned empty-handed, she told Swan it was still not allowed. Apparently, the so-called manager has no real authority in the bar. I offered to pay the difference between the local drink and wine prices, but that wasn’t acceptable either. I shrugged and told her, okay, so you are losing my future business over fifty pesos. Swan got a Gatorade instead. Fuck you, La Oficina. We won’t be back, even for an SOB.

We stopped in downstairs at Wet Spot for a bit of the SOB Aftermath. My raffle ticket wasn’t drawn in the first round, and I’d had more than enough beers, so we grabbed a trike for home.

I had eaten a few chicken fingers during the SOB and was surprised to later see how many calories that cost me. But the real culprit in my missing my calorie goal yesterday was the twelve San Mig Zeros I downed during the evening.

So, how about some memories from the good ol’ days in Korea:

Damn, I hope I can recapture some of those glory days in my walking life. Maybe I should just be glad I’m still walking at all. I saw today on Facebook that an old dart buddy in South Carolina died yesterday. He was only 53 and succumbed to cancer. RIP Dennis.

Today’s YouTube vlogger tells us about the five things he doesn’t like about life in the Philippines. Yeah, there are some frustrations that come with the territory, but here we are, and here we will remain.

Humor me this:

The big news today is that the Kokomo’s floating bar is now open. So, I’ll be headed out to Baloy Beach with some “welcome back” brownies for the crew. I’ll share some pictures of the event here tomorrow—maybe even a sunset!

I challenged myself yesterday, something I rarely do anymore. Lately, an 8K walk is long for me and pretty much maxes me out. That notorious distance walker, Kevin Kim, recently posted he was going to test an injured foot with a “short” 10K hike. Hmm. Well, that inspired me to take a “short” walk and see how it feels. My goal was 10K, but I picked a route where I could easily bail if need be after 7K. I was in for quite a surprise. Once I hit the 10K target, I just kept on going to see how far these tired old legs could carry me. I finally said “enough” when I hit 13.5K and was standing in front of a trike stand. So, that was a long walk for this version of me, but as the memory photos I posted yesterday show, it was far from a record performance. My longest walk ever was back in December 2017, when I managed 38K (50,000 steps). At the time, I called that achievement a once-in-a-lifetime event, and that is likely the case. Here’s the post I wrote about the adventure. And seeing all those photos from my Pyeongtaek neighborhood really made me miss a life I never fully appreciated. Anyway, I’m motivated to push myself and see just how much I have left in me. My fantasy is to do a 29K walk to Mope Resort in San Narciso. I almost made it halfway there yesterday. We’ll see what the future brings.

Here’s some of what I saw along the way during yesterday’s long trek:

Anyway, I was tired and a little sore when I got home. Swan made me a lunch of shrimp and asparagus that I very much enjoyed.

After a shower, a nap, and a blog post, it was time to hit the road again. First stop: the Angel’s Touch Salon for a foot spa.

I also got a haircut while there. When we left, I was hungry, so we made Myleen’s our dinner destination.

Did our nightcap at Green Room. On the way in, we saw the Hash Grandmaster and his gal at Sloppy Joe’s. They joined us in GR later. It was a nice night out and a good day full of what passes for adventure in my life.

Speaking of which, today is the weekly weigh-in. How’d I do?

• This week’s weight: 246.6
• Last week’s weight: 250.2
• Weight loss: 3.6 pounds
• Weight on November 1: 267.1
• Overall reduction: 20.5 pounds

No reduction this week in my belly circumference (49″). My waist is down 1/2 inch to 43.5.

I’ve just got to keep on keepin’ on. I’ll reach my goal or die trying!

Things Facebook reminded me to remember today:

Today’s YouTube video is about people even dumber than I am.

Probably better to laugh at stuff like this:

Alright, then. Gonna do the SOB tonight at La Oficina. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

This week, the mission of the Wednesday Walkers group was to find the portion of the Hash trail I missed on Monday and hike the bastard. My plan was to start at the finish and walk the trail backward. Ed, who hadn’t missed the turn, advised against this, saying it was a steep and long down that would not be much fun to climb. I didn’t argue the point, and after hiking it myself, I was thankful we had followed his wise advice. We weren’t ready to stop once we’d hit bottom, so I led the group on a path I had recently discovered. We finished the hike with a little over 6K behind us, and then some of the group did a bit of R&R at The Rite Spot. It was a good morning on trail!

When it was time to head into town for some evening entertainment, we kicked things off at It Doesn’t Matter. I was thinking we’d have some liquid refreshments, then head over to Myleen’s for dinner. Oddly enough, when the dinner hour arrived, neither of us felt particularly hungry. So, instead, we paid a visit to Alaska Club. The place was pretty busy with a pool tourney in progress and several other customers. One was a big spender who called all the dancers down from the stage for lady drinks—saved me from my usual fifty peso tip per dancer, so thanks for that! We treated our waitress and the new mamasan (someone Swan knew from years ago) to a lady drink, and I had cookies and lollipops for the other gals. One unique aspect of the Alaska Club experience is they provide a free bowl of freshly popped popcorn at the table. We all snacked on that until it was time to go home, and I was able to successfully skip dinner calories. I did enjoy my pudding dessert, though.

And now for a stroll down memory lane:

These two memories are significant based on something that happened today. But that’s a story for tomorrow!

And seven years ago, back when my life had purpose and meaning, I was doing this:

It was cold that morning, too:

Good times!

Today’s YouTube video is a little different. It talks about why, after three hundred years of Spanish rule, the Spanish language never took root in the way English did after the Americans took over. It’s less than five minutes long, but it explains something I’ve wondered about since moving here. Spanish is my second language (well, I passed the required courses in college), but it is as useless here as my limited Korean vocabulary. Actually, because of the love of K-dramas/K-pop and the influx of Korean tourists, my “kamsamnida” is recognized more often than a “muchas gracias” is. Oh well, I’ve learned to say “salamat” as well.

And now for some humor:

I’m going to take Swan along for a foot spa and a haircut (for me). We’ll have dinner at Myleen’s, and then we’ll see where the beverages are flowing. Come back tomorrow for a report on my solo walk this morning.

I’ll get to that. But let’s start from the beginning, shall we? It wasn’t a bad day for a Tuesday.

But I’m still thinking of that other holiday…the one we Yanks call Thanksgiving. And I impulsively decided to prepare a feast at home this year.

I also bought the fixin’s to make candied yams and my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad. I’ll pick up some additional things next week after I’ve finalized the menu planning. It has been over a decade since I prepared a Thanksgiving dinner. Looking forward to it.

My box freezer died, so on the way back from Royal we stopped at the Savers appliance store. I decided a big side-by-side fridge/freezer was a better option than replacing the box-style freezer, and this big beauty was on sale:

I didn’t use to walk on Tuesdays, but every step counts in my quest to lose weight, so for the second week in a row, I strolled through the neighborhood.

We spent our Tuesday evening on Baloy Beach.

No other customers this time, and none of that cursed videoke crap.

So, the bar staff invited me to plug into the Bluetooth speaker and play whatever I liked from my Spotify app. The music was extra special last night! I caught myself singing along with some of my old favorites and noted the hypocrisy of my karaoke complaints. It’s okay when I do it!

When it was time for some grub, we took a beach walk back to Treasure Island. I was getting a little tired of ignoring my favorite dishes and settling on salad instead. So, I perused the menu and checked the ‘net for calorie content. I found one item I rarely eat, but it seemed like a bargain at 325 calories.

During our Treasure Island visit, our neighbor Mike came by and joined us at the bar (he ate my fries). We attended the same high school, so we share the commonality of a Westminster, California upbringing. I invited him to join us for the Thanksgiving feast I’m plotting. When it was time to go home, we had a comfortable ride in his automobile.

Once inside the house, I set about making a batch of sugar-free pudding for my dessert. And that’s when Swan discovered the keys to the bedroom were missing and the door was locked.

I had unlocked the door when I returned for my phone and locked it again when I left. It didn’t make sense that I wouldn’t leave the keys in the usual place, but maybe in my rush, I left them in the room. Now what? We grabbed a hammer and screwdriver and thought about breaking the lock, but we didn’t really have a clue about how to proceed with doing that. Swan then said she would borrow the neighbor’s ladder and climb in through a bedroom window. Nope, that was way too risky for my thinking (and I’m way too big to crawl through a window to do it myself). So, we fetched my part-time helper’s boyfriend up from the basement. The new plan was for him to climb the ladder to the bedroom patio and then cut through the screen door to unlock it from the outside. Let’s do it!

Once inside the newly unlocked bedroom, the keys were nowhere to be found. Had I put them in my pocket and then lost them somewhere on the beach? The mystery was solved when my helper Teri returned home. She had gone into the bedroom to finish cleaning after we had left and then taken the door keys with her by mistake. Thanks for that, Teri. Well, I now carry a bedroom key on my keychain, so an event like this will never reoccur.

And I also just realized that I have posted online a method for breaking into my house for the world to see. Oh, well, I’ll take my chances.

In other news, today was the viewing of John Kim’s body before his burial tomorrow. I didn’t attend because I prefer to remember people as they were, not their dead bodies.

Today’s YouTube video tells the story of a guy who got caught with a married woman. I guess I’m in no position to judge. Swan has never been married. I think this guy goes too far in his criticism of dating married women. Many have been abandoned. I met one whose “husband” was working overseas and had started a new family there. But divorce is not legal in the Philippines, so she was stuck. Anyway, unless the spouse files a complaint, you can’t be charged with adultery. So, be aware and do what works for you.

Alright, how about these?

Nothing specific in my plans for tonight, but it is likely to involve bars and alcohol. We shall see.

You live until you die and make the best of the time you have. Well, at least you fill the hours, however comfortably and well. I’ve got my routines, and they wouldn’t be routines if I didn’t enjoy them. Perhaps it appears that I am wasting the gift of life, but I’m exercising the right to choose my path unless and until I choose a different one. I guess the recent passing of John Kim triggered these moments of self-reflection. Of course, there is no resolution until the final one that death brings. In the meantime, all we can do is keep moving forward and hope for the best. Way back in those wild and wooly 1970s, I was a big fan and reader of what we called “underground comics.” R. Crumb was one of my favorites. He answered the age-old question of the meaning of life in a way I’ve never forgotten:

So, I just had a little adventure as I searched for that comic cover above. One of the images in the search result included a link to an old post here at Long Time Gone:

That link referred to this post from 2010, in which I was doing a similar navel-gazing session. All these years later, here I am, reaching the same conclusion–it don’t mean shit!

On with it, then. My Sunday morning featured the Candy Walk with Swan. Pretty much the same as always, although we carried additional treats this time and serviced a record-setting 250 children. Hmm, maybe “serviced” is the wrong word, but you know what I mean.

Typhoon Pepito thankfully proved to be a dud, at least in this neck of the woods. There was a heavy downpour in the afternoon, and that was about it. Nothing I couldn’t resolve by carrying an umbrella when I headed out to Hideaway for the feeding.

And then, it was time to pay my first visit to John’s place without John being present in this world. I felt the sad vibe that permeated the restaurant when I walked through the door. A “remembrance” with lighted candles and this photo of John was positioned on the counter near where he used to sit in his recliner:

John’s wife, Lin, was not around, which is understandable. John’s memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday in Olongapo. I was hoping to ask Lin whether she needed any assistance, but there was a donation jar set up, so I was able to contribute.

I don’t know how things will be going forward for the restaurant. Rent has to be expensive for two floors on the National Highway. Perhaps a smaller venue can be found to save money. Some potential warning signs that John’s absence doesn’t bode well for the future included being out of gin and discovering that the Korean-style chicken wings I’ve always enjoyed were “unavailable.” Anyway, I understand the focus for now is on mourning, and I’m withholding any judgment and hoping for the best possible outcome.

We did our nightcap at the Green Room and had a pleasant enough time. Then, it was home to my sugar-free pudding, and then off to bed.

And now, some memories. I participated in the ill-fated Hash run in San Antonio five years ago.

The area where we were accused of trespassing had no fences or keep-out signs. I wrote about the experience here.

Today’s YouTube video features Reekay advising folks to “keep it simple.” I agree, and as regular readers know, it doesn’t get much simpler than the life I’m living. I also go out of my way to avoid drama. That’s the sweetest part of my relationship with Swan; she doesn’t play those games.

And now those funny things:

Speaking of the Hash, it’s that day again. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and he is known for both his well-marked trails and their difficulty. I am sure today will not be an exception because I’ve seen the map. I’ve already pre-planned my shortcut! I’ll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.

And the “first time hearing” reaction video:

Another day in the life successfully completed. No complaints and no apologies. What passes as a good time for me may not seem that meaningful, but I know I’ll miss these days when they are gone. So, as we used to say back in the day, Keep On Truckin’! The irony that the name of the group that made that saying popular was Grateful Dead just hit me. Jerry Garcia died at age 53, so I’m grateful to be still alive!

The Friday hikers traveled to Castillejos and did a river walk to Balon Falls. We did this hike several months ago, so I was not disappointed to discover that what has been deemed “falls” is basically water running downhill. Still, it was a scenic and pleasant journey and we all agreed it is worth the trip a couple of times a year.

When I got back home, Swan served me lunch.

I’m included in a Facebook Messenger group called “Usual Suspects.” It’s some of the neighborhood folks and other friends. Matt had just returned from a two-week tour of Vietnam, so a welcome home gathering was convened at Thumbstar bar. The fellas and their gals clustered around a large table (guys on one end, girls on the other, of course), and the beer and beverages flowed. We raised a glass in memory of John Kim, talked some politics, and filled the hours until it was time to depart for dinner. A consensus was reached to visit the nearby Hops and Brews, and off we went.

Yes, some loud karaoke broke out during our visit. I didn’t participate; perhaps I wasn’t drunk enough. When it was time to go, most of the group headed to Red Bar. I was out of calories, so we hitched a ride home with neighbor, Mike, for the usual early ending of my Friday night.

For those of you following along, here is yesterday’s report card:

Another day, and another typhoon is headed our way.

And now for the memories:

Today’s YouTube video is more news about Pepito. Could be a wet Hash on Monday.

Let’s give ’em something to laugh about:

Well, the rain stopped, at least for now. I’ll take that as a sign to escape from the house for a bit this evening. Not sure where we will go, but I’m thinking we’re overdue for a visit to Kon-Tiki. Never been there on a Saturday, so it might be interesting to see how different that vibe feels, if at all. We’ll see how it goes as I keep on truckin’ through the day…

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been

And the “first time hearing” reaction video:

John Kim, of John’s Sushi and Steak fame, passed away yesterday. He had been dealing with kidney failure and dialysis for the past year. Last Sunday, he suffered a stroke. Word on the street was that he had been comatose ever since, and the end came shortly after they removed him from life support. Tough way to go, but at least his suffering has ended. I’m not sure what the future holds for his restaurant, but I expect it will not survive without him at the helm.

Meanwhile, I’m inspired to continue living my life to the fullest as long as I am able. Swan was getting her driver’s license in Olongapo, so I did a long-neglected solo street stroll through the streets of Barretto. In honor of the event, I took a photo at each milestone:

I had a 3 p.m. appointment for my first chelation therapy treatment with Dr. Jo. It went fine once she found a vein willing to be poked with a needle. She said the standard is thirty-plus weekly sessions at 2000 a pop. Hey, if it keeps me alive a little longer, it is worth it. I haven’t noticed any adverse side effects thus far. I had been experiencing some body aches and foot pains during sleeping hours, but they weren’t in evidence last night. I’m not saying chelation had anything to do with that, but I hope it is more than a coincidence.

It was still early when my session with Dr. Jo was completed, but there was no point in going back home to wait for beer o’clock. My helper Teri had never visited the Central Park Reef hotel rooftop before, so that is where we started.

We finished our glasses of wine and headed down to the beach.

We continued the beach walk until we arrived at the Papagayo Resort and stopped in for dinner.

So, I usually go for the enchiladas when I dine here, but I overcame my urge and explored other options, settling for a grilled chicken breast dish.

That photo seems to capture my new dietary lifestyle. But fewer calories on my plate make room for more alcoholic beverages. And we made Green Room our next stop. It was my gin and soda night, and I intended to stop at five. But Daddy Dave joined us at our table and bought a round, so I ended up imbibing six for the night.

Commenter Kevin mentioned something called “Intuitive Eating.” I joked that it reminded me of the seafood diet—I see food, and I eat it. I honestly don’t see how eating intuitively would work for me. My hybrid plan (reduce calories and burn more while making healthier low-carb menu choices) forces me to think about what goes in my mouth. Relying on my brain to tell me to eat when I feel like it is the reason I’m fat now.

Speaking of which, today is weigh-in day, and here is where things stand:

• Weight on November 15: 250.2 lbs
• Last week’s weight: 258.7 lbs
• Weekly weight loss: 8.5 lbs
• Beginning weight on November 1: 267.1
• Overall weight loss: 16.9 pounds

My belly circumference is at 49″, down from 52″ on November 1. My waist remains unchanged at 44″.

I’m surprised at the pounds lost and doubt I will continue to lose weight at that rate. Still, I’m progressing and will continue working towards my goal.

To the memories courtesy of Facebook:

Today’s YouTube video almost brought tears to my eyes. The vlogger is from Manila and is exploring the Barretto nightlife scene. But he starts out with dinner at John’s place. You won’t be forgotten, John. I’ve never watched this guy before, but he drinks Zero and loves Barretto. We have that much in common, at least.

Let’s lighten the load with some humor:

I’m skipping the SOB tonight. Instead, Swan and I will attend a gathering of the neighbors at Thumbstar Bar and take it from there. I hope to be back here tomorrow to share those stories.

I took some steps in a different direction yesterday, and this is where they led me:

Kicked things off with the Wednesday Walkers and the rare trip out to SBMA for a walk around.

When it was time for a walk on the beach, Swan and I walked to Baloy Beach. I planned to start at the new Drunken Sailor bar we visited last week. I messaged my friend Jessa and asked if they had stocked beverages other than beer, and she assured me they did. When we arrived, the waitress said, “Sorry, only beer is available.” Well, it was supposed to be my gin night, so we demurred and departed. I messaged Jessa again, and she was surprised—apparently, there was some miscommunication with the staff.

Well, there are always other options, and Swan was ready for her walk on the beach. Let’s go to Kokomo’s!

When we arrived at Kokomo’s, other customers were occupying the bar area. That’s unusual–we are usually the only ones there when we visit. No problem, we could sit at one of the beachside tables. But as we prepared to do so, someone at the bar began singing in some godawful loud karaoke music. No thanks, I wasn’t going to sit and be subjected to that noise.

Now, what? Time for a different path. We continued up the beach to a place called Laharnyz. I’d been there once years ago and didn’t care much for it. I walked by lots of times since and never saw anything to change my mind. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I STILL hadn’t had an adult beverage!

Well, I’ll be damned. The place is as dumpy as ever, but something has changed (or I have). A really friendly and laid-back vibe. Good music played at low volume. The Baloy expat scene differs from Barretto’s, so almost everyone there was a stranger, but we all got along just fine. Later, my old dart teammate Mark came in, and it was nice catching up with him. I had a great time at Laharnyz, and we will definitely be back.

When it was time to grab some grub, we walked up the beach to Treasure Island

Things didn’t go the way we planned, but sometimes that results is a pleasant new experience. It made me think of this story from my past life for some reason. Nothing that dramatic, but I did discover a new beach hangout, so there’s that.

A good day on my health journey as well. Got my steps in and kept the calories below my threshold.

No updates on John Kim posted as yet. I’m worried the news won’t be good.

Eight years ago I was enjoying my first visit to Bangkok. Played some darts while there and got recognized as the tournament MVP. Ah, the glory days.

I’ve been seeing posts and comments saying I’m stupid because I support Trump. Well, I love my country, and if that makes me dumb, so be it. Then again, looking at all the red on the election maps, I’m in the majority, so maybe it is stupid to call me stupid.

Today’s YouTube video features a visitor to the Subic Bay area and his impressions as he explores the area. He spent some time in Barretto and even mentions meeting some Hashers. I don’t recall seeing him (the video is a year old), but you might enjoy watching his experience.

And now the jokes:

I am in a bit of a rush with today’s post because I have an appointment with Dr. Jo today. I’m going to begin chelation therapy to improve my heart health. The little bit I’ve read on the subject implies that the science of this treatment for this purpose is unsettled. Well, the FDA doesn’t approve it, so that is a good sign that it works. We’ll see how it goes.

Or should I say, seven downed? I report, you decide.

Welp, Tuesdays tend to be a bland day for me, but yesterday was at least bland in a somewhat different way. Did the usual, then added some tweaks. Here’s how it looked:

I wasn’t in the mood to dodge traffic on the National Highway again this week, so I refrained from walking home from Royal. Instead, when the groceries were unloaded, I took a stroll through the neighborhood.

Tuesday was traditionally the day I don’t hike, but things change when you gotta burn off the calories. 12,000 steps is better than nothing.

Swan was not feeling up to going out last night, so Plan B was invoked. When I departed the house alone, I still didn’t know where I was going. A block or so away, I considered turning around and just hanging out at The Rite Spot, but my forward momentum carried me onward toward town.

I had once again skipped lunch, so I was feeling hungry. Hitting the bars on an empty stomach didn’t seem like a wise course of action, so I made Sit-n-Bull my first stop.

It had been a while since I’d been out on the town without Swan by my side. I missed her and didn’t feel like visiting our regular haunts alone. So, I changed things up by popping into one of my old hangouts that I seldom visit these days: Cheap Charlies.

A really different vibe in CC last evening. Just me and one other customer. Other than the bartender and cashier, there was no one there I knew. All my old regulars being gone, I drank alone and saved on lady drinks. After two Zeros, I was ready to move on.

I headed down the highway to the side of town I rarely visit these days. A bar has just opened in the space previously occupied by Adam’s Bar. So, I decided to pop in and see what it was all about.

I didn’t find the music to be to my liking, content or volume-wise. So, I moved my ass outside and sat in the smoking area.

Two more Zeros and I headed out. I don’t think I’ll be making the Hangout bar a place I hang out.

I moved on to my final destination of the evening, Snackbar. I used to be a regular here, but times and circumstances change. The only two waitresses working were both friends from the old days, so it was nice to see them and catch up on things. A lady drink for each, two Zeros for me, and I was ready to call it a night.

It was only about 7 p.m. when I caught the trike for home, and only seven Zeros were consumed. I guess that means it was seven up and seven downed.

Here’s the stats from yesterday for those following along on my dietary adventure:

And some sad news to report. I mentioned that I didn’t see John Kim when we dined at his place last Sunday. Yesterday, his wife posted this on Facebook:

Hello our Dear Friend’s,Customer’s & Followers

My name is Lin and I’m writing this post for my Loving life partner John Kim.

He was admitted last Sunday at Ulticare Medical Center ( ICU department ) here in Barretto. My partner had severe head pain and couldn’t focus and later on became disoriented. Bad condition had CT Scan and found out that he had STROKE BRAIN BLEEDING and need to undergo Brain Surgery as soon as possible. to add with his bad condition he also need a blood transfusion at least 6unit of Blood A+ to stabilize and 6 unit more if he undergoes brain surgery. Again our dear friends, Customer’s & followers. I’m calling for any donation & support I could gather for him to survive. Please Pray for him, Maraming Salamat Po.

The situation sounds dire, especially given John’s other health issues. I’m O+ and so can’t contribute to the needed blood donation. The word has gone out through several other sources in town, so hopefully we have some A+ folks willing to help. I’m hoping for the best.

Today’s YouTube video recites eight qualities that attract women to an older man. Alas, only #7 seems to apply to me, especially after I purchase a lady drink. I remember asking once, what attracted you to me? The girl replied, “To be honest, it was the bulge in your pants. ” I looked down proudly at my crotch, and she said, “No, not that one,” and then pointed at my wallet.

Well, maybe you will find these funny:

And life goes on. An 8K trek on SBMA this morning was nice for a change of scenery. I asked Swan if she was feeling up to going out this evening, and she said she wanted to walk barefoot in the sand. So, Baloy Beach, here we come! I’ll have a full report tomorrow.

Here’s some Traffic noise to enjoy:

It’s the one day of the year set aside to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served in the military defending our freedoms. Thank you for your service to America!

Swan woke up on Sunday morning not feeling well, but the thought of all those disappointed children provided the impetus to do the Candy Walk anyway. We did it slow and easy and cut it a little shorter than usual, but we still managed to hand out goodies to over 200 children.

Swan took some meds and napped when we got back home and was feeling better later in the afternoon.

I carried out my weekly mission to Hideaway Bar for a feeding.

Two gin and sodas later (one every thirty minutes), it was time to cross the highway for my dinner date with Swan at John’s place. I didn’t see John this week, but I did see this:

I had a craving for John’s birria tacos, but my calorie counter said that would cost me 750.

So, what about me? I was thinking about doing pulled pork without the bun, but then I saw an item on the menu I’d never tried before.

I guess I’m not the only one wanting to know the difference. The link says gyros are usually served on pita bread, but the one I had was on a wrap, hence contributing to my confusion. Regardless, it was quite tasty and worth the 500 calories I expended.

We had our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I enjoyed my final two gin and sodas of the night (six total if you are counting). My neighbor Mike stopped in for a quick beer, and we snatched a ride home with him. Sugar-free butterscotch pudding for dessert was a sweet ending to my Sunday.

I still managed to stay under my 1800-calorie target. However, I didn’t make my daily step goal of at least 15,000. Still, when Swan hugged me this morning, she exclaimed that, for the first time, she could reach all the way around my midsection. That’s one way to measure progress, I suppose. The tape measure says my belly girth is now 49 inches, down from 52 on November 1.

On this day in 2017, I was perusing the menu of a bar I frequented in Anjeong-ri, the village I lived in outside the Army base.

The photo below is also from 2017, the day we shut down our office on Yongsan Garrison and relocated to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. Today is Juyoung’s birthday (the gal next to me), and I posted the pic as a greeting to her from the good ol’ days. I am happy with my current life, but I also miss those days in Korea.

This also came up in my Facebook feed today:

Today’s YouTube video is a nice street show from Saigon. I really enjoyed my visit to Vietnam a few years ago and this brought back some pleasant memories.

And now for the funny business:

Another Hash Monday has arrived. The weather outside has been dicey this morning, but hopefully it won’t be too wet this afternoon. We’ll find out soon enough. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.