The hourglass that is your lifetime comes in many sizes; in most cases, the bigger, the better. If a grain of sand is the equivalent to a day in the life, here’s what my particle of yesterday looked like:
Feeling like a king doing the grocery shopping at Royal.A discounted Nativity scene. Yeah, I don’t believe that story either.Home from shopping, I embarked on a 4K neighborhood walk on the streets of Alta Vista.
Then, I was off to an appointment with Dr. Jo for the second installment of my chelation therapy. Other than getting a needle poke for the injection, it was pretty painless. This will likely be a regular event for the next several weeks. It’s 2000 pesos a pop, but if it helps clear those blocked arteries, it is worth the time and money.
It being Tuesday, Baloy Beach was next on our agenda.
Toes in the sand againThe floating bar view. As I expected, the cloud cover precluded seeing the sunset.A gin and soda night for meA batch of my brownies for the brown knees on boardSwan and Lizza (the Kokomo owner’s spouse)A quiet Tuesday on the beach, but it was surprisingly busy on the floating barI didn’t get to see the sun go down behind the mountain, but it left a colorful sky for me to enjoyGoodbye until next weekNext stop, Treasure IslandSwan had tacos for dinnerAnd I couldn’t resist the beef enchiladas. I only ate one last night and saved the other for breakfast. That’s how you divide and conquer those calories!
So, I mentioned a while back that Swan had bought some almond flour and keto sugar. Yesterday, she put her new ingredients to work and baked a carrot cake.
It came out looking like a regular carrot cake does.This slice was my dessert when we got home last night.
I’m sorry to say, looks can be deceiving. It tasted dry and unsweet, lacking the flavorful richness I’m accustomed to. That small slice cost me 180 calories, and it was unsatisfying to my sweet tooth. Needless to say, I won’t be tempted to indulge again.
Another under-budget day
One year ago, the next step in my recovery from nasal nodule surgery was removing the internal bandages.
Not a pretty sight and it was painful as well.
Today’s YouTube video is from one of my favorite vloggers, The Filipina Pea. In this installment, she responds to viewers’ emails in a fashion reminiscent of Dear Abby. Some of the situations these guys get into with their Filipinas are so bad as to be almost funny. Not that I have any room to talk. My biggest diversion (perversion?) was dating the eighteen-year-old and not grasping how weird it truly was until my granddaughter celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Nope, I couldn’t continue on that road after that. Still, I never even considered asking out the mother of a girl I had been dating like one of Pea’s fans. Pea is wise beyond her years in the advice she provides.
If that wasn’t funny enough, how about these:
That’s one of my old jokes, captured in a meme. Oh well, I stole it from somewhere anyway. My version was: Forget the past; it can’t be changed. Forget the future; it’s a mystery. Forget the present, I didn’t get you one.I guess that’s one form of datingIt seems Olive is always trying to make it hard on Popeye.
So, I had a good hike this morning and have no plans as yet for this evening. Something special is coming here to LTG tomorrow. I hope you’ll come back and read all about it.
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' Into the future Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' Into the future
It was a good Hash trail yesterday, especially since our shortcuts preempted the main hill climb. Most of the trail we did was through familiar territory, and as usual, Leech My Nuggets did an excellent job marking our path, so there were no wrong turns. There was, however, a butthead on the trail that tried to fuck things up for us. Thankfully, we avoided the worst of his aggression, but Pubic Head took a painful hit that knocked him to the ground and left him bruised. You just never know when some mean fucker is going to attack as you innocently walk by. Sure, you can play it safe and give a carabao a wide berth, but you don’t expect a goat to turn on you. In this case, the goat was tied next to our narrow path, and there was no room for a walkaround. Pubic Head was leading the way and was surprised to suddenly come under attack. As I approached the scene, the goat turned and came towards me. I gave him a whack on the head with my walking stick; he paused, then put his head down and pushed towards me once more, so I hit him again. We seemed to be at an impasse, but then one of the group yanked his rope, and the goat retreated, allowing us to make our escape. Later, we ran out of beer before the Hash Circle was over. Two fuck ups in one Hash sucks. Oh well, it could have been worse. I didn’t get impaled or impaired, as I was limited to Zero beers—six of them.
The Hash trail started at the 7-Eleven in Matain. We walked there from Barretto, adding around two kilometers to the grind. You can see how much the gals that accompanied me enjoyed it!The gathering HashI thought crossing the highway would be the most dangerous part of the hike. I was blissfully unaware of the goat fuck to come.The rare shot of me leading the pack. It lasted for all of fifty yards or so.The first climb of the dayCome on up, the weather’s fine!Back on the flatWoodsyStreetwalkersOnward we trudgeMan on a hot tin roofCums Alone doing her thingFeeling a little downMore kids along the wayAnd now, a stroll through the valleyWalkin’ the lineNot much margin for errorThis was a wicked combination of water, mud, and barbed wire.As we were passing through the Divine Mercy graveyard, Cums Alone left the road. When I asked where she was going, she told me, “To see my mom.”She left a wildflower she had picked on the gravestoneMy first Easter Mountain shot of the dayI was in the process of taking this photo when I heard a shout, and the group came to a halt. As I approached, Pubic Head was just getting up off the ground.Then, it was my turn to confront the deranged goat. I gave him a couple of whacks, but he didn’t back off. Fortunately, when someone tugged on his rope, he retreated without further incident.And then we had a river crossingThe freedom of wet feetAnother Easter Mountain viewBack on the relative safety of the wide open roadThree years older than me when her time was up.Heading up into Alta VistaThree different trails have gone this way, but #1631 is the one that mattered yesterdayOn-Home at Leech My Nuggets’ placeHanging out before the CircleThe CircleDeflowering a virginThis week the Hashit went to Tiny Cunt FuckerThe way it was—8K for the yellow and 6K with our shortcuts in purple.I added 2K with the walk from my place.
As I mentioned, the beer ran out before the Hash was over. Since we were already in Alta Vista, we went home instead of visiting IDM. Walking in the dark, even for a short distance, wasn’t fun. But we made it without a fall, so there’s that. A burger patty for dinner, then viewing some crappy YouTube videos before calling it a night.
Back on track
I’m looking better than I was one year ago:
Breathing better now that those nose nodules have been removed
Today’s YouTube video is entitled “Five Minutes of Your Life You’ll Never Get Back.” Since I invested five minutes of my precious time, here’s your opportunity to do the same. It’s a video from a trike ride through the streets of Angeles City. There is no commentary whatsoever. Being a sometimes visitor to AC, I recognized some of the scenes. It didn’t make me miss it there, though.
To the humor, then:
It looks more like a tongue-lashing‘Tis the seasonIf she wasn’t on the naughty list, she is now!
I’ll be visiting Dr. Jo this afternoon for round two of my chelation therapy. Then, we’ll move on to Baloy Beach for our Tuesday floating bar experience. Back with more on this tomorrow.
I’ll be visiting Dr. Jo this afternoon for round two of my chelation therapy. Then, we’ll move on to Baloy Beach for our Tuesday floating bar experience. Back with more on this tomorrow.
Goodbye to you, Pozorrubio. Perhaps we will meet again next year.
Well I woke up Sunday mornin', with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more, for dessert Then I fumbled through my closet, for my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt And I shaved my face and combed my hair and, stumbled down the stairs to meet the day
I’m no Kris Kristofferson, so after my forgotten Saturday night, my head didn’t hurt, and I didn’t have a beer for breakfast. Maybe I should have.
Remnants from my drunken shopping at 7-Eleven the night before sufficed for my Sunday morning breakfast. Actually, the Snickers bar is “only” 279 calories, and it satisfied my hunger until we were back home for a proper lunch.
We rode home with Tiny Cunt (Keith) and his girl for a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour trip. Along the way, we passed the cleanest city in the Philippines.
Sorry for the blurry photo; it was taken at high speed on the expressway.I’ve heard lots of talk about Concepcion being “immaculate.” (Yes, I went through all that effort just to make this lame joke, but that’s the way I roll.)
Anyway, we arrived home a little after eleven. Swan prepared a nice ribeye steak and broccoli lunch, and then I got to work on yesterday’s massive post. When I finished that, it was time to prepare myself for my Sunday evening endeavors.
Dinner for the five Hideaway gals delivered from Jewel Cafe lightened my wallet by 1500 pesos.
Hideaway had a decent crowd, so that was good to see. The girls enjoyed their food and thanked me profusely. I had two gin and sodas, then headed across the highway to John’s Place for dinner with my sweetheart.
That would be her.The view from John’s when I arrived.And a bit later after sundown.I continued my calorie splurge by satisfying my craving for birria tacos. Three to a serving, but I gave one of them to Swan, thereby limiting the damage to 400 calories. Oh, and I washed it down with a gin and soda.
With dinner over and done with, we moseyed up the highway to The Green Room to enjoy our nightcap. Swan brought some of John’s delicious chicken wings to share with our favorites there. Three more gin and sodas, and we called it a night. I satiated my sweet tooth with some canned cranberries, then hit the hay.
That’s three days in a row I exceeded my calorie goal. I’ll try to do better this week.And eat less!
Here are a few other photos from my weekend on the farm:
The hotel we stayed in this year. Last year at The Mansion was more to my liking.Is it RDT or J’adore Grand? If they don’t know, I sure as hell don’t, although the trike drivers call it RDT.A view from my third-floor room. The room wasn’t much better, and the wifi sucked.That’s our room with the towels in the window. I told Swan the housekeeper would bring fresh towels, and Swan said, “What if no one comes to clean?” Turns out, she was right.Heading out to start our Saturday with Haggis Bash Hash. If you read yesterday’s post, you already know how it ended for me.Our Hash host and farm owner, Honeydew.Christmas decorations down on the farm. Well, I brought the lady with me.That’s my fat gut at the Friday circleAnd my drunk ass at Saturday night’s after-Hash gathering of the Subic Bay contingent.
So, been there, done that, got the t-shirt:
And life goes on until it doesn’t.
Speaking of which, this was my life twelve years ago:
A cigarette in my hand and a wife at my side. Everything changes, not always for the better.
It was good to see that our soon-to-be former President is being appropriately honored by the USPS:
Today’s YouTube video once again raises the question of why some folks are quitting the Philippines. I don’t know anyone bailing for other than medical issues, but maybe my circle knew the things the vlogger identifies and came anyway. I know nothing here took me by surprise. Sure, there are frustrations, but that would be true wherever I lived.
And now the jokes are on me:
Sounds more like “All In The Family” than “Star Trek”Talk about an asswhuppin’And now we’ve covered both sidesof the spectrum
Hash Monday has arrived once again. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and the On-Home will take place at his house here in Alta Vista. Leech is one of the best when it comes to a well-marked trail, which I always appreciate. He also provided my fellow short cutter, Pubic Head, with a map in advance so we could plot our deviations. And so we have done. I’ll let you know how that works out for us tomorrow.
I came across today’s music video in my Facebook memories. Arizona was the best place I’ve ever lived (at least in the USA), and this song has always had a special place in my heart. It’s from the opening credits of the movie Junior Bonner and was filmed in Prescott, the town where I used to live. The songwriter and performer, Rod Hart, played in a bar band in Prescott and I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live on several occasions. Give it a listen:
Morning, Arizona morning
Almost sets me free
Makes me glad to be alive
Wondering, why I started wandering
Should have stayed right here
Underneath the clear blue skiesSadness, changing now to gladness
With the rustle of the breeze
Through the pinon trees where I lay
In the morning, Arizona morning
A place where I can smile
And see a hundred miles away
The birds are flying high above the morning
Singing to the colors of the dawn
And in my mind, I hear a gentle warning
You've been a rounder and a rambler much too longAnd a rover, wishing it was over
All my battles won, resting in the sun this way
In the morning, Arizona morning
Coming home today, wishing I could stay
Wishing I could stay
Here’s the movie (slightly shorter) version that I had posted on Facebook all those years ago:
And I also came across this short video talking about some of the backstage shenanigans that resulted in a bar band performer doing the opening song in a Sam Peckinpah film:
Get your mind out of the gutter; I’m not talking about THAT! It was a busy and full Saturday at the Haggis Hash. There were two trail options for the morning hike–a short 3.5K trail or a long 9.5K version. I was hoping for something in between, but since I was unfamiliar with the area, shortcutting wasn’t a consideration. As we departed, I still hadn’t made up my mind about what I was going to do. And then when we reached the spot where the short trail diverged, I impulsively decided to go the distance and do the long trail. Shocking, I know. Swan came along with me, but I sensed she wasn’t happy about it initially. But she came around as we shared the adventure. It took us over two hours to finish the well-marked trail, but surprisingly, we finished ahead of four other Hashers. Here are some photos of our journey:
Gathering at the startOn-On!The middle of the packAnd the back of the pack, where I tend to hang outThe goats seemed surprised to see usThere go the short trail takersAnd that’s the way ahead for the long walkers. The majority of this group is already so far in front of us that they are out of sight. A couple of Hashers are still in view up ahead, but that didn’t last long. For most of the remainder of the hike, it was just the two of us. Thankfully, the Hare did a great job marking the trail, and Swan has sharp eyes and saw the marks I missed.The first kids we saw on the hike. And yes, we had goodies to share.Farm country is flat and that’s a feature I likeI thought this decrepit building was unoccupied until I saw the laundry hung out to dry.And we were surprised to see an old woman in a wheelchair inside. That’s Swan giving the granny some cookies.It was a hot day, and occasional spots with shade were refreshingMore kids receiving the cookie bountyThe Hare used strips of tissue paper for trail markings, which could be seen from a distance and helped to keep us on the right path. That’s better than the ribbons sometimes used at the Subic Hash because the paper is biodegradable and will disappear after some rain.A shady spot pauseAh, the proverbial rickety bridge crossing. This one doesn’t look very strong or sturdy,Swan is only half my sizeIt was dicey in places, but I made it acrossSwimming in the riverStill going strongWife says, “you can have a truck or a motorcycle, but not both!” Well, looky there, other Hashers! Turns out they had missed a turn and had to backtrack allowing us to get ahead of them.The first water crossing of the daySwan wasn’t happy about getting her shoes wetWe gave this cow plenty of room as we passedA brief walk in the woodsAnd then back out in the sunny fieldsThe Hare is fucking with us at about the halfway point in our journey. “Walang” means none.Not as impressive as the dams on Kevin’s walk, but this is the Philippines.More kids to pleaseWalking on the rocky riversideAnd then walking in the riverFlirting with my girlfriend?I’ll take that as a good signNow I’m motivated!I recognize that windmill! Our Haggis On-Home farm is in sight!I don’t recall any Hash trail I’ve done longer than this one. Glad it was flat!The way we walked.
The hiking was done, but the Haggis festivities were just beginning. It started with a hamburger lunch. I skipped the buns but had two patties and some potato salad. I drank tea with the meal, knowing that I had several hours to go and the beer could wait. When we moved outside for the games, I started on the beer but worked hard at slowing down my usual rate of consumption. I was also feeling tired, in part from the hike but also because it was the time of day I normally nap. I elected not to participate in the Haggis games, instead finding a shady spot to sit and sip my beer.
I occasionally got my lazy ass up to check how the games were going. This was the piggyback race.Swan and her partner in the sack race.Swan’s team finished secondI’d never seen an event quite like this one. The girls are blindfolded and pass buckets of water by pouring it into the bucket being held behind them. It was kind of fun to watch.Not surprisingly, most of them ended up wet.
So, the games went on for a couple of hours, and then it was finally time to begin the Hash Circle. They don’t do ice at the Haggis Hash, but they did employ a “bucket brigade” to toss water on Hashers when called upon to do so. I got my turn to be drenched before the circle ended.
My view at the Circle. There must have been more than a hundred Hashers in attendance.We were served “Scottish eggs” as a snack at the Circle.The bucket brigade in actionMe after my drenching
After a long-ass Circle finally ended, we moved back inside for the dinner.
The bagpipe manThe bagpiper led the procession to kick off the dinner. A short speech was made in a thick Scottish brogue that I didn’t understand a word of.Everyone was provided this small serving of haggis with some sweet potato. There was also a full-fledged dinner buffet, so no one went home hungry.
I arrived at the farm around 9 a.m. We started the trail at 10 and finished around 12:30. I had my first beer a little after 1:00. The games finished after four o’clock, and the circle went on until 6:30. Dinner was served at 7 p.m. We left the Hash sometime after 8:00 but didn’t return directly to the hotel. Instead, we stopped in town at a beer garden. I don’t recall whose idea that was.
The Subic contingent and buckets of beer. And we were serenaded at our table by this duo.
That’s all I remember. I woke up in my hotel bed at 6:30 this morning, which is sleeping in for me. Swan gave me a Coke Zero to drink, and I asked her where it came from. She said we stopped at the 7-Eleven on the way to the room. How did we get back? She said we took a trike. It’s all a blank page; the last thing I remember is being at the beer garden. Apparently, we didn’t leave the beer garden until around ten p.m., an hour past my bedtime.
A long day with too much of a good thing and higher-potency beer didn’t help matters. I’m glad I didn’t do anything stupid, and December 7 will not be my personal day of infamy.
I only remember twelve beers. Who knows what happened after that?
Five years ago, I was attending my first-ever Haggis Hash, this one in La Union:
The haggis before it was cooked. I eat it and try not to think about where it comes from. Tastes alright, but I’ll never crave it. Maybe I’m not of Scottish heritage after all.
In today’s YouTube video, the Filipina Pea takes the 4B movement to task. Funny to see a Filipina point out the ignorance of women who think they are better than her.
And some humor:
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!I’d tell her no, but I can do you doggy-styleIt’s all in the stars
Back home again and embarking on the Sunday routines, starting with the Hideaway feeding. Then, I’ll be treating Swan to Sunday dinner at John’s Place. Then we shall see. No beer tonight; that’s a promise!
Such as they are. Greetings from the Haggis Hash! The event is being held at the farm of our Hasher host here in Pozzorubio, and day one was very nicely done. A full day of Hashing and drinking (but I repeat myself) lies ahead, so I’m going to just slap up some photos from yesterday as I need to hurry and prepare myself for today’s adventure.
Back for the second timeWe completed our registration and received the gift bags, including a new Hash shirt.Camping out is an option I have no interest in, but quite a few folks took advantage of the opportunity.My dad always said we were Scotch-Irish. We even have our own clan. My branch added an “e” somewhere along the wayHe hopes to be a man again.The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers contingentThe Hare providing last minute guidance before the hiking commencesAnd we are On-On!Yesterday’s trail was only 5K and mostly flat, just what I like! Longer options are in store for todayInto the unknown. There is an element of excitement in being in a new environment.Some wide open spacesA tree I likedThe first cookie delivery of the dayA walk on the not-so-wild sideWalk towards the light!Lollipops for these twoThe only dicey bridge crossing of the dayReminded me of my Arizona daysBringing some sweetness to their daySwan was feeling a little cornyThe back wayA Thai outpost?Turns out this is a resort where some Hashers are staying. Strangely, I didn’t see any signage.There were three or four drink stops along the way. I took a pass–I try to keep my walkaholic life separate from my alcoholic one.Falling behindThrough the fields we goNo hill climbs yesterday. We’ll see what happens today.Rural beautyThe trail ended here.Beer and an empanada snack awaited our arrival.Cloud coverI *think* this is a mango groveThe trail we walked.
Then it was back to the farmstead for the Haggis Hash circle.
You can’t have a farm without a windmill, right?Circle up!Bagpipes to kick off the eventThey don’t do ice here, but they do have punishmentsThese gals didn’t wear Hash attire, so they were paraded around the circle, and we voted for the hottest one.I found her to have the best ASSets.A fire to light the circleAnd then dinner was served—a pork stew. I had mine without the rice.The Haggis will be served tonight.
San Miguel Zero beer was not available, so I had to go with the stronger and more caloric San Mig Light. I drank my money’s worth again, and then we found a trike to take us back to our hotel.
Oops! Well, I am on vacation after all.
Okay, I got to get ready, so no memories, YouTube, or bad jokes today. Sorry!
In a rush this morning before my departure for the weekend adventure at the Haggis Hash up north in Pangasinan. The low down on yesterday was taking Swan on her longest hike yet…nearly 10K. The best moment for me was when she told me she had been ready to quit as we walked uphill on the highway at about the 6K point, but once we started strolling along the riverside, it was fun again. We finished up at a restaurant in Calapandayan we’ve been wanting to try and enjoyed our meals and the view.
Heading out. Swan knew we were going to Subic town but didn’t know we were going the back way, which is about twice as far.These are customers from our Sunday Candy Walk. The mother asked Swan to be a Godmother to her baby, and Swan agreed to do so.Can you see the cabin in the woods?Flowers are on de vine!These are pretty, tooIt had been months since Swan passed this way, but that kid (see him?) saw her and came runningSwan did some heavy lifting on this hikeRice fields are ready for plantingOver Bridge #4River crossingThe ass side of Easter MountainThe road where Swan began to lose her enthusiasm for the hikeStill a long way to goGetting it doneBe grateful for all that you haveOn the riversideComing to a beach near me soonWhat a coincidence. Both were born in January 1958, and both died this past week. Both are younger than me, too. RIP.Can you guess what I read when I first saw this sign?Off the highway and into an alley for a much more serene walkA narrow passage back to the highwayAnd then lunch at EzekielsIt was good with my girlfriend, tooBayside viewsBayside livingBayside diningAs seen from our tableSome of the menu selectionsCarbonaro for SwanShe seemed to enjoy itI did the honey garlic chicken wings and found them quite tasty.I shared the bones with a stray cat under our tableThe route we took
Later in the day, we paid a rare visit to Cheap Charlies. I reasoned that I could get a fairly priced gin and soda, and if we got hungry, we could order some food from Foodies, the restaurant on the ground floor. And that is just what we did!
It had been a long time since I enjoyed a delicious bowl of beef stew.
Swan ordered something called Kare Kare, a Filipino stew. I forgot to get a photo. Sorry!
A view from Cheap Charlies
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I enjoyed chatting with the owner, Daddy Dave.
Another day under plan
A little bit of a disappointment at this morning’s weigh-in: 245.2, down only three ounces since December 1. Overall, I’ve lost 21.9 pounds since beginning the diet on November 1. In more positive signs, my belly circumference is down an inch to 48 and two inches off the waist to 44. I’m getting there.
Here is how I looked fifty years ago:
I reckon those days are gone forever. At least until God grants my “do-over” request.
Gotta skip the YouTube video today…no time!
That was a speedy tripAt least you didn’t lose your rein, dear boy.What a crusher!
Okay, I need to pack up the laptop, as my ride will be arriving shortly. I’ll post updates during the weekend as time allows.
The Wednesday Walkers took a long thirty-minute Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and proceeded to do an almost 8K stroll on the backroads of town. It’s almost crazy the lengths we will go to in order to see some relatively new scenery. There, I made this post title somewhat sensible now, right? Here are some photos from our journey:
Exiting the JeepneyPosing for the group shotLet the roadwork beginAre we having fun yet?I’ve been known to worship light beerGovic Highway, let me slip away on you…The wide open roadA more pleasant stretch of roadA horny carabaoFaking a leg injuryDirt is better than pavement for walkingTaking in the viewMarching onSaluting the Wednesday WalkersA peaceful village of shantiesCountry livingThe way ahead seems peaceful enoughNature’s archIn Flanders fields?This pink teddy appears to be escapingAnd then we came upon this huge, vacant, haunted-looking mansion. I’d love to know the story behind this.Always look both ways before crossingWe had planned to conclude our hike with lunch at Mad Willies. Alas, the hours have changed and now they don’t open until noon.But we had the good fortune to catch a passing Victory Liner bus for the ride back to Barretto. Air-conditioned comfort is much better than a Jeepney for only 20 pesos more.We wound up having our lunch and liquid refreshments at It Doesn’t Matter. It’s all good!We went thataway!
Swan and I spent a good portion of our Wednesday evening at BarCelona.
The view from our regular perchLooks like Mama has a homeless friendMy dateMe and my dateWho cut the fart?Then we moved out to the rooftop areaThe space between By The Sea and Central Park Reef resortsLooking up the highwayAnd looking down the highwayA colorful sky
We had our nightcap downstairs at Green Room. We shared a table with my friend Tom, who regaled me with stories from the good ol’ days in Barretto (he’s been here for twenty-five years). It’s tame here by comparison to what he termed “the Wild West,” when things were a lot crazier. I’ll take it the way it is, thank you very much.
We ordered our dinner to take out from Sit-n-Bull.
The options for a dieter exclude my usual favorites. I had these ham slices with a side of coleslaw.
But you do what you gotta do, right?
I did manage to come in under my target goal
I’ll do my weekly weigh-in in the morning. The last pair of shorts I bought had a size 42 waist. When I loosened my belt as I prepared for bed, the shorts dropped to the floor, still fully buttoned. I’ll take that as a good sign!
Today’s memory is the view from my apartment window in Seoul twelve years ago:
That’s snow, not fog. And speaking of fog, I’m not sure if that’s from my apartment or not. It doesn’t look familiar to me now. Plus, I think we were higher up. Oh well.
Today’s YouTube video gives a glimpse of life in Barretto in 1992 when it was still the “Wild West.”
And the daily dose of humor:
Hey, I resemble that remark!It’s more than a feelingThat pun crashed on takeoff. Sorry!
I’m not sure what’s in store for this evening, but tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Pozorrubio in the province of Pangasinan to participate in this year’s running of the Haggis Hash. It’s always good to get out of town for a change of pace. Don’t worry, I’ll be posting my lame crap from there so my loyal reader(s) won’t miss out on the fun!
I did my weekly grocery shopping at Royal yesterday, but I wasn’t royalty. Yes, I had lost my crown. Well, not technically lost; it had fallen off while I was flossing. At least I didn’t swallow it. So, after shopping, I visited my dentist. The crown isn’t in the best of shape, and the stub of my tooth doesn’t provide much room for grounding, but Dr. Barrera agreed to reattach it and see what happens. So, I left forty-five minutes later with a freshly glued crown, feeling like a king again. Then I took a 5K stroll amongst the peasants to celebrate having one less hole in my head.
My mouth was still numb when I finished the walk, though.
After the usual R&R at home, the gal and me did our Tuesday on Baloy Beach thing.
I baked this batch of brownies to bring along for the Kokomo’s floating bar crewArriving on BaloyThe happy place for SwanToes in the sand and a smile on her faceReady to be ferried to our watery destinationNot real crowded but a couple of big spenders were on boardWine for Swan, gin and soda for meThe best part of the dayNice seeing you againHasta la vista!
So, they’ve hired a bunch of new girls, some of them quite attractive. Whenever an unattached male came aboard, the girls swarmed him like hungry mosquitos. But they were not overly aggressive and graciously accepted the “no thank you” response. The music was loud, but the playlist was good. I reckon I can handle my once-a-week visits here satisfactorily. The views make it all worthwhile.
When it was time to eat, we went ashore and ordered dinner at Treasure Island.
The floating bar and the sliver of a moon as seen from Treasure IslandThis chef salad filled the void in my stomach nicely
A bit of a hiccup on the way home. The peanut vendor I have helped out occasionally messaged that he was unable to restock his peanut tray because all his funds had been used for medical expenses. Well, I respect the fact that Emmanuel works hard selling his wares in the bars of Barretto rather than resorting to begging on the streets. So, I agreed to help him out and told him to meet me at 7-Eleven at 7:30. I had the trike driver stop there on our way home, but there was no Emmanuel. He had messaged earlier that he was on his way, so we paid the trike and waited for him at SnackBar. He got there about ten minutes late, and I lit into him. He said he had walked from his home in Subic, and I gruffly said that he should have left earlier. I told him it was extremely rude to ask for money and then not be on time to receive it. Yeah, I was being an asshole, and it might have been the gin talking. Anyway, I messaged an apology this morning, and he thanked me. So, all is well.
Maybe the end of NEXT year…A decent effort with the calorie intake yesterday
“The past beats inside of me like a second heart.” I saw that on Facebook this morning, and it seemed like a nice introduction to today’s installment of memories. Just this one from eight years ago:
I saw this somewhere on the streets of Seoul and liked it. You can also see my skinny reflection in the glass.
I’m seeing a slew of videos about expats regretting their move to the Philippines. Today’s video features a well-spoken Filipina giving her thoughts on the subject. I honestly don’t let things like the “skin tax” bother me, and there are easy enough workarounds. My major complaints, like noise and litter, aren’t enough to make me want to leave. I just remember my mantra: Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.
Laughing can help, too:
No candy, cakes, pies, or ice cream for me these days.WTFThat’s what I just said, mother fucker!
Anyhoo, I’m a lucky man enjoying the mundane lifestyle I’ve adopted. I can tell my boring drivel is tortuous for my readers; my current stats say I’ve lost about half of my blog visitors over the past few months. Thanks to the rest of you for sticking around. If you have any suggestions for things you’d like me to write about, feel free to let me know in the comments.
I guess I’ve reached the stage of my Hash career where I shortcut without shame. The Hash should be something I enjoy, not a chore. Yesterday was no exception. The Hare’s laid a good and well-marked trail, but when it was time to climb up to the Black Rock ridge, the like-minded Hash group and I opted to go longer and flatter. And it worked out just fine that way.
The trail started at the VFW and passed through Alta Vista. So, I waited here. Bug Fucker was the first Hasher to appear, but I hung around until the group who hike at my pace came by.And here they come nowThe neighborhood German has “Sans Souci” on the wall of his residence, which resolves the mystery of the words the Hares left on the pole nearby.Almoranus, the German Hare for yesterday’s trail, confirmed the message was intended for the dwelling’s occupant. “A pleasure palace without worry,” indeed!Out of the ‘hood we goOver the river on Bridge #3The river I mentionedWe were pretty much retracing the Candy Walk route so far.Entering San Isidro’s Purok 3Pubic Head’s shot of Easter MountainThe way up to the Black Rock ridge. This is where we parted company with the Hare’s trail.We did a nice flat valley walk insteadUp top there is where we did not treadThe Black RockWe did do one climb up some steps and rejoined the Hare’s trail where it came down from Black Rock.On-On!That’s always a welcome signOnward we treadSwan waiting on her slowpoke manAnd then down we goMy Easter Mountain shotIt better be!On the Govic HighwayArriving at our On-Home venue at last!I enjoy the outdoor ambiance hereCums Alone, as last week’s Hashit recipient, prepares to pass it onThe honor was bestowed on Buddy Fucker’s Wet Spot this week.As is our custom, some of the Hashers gathered at IDM when the Hash was over.The “hard” portion of the trail is in red, and the “long” part is in yellow.Us flatlanders had an 8K journey.
A better day on the diet journey as well.
I limited myself to “only” ten beers.
Weather is warming up here again, but nine years ago I was experiencing this:
Snow on the streets of Seoul
And eight years ago, my still undiagnosed lung issues had me hocking up phlegm all night long.
Things are so much better for me now!
For today’s YouTube video, we’ll have a little fun with Mikey Bustos. He’s such a Filipino!
And here’s some more fun:
Easy mistake to makeI think you’ve got that backwardsNot if he jumps out the Windows
Okay, thanks for dropping by. I’ll be back with more tomorrow.
I’m not sure how anyone would not have heard this song long ago, but these guys claim this is their “first time hearing” reaction:
…was also the first day of the month. Otherwise, it was pretty much like every Sunday around here. I’m not complaining; keep ’em comin’!
Heading out for another Candy Walk. We took our biggest load yet, 250 bags of sweets. We needed two full backpacks and two big handbags to carry it all. We’ve reached maximum capacity.The first regular stopWhat has its gots in its bagses? (get the reference?)The beauty of nature. The flowers are lovely, too.They are coming for you, SwanThese are my favorites. Very polite. A hug and a blessing (putting your hand on their forehead) before taking the candy and then thanking you profusely.I thought they knew each other. Nope. A random stranger trying to sell Swan some property in the neighborhood.A big bushy bunch of blossomsbut no beesTaking a piss while pretending to be taking in the viewIt began like thisAnd they just kept on coming. The last of the candy bags was dispensed here, but luckily, I had some cookies and lollipops in the backpack to fill in the gap.At the foot of the mountain we call EasterReflecting during the trike ride homeAnother Sunday, another 5K Candy Walk. A record-breaking 250+ dispensations this week.
The Hideaway feeding was also pretty much standard fare. There’s a new girl working now, so that’s one more mouth to feed. I was surprised to see the bar was packed, even without a pool league match. That’s a good sign. One of the other customers was an old acquaintance who lives in San Antonio. It was nice to see him again after many months.
The Joy of eating
Speaking of eating, it was time for my Sunday dinner date with Swan.
The cloud cover marred the usual sunset viewSo, I zoomed in on the Christmas decorations across the street instead.
We were once again the only customers at John’s place, but the service and food quality remained up to John’s high standards.
I was tempted by the birria tacos but couldn’t justify the high-calorie content.Instead, I opted for the pulled pork sandwich (sans bread). Next time, I’ll order it without the bread, so I don’t waste a bun. And I had a side salad instead of fries.
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. Things went a tad overboard when a customer bought me a drink, and shortly after that, the bar comped me one. I suppose it is better to be fat than rude, so naturally, I accepted the generous gestures. It was a gin and soda night, and my comfort zone with that drink is limiting myself to six beverages. The two freebies put me at eight for the night. I was slightly buzzed but in control of my faculties.
My Wet Spot drinking companions. Yes, Aine and Swan have made up.
And this is the price I paid for my over zealousness:
A gin (85 calories) too far.
Today is the seventh anniversary of my longest walk.
I remain hopeful that I can achieve 50,000 steps once more in this lifetime.
It’s been a while since we last checked in with Reekay. Today’s YouTube video takes on the “real women” of the West and their unfavorable views of Asian women, who many men find much more desirable. I didn’t technically move to the PI for the women, although I obviously enjoy the unique qualities that come with a good-hearted Filipina. It just took me way too long to find the right one for me.
And maybe these will put a smile on your face:
I’m getting older, but I ain’t old yet. At least not in my mind.Never really thought of it that way before. And yes, that misspelling of “you’re” is a tad irritating, even for someone like me.A pig in a poke?
And now it is Hash Monday once again.
And as I observed on today’s dog walk, the trail passes through Alta Vista.
Vienna Sausage is the Hare once again, and I’m unsure what his message in German on that pole is supposed to mean. Google Translate gives me this: Pleasure Palace Frederick the Rough Sanssouci, which makes about as much sense as not shortcutting his trails. In fact, I’m going to start from Alta Vista instead of the VFW, and I’ll likely consider my safety and comfort as I determine how much of the rest of his trail is worthy of my time. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.
The day didn’t go exactly as planned, but it came and went, and I lived to tell you about it. Here goes.
Swan left the house early in the morning to assist with a charity event in Cawag, Subic. So, I walked the dogs alone and then came up with the idea to see how far I could walk me. I had it in mind to see if I could make 15K, so I plotted a course that included walking the length of the GOVIC highway (around 7K) and then either continuing on from there or walking back towards Barretto as far as my tired old legs would take me. Around the four-kilometer mark, I realized that my good intentions wouldn’t carry me as far as I had hoped. So, I changed course and headed back. I’ll try the long walk again another day.
At 1.6K, I found myself just beginning the Govic Highway journey. Weekend traffic (this picture is deceiving) made it less than pleasant, which was a factor in my decision to bail.A 3.2K, I was rounding a bend in the road and seeing a familiar mountain ahead.At 4.8K, I had bailed on the highway walk and taken refuge in the wide-open spaces, comforting myself in the knowledge that each step was one step closer to home.6.4K found me on the streets of the Saint James neighborhood in Calapacuan.At 8K, I was back at the beginning of Govic Highway. That trike stand proved irresistible, so my morning hike ended here.My route was half of what I hoped it might be. Perhaps next time I’ll be in a better frame of mind.
Next on my agenda was a supposed birthday party at Kokomo’s scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. We got to Baloy a tad early, so we visited Laharnyz for a drink and beach views.
The view from Laharnyz
Then we strolled up the beach to Kokomo’s.
Sand, water, mountains, and sunshineThat beach of mineI’ve never seen a Subic sand sculpture before. Nicely done!
So, we get to Kokomo’s, and the beach bar is decorated, but there is no sign of the birthday girl. The floating bar is also decorated with balloons, so we figured that must be where the action is.
Kokomo’s had more guests than I’ve seen before. Mostly Filipinos, except for one table of foreigners.
The floating bar was also busy, but the birthday gal wasn’t there either. Cakes and a tray of food indicated that this was indeed the party venue.
This sailboat dropped anchor, and the crew rafted over to the floating bar. For some reason, the girls came running. It turns out they like to buy lady drinks.And then the sun did its thing
We stayed for two drinks, and there was no indication there would be a party other than the food, cakes, and balloons. I’d had enough waiting, so we caught the raft back to shore. There was some loud videoke “music” taking place at Kokomo’s, and that was enough for me to just keep walking. We caught a trike to Green Room and spent the rest of the evening there.
It wasn’t the Saturday I had in mind, but it turned out okay regardless.
And I stuck with the plan
It’s De(cline)cember now, which makes my new lower-calorie lifestyle one month old. I marked the occasion with a weigh-in:
December 1: 245.5
November 1: 267.1
Weight loss: 21.6 pounds
Not a bad start. Now to keep it going!
Facebook took me back in time to 1974:
The Ringwraiths were the Westminster, California, recreation league softball championsI have a hunch the 70s were more fun than my 70s are going to be.
Five years ago, the Cheap Charlies gals welcomed me home after my Korea vacation:
They are all gone now, and I rarely visit this bar anymore.
Today’s YouTube video has a tongue-in-cheek look at five dangers associated with dating a Filipina. I say it is worth taking the chance!
Your daily dose of humor:
Did he have both hands on your shoulders during the exam?Don’t be a dick about it, just go ahead and boner.A Honda is nothing to brag about anyway.
And now, to prepare for the rest of my Sunday. A Hideaway feeding is on tap, followed by dinner with Swan at John’s place. Then we shall see what happens next. Read all about it here tomorrow!
This song popped up in my memories, too. It is still a joy to watch!
What the hell? Okay, you can watch it on YouTube if you want. Damn it.