Yes, I shortcut the trail. But no, I was not arrested. Read on for the rest of the story.
I was 50-50 on whether I was going to Hash at all yesterday. Anytime the On-Home venue is out at the end of Rizal Extension I’m uncomfortable because getting back to town from there is a pain in the ass. Trikes are not readily available because many of them don’t have the horsepower to make it up the long incline of Rizal. Being faced with the prospect of walking back to town in the dark after drinking puts a damper on my spirits. And so does the rain. Anyway, my solution is to leave before the Hash Circle commences and head down to Barretto while the going is good. That’s what I did yesterday.
So, my modified trail included a different way up than the Hares prepared, but the alternative route was suggested by Vienna Sausage, who thought the steep and slippery climb on his trail wouldn’t be to my liking. Oddly enough, I intended to go the way he recommended before we talked. I also skipped a mid-trail down and up, and stayed on My Bitch until the end, which is also where Always Wet, another Hare, resides. She sponsored the On-Home gathering at her place.
As mentioned, I left early, and Swan and Beth joined me for the walk down Rizal. We hadn’t gone far when we saw a police vehicle making a U-turn in front of us. Swan and Beth jokingly called out asking for a ride, and the police van stopped. The cop in the back gestured for us to hop in. I really didn’t want to, but it started raining and the gals didn’t want to walk the rest of the way. Fine.
My first-ever ride in a Philippine police vehicle. I’m glad it was voluntary.
Here are some photos of my Hash journey yesterday.
A view on the way to the trailhead at the VFW. Surprisingly, there was no rain for the duration of our hike, but once we made it to Always Wet’s house, it was, well, always wet.The gathering at the start featured Vienna Sausage providing guidance for the upcoming trail.And we are On-On!Down the alley……and up the steps. There were a lot of them.The climb didn’t end when the stairs did.Climbing has its rewards.Proof that we are on the trail.Hello there, Easter Mountain.I liked the view from here.Hanging out before the Circle.A gathering of Hash Gash.Handing out lollipops as we make our way down Rizal Extension. The police encounter happened shortly thereafter.A large turnout for the After-Hash at It Doesn’t Matter.The way I done it. Yes, I did.
It was also my 350th Hash Run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. My goal is to make it to 500. Wish me luck!
Back in June of 2009, I still had the attention span needed to sit through a movie and then write a review here at LTG. The film I wrote about is Crossing Over. Reading this now, I don’t even recall watching it. But damn, this movie was like a premonition of things that are happening today. Immigration agents arresting illegal aliens in Los Angeles, and the resulting outrage caused by enforcing the law. Oh, and of course, the Hollywood point of view then, as now, was that the ICE folks are the bad guys.
Eight years ago, I purchased a brand-new vehicle:
I had some really nice rides during my year in Pyeongtaek. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?
Today’s YouTube video touches on a recurring theme in my life: looking back in regret and missing all the good that surrounds you. I’m trying to do better in that regard, because there’s no going back. Unless God grants the do-over life I’ve been praying for.
Humor time:
No matter how you slice it…Hard to argue with that logic.I done that, too.
With a few twists and turns along the way. In other words, more of the same, but different.
Well, there really wasn’t anything different about the Sunday Candy Walk.And Easter Mountain hasn’t changed.You don’t see a mango carpet like this every day. Anything not harvested is falling from the trees.Over Bridge #3 again.The muddy water of the Matain River.
And now for Section 12 of the Candy Walk:
What the rain left behind.A sweet dispensation.The Bridge #2 crossing.A newly opened bakery. I’m not sure I’d want Jizz in my biscuit.Over Bridge #1 and done.A 6K effort.
The Sunday afternoon routine wasn’t so routine. I walked to the Hideaway feeding under an umbrella.
Hideaway was surprisingly busy.
No more floating bar. And in a sad twist, John’s place was closed. There had been a power outage in Barretto earlier in the day, and John’s Facebook page said they had decided just to remain closed when power was restored. So, Swan met me at Red Bar instead. After a wine and some beer, it was time to decide on an alternative venue for dinner. I suggested Myleen’s, and Swan countered with Mugshots. It’s a bar with a kitchen and the food is good, but there are limited choices (which is appropriate for a bar menu IMO). Sure, why not? It’s been a while since our last visit.
Their food is definitely better than the spelling on the banner displayed near the entrance of Mugshots.
I was quite surprised to see there were several other customers seated at the bar, but we grabbed the two remaining stools and asked for a menu. As we prepared to order some chicken wings, the cook advised that the kitchen was swamped with previous orders, so we’d have to wait for ours. Eh, never mind. I suggested we move on to the Green Room and order take-out from Sit-n-Bull to bring back home with us. And that’s what we did.
As usual, we were entertained watching some pretty impressive pool games.
And that’s all there was for Sunday. Posts like this are boring to write; I can only imagine what the torture of reading them must be. I’ll try to do better.
Coincidentally, back in June 2009, I wrote a post entitled “A day in the life.” It was a good one in Itaewon.
In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger talks about how the Philippines has changed his views on happiness. I recall similar emotions on my visit here. Initially shocked by seeing the poverty that so many endure, I was then astounded by the genuine happiness the Filipino people exude.
I’m getting bored with the corny Zen lines. Anyone out there want them to continue?
If Everything Seems To Be Going Well, You Have Obviously Overlooked Something.
I’m going to keep the so-called humor coming, though:
I like the sound of that.It’s good to be juiced.Hmm, methinks there is more to it than just the voice.
The end of this post is here at last. Hash Monday is upon us, and I’m on the fence again. No rain since last night, but the trail ends this week at Always Wet’s house at the far end of Rizal Extension. If I do the trail, I won’t be doing the Circle; I’ll be walking back down the hill to town. I’ll let you know what I decide tomorrow.
We kicked things off with the Saturday Sweet Stroll. It was my first time doing any kind of walk since the surgery. I’m not supposed to get my eye wet for two weeks, but damn, how is that even possible when you live in a sweat box like the Philippines?
Here’s the beginning of the stroll, a ten-minute walk through Alta Vista to the first neighborhood we visit on our regular route.
And a few photos of what I saw along the way:
This chicken has come home to roost. Er…Pig on a stick.A boat on the muddy river.It’s a bad day to be a pig!The child prisoners were awaiting our arrival.A Swan in the woods.Getting back in the groove with a 5K jaunt.
Later in the day, we met up with the neighbors at Hops and Brews Beer Garden.
Let the good times roll. They don’t offer bottled beer, so I enjoyed draft San Miguel Light.
Hops and Brews has great ambiance and looks to be a nice place to hang out and enjoy the chill vibe.
It has one of the nicest bar setups in town.
Despite all that, I only visit here a couple of times a year, and only when invited to a gathering like the one last night. I’m not sure why it is not on my radar. Looking at the menu, I was surprised at how expensive everything is. I decided to do the pulled pork and a side of coleslaw (480 pesos or $9).
Even my tablemates commented on how small the portion was.
Swan tried the beef brisket (600 pesos or $11).
And she said the meat wasn’t warm.My neighbor took pity on me for an unsatisfying portion of pork and shared a slice of his stromboli with me. It was tasty.
After dinner, Jeff and Davina joined us for a nightcap at the Alaska Club. And since they live next door, we had a free and comfortable ride home. Life is good, even when the food isn’t.
It’s June of 2009 in my journey through the LTG archives. Today’s noteworthy (to me) post is about attending the Army Ball, a formal affair.
As you can see, my date and me were dressed appropriately for the occasion.
The last time I visited Korea was six years ago this month.
And on this day in history in 2019, Kevin Kim and my nephew Justin enjoyed a dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse whose name I can’t recall. I do remember Kevin attempted to overcome the liberal dogma my nephew has been indoctrinated with, but alas, he was unsuccessful.
Today’s YouTube video shares the “joys” of provincial life in the Philippines. I sometimes fantasize about living like the locals do in some of the areas I hike, but the reality of the everyday life hardships would be too much to bear for long. I’m a creature of comfort in my old age. Hell, I don’t even want to go camping again.
And that Zen moment you’ve been waiting for:
How Do You Tell When You’re Out Of Invisible Ink?
On to the humor:
Kind of like my blog…Words to live by.Cows are vegans, too.
And there you have it. It’s rained every day since May, but at least it’s been holding off until after my morning walks lately. It’s pouring down now, which means I may be in for a wet walk to Hideaway for the feeding. Oh well, without bad weather you wouldn’t appreciate the good weather.
Nothing lasts forever. So order another while you can!
The visit with my ophthalmologist, Dr. DeCastro, went well. The assistant did the standard eye tests, and I was pleasantly surprised when, with my right eye covered, I could read every line on the chart, except the bottom one. During my previous examination in January, I couldn’t even read the top line with my left eye. The vision in my now cataract-free eye is still a little fuzzy, but Dr. De Castro assures me that as the swelling recedes, my sight will become clearer. I have a follow-up appointment on the twentieth, so hopefully I’ll be 20-20 by then.
Took another 400 peso cab ride home and chilled for a while, waiting for beer o’clock. I had asked Swan earlier if she wanted to do the SOB at Queen Victoria or something else. She opted for something else. She suggested Kon-Tiki, and I was down for that. Until we saw the traffic on the highway on the way back from the doctor’s office. We agreed that a weekday visit makes more sense. I offered doing the seldom-visited Hangout Bar, then Mango’s for dinner, or BarCelona and Jewel Cafe. She didn’t have a preference, so we headed for BarCelona. Of course, it began raining as we departed.
Our rainy BarCelona view.I could never catch one, but there were multiple lightning strikes up on the ridgeline.A few other guests came in later to play pool.I zoomed in on this US Navyvessel anchored in the bay. I’d never seen anything quite like it. I asked my FB friends if they knew what it was for, and this was one of the responses: “Lewis B. Puller-class, or sub-variant, of Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) vessels serve to support special forces missions, counter-piracy/smuggling operations, maritime security operations.” Hmm, I hope nothing’s brewing.True or not, why risk it?
Swan enjoyed her glass of wine, and I had three beers waiting for her to finish it. Then we were off to Jewel Cafe for dinner.
Only one other couple was dining during our visit, but several Grab orders went out the door. The world is changing.Swan and I were once again on the same page; we both ordered the filet mignon.
As we dined, Swan got a message from her friend Marilyn wanting to meet up for drinks. Swan asked where we were going next, and I said IDM. She asked, Are you sure? Lots of people know Marissa there. I shrugged and responded, Who cares? So, Swan messaged Marilyn to meet us there. By way of explanation, Marilyn is the sister of my ex-girlfriend, Marissa. Her twin sister. Identical twins.
When we arrived at It Doesn’t Matter, only one other person was seated outside, fellow Hasher Grace (Leaking Pussy). She moved to our table, and another person we know, Rica, the IDM cook, joined us as well. So, the stage was set when Marilyn arrived a few minutes later. Marilyn has lived in Manila for a long time and, for the most part, is unknown in Barretto (I met her for the first time a few weeks ago). As she approached our table, Grace jumped up and screamed, “Marissa, good to see you again! It’s been a long time!” Then gave her a big hug. Swan and I were laughing, and the look on Grace’s face when Marilyn calmly told her, I’m not Marissa, was priceless.
Sorry for the crappy picture. I was trying to capture the moment, but it was moving too fast. L-R, that’s Grace, Rica, and Marilyn.
So, the revelry continued in Tagalog, and I just sat there taking it all in. A couple of other people came by and greeted “Marissa,” but it’s hard to blame them for the mistake. I was thinking that I’d never been alone with her, but I’d seen Marilyn naked. Anyway, I was buying the drinks, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, so that constitutes a good time for me.
All things must end, and it was almost 8:30 (late by my standards) when I paid the tab and we headed for home.
I’m still in May 2009 on the journey through the LTG archives. This post is a picture-filled account of an organization day gathering with my fellow Directorate of Human Resources team members. Why do these memories make me feel a little sad? Because I didn’t realize just how awesome my life was at the time.
Today’s YouTube video discusses the income tiers in the Philippines, from the very poor to the very rich. I pay my full-time helper/caregiver 26,000 pesos per month, which puts her in the lower middle class category. But when you factor in the free lodging and food she receives, she is doing better than most. And if you are wondering, I qualify as a rich bitch. There is no denying I live large and comfortably.
Some Zen:
How Many Of You Believe In Psycho-Kinesis? Raise My Hand.
And on with the humor:
Dose what’s right.Should be a short read.It’s especially weird how dumb I’m getting, Rite?
Now I hope to see it all more clearly. I’m not experiencing any post-surgery discomfort, but my left eye vision, while better than it was, is still blurry. I suspect I just need to give it more time, but I have a follow-up appointment this afternoon with my ophthalmologist, so I’ll see what he says.
Picking up from where I left off yesterday, it was after 1 p.m. when we escaped the hospital, and I was ready for some grub. Texas Joe’s was only a kilometer away, and it’s been a while since I’ve had authentic American-style barbeque. On the other hand, there were lots of other places even closer.
I wasn’t in the mood for French food, but this place looks nice.
We opted instead to visit The Lighthouse. I’d been there a few times and recalled the food was good, if a bit pricey.
From whence the name derives.We couldn’t really see the bay from our table, so I hoofed it over for a closer look.Shared this table with Swan and my caregiver/helper, Teri.
The waiter kept trying to talk us into moving inside for the aircon. I prefer open air myself, and I suspect he just didn’t want to be bothered with going in and out to serve us. Too bad for you, we ain’t movin’!
I kept it simple with a chicken burger and fries. I rather enjoyed it.The gals shared this kare-kare dish and said it was delicious.
When it came time to pay the bill, I was in for a shock. The food was reasonably priced (380 for my sandwich, 600 for the kare-kare), but I was charged 180 pesos per bottle for my San Mig Zero beer. That’s double the price of most places I visit in Barretto. I know when I buy a case from the local distributor, I pay around 50 pesos a bottle. So, I felt like I’d been ripped off. At least The Lighthouse will now be easy to avoid in the future.
Our goodbye shot at The Lighthouse.
We caught a taxi back to Barretto, and I got busy with blogging. My eye was a little itchy and felt like I had a bug in it, but that eased up some as time went on.
I was told I have to wear these glasses for the next two weeks.Look me in the eye when you say that!I went outside to get my slippers and discovered this peeping Swan.
I decided that home is where I needed to stay last evening, so I set myself up for some quality time at The Rite Spot On The Roof.
My rocker, a fan, the music box, a cooler of beer, and some chips to snack on. Does it get any better than that?Why, yes. Yes it does!The sun completed its journey over our flat planet. Thanks for the show!
Swan made a batch of spaghetti for dinner, I fooled around on the laptop some, then decided to hit the hay at 8:30 so my eye could get some rest. Yeah, that’s my story!
From the LTG archives, a May 2009 post about picking up my new hire, Dennis McPeters, at the airport in Incheon. I had worked with Dennis back in my Postal Service days, and he was top-notch. We were also friends. When Dennis retired, he moved to Cambodia. I visited him there a couple of times. And sadly, he’s another person in my life who has seemingly disappeared. Dennis abhorred social media, so our contact was exclusively through email. And about a year ago, he stopped responding. Dennis was/is several years older than me and I fear he may have passed away. I’ve done some Google searches for his name (I know he has family in Florida), but I didn’t see any news or obituaries. Then again, if I died tomorrow, how would any of my old friends and acquaintances find out?
From my Facebook memories on this day in history:
Five years ago, I posted this warning about another COVID danger. Even now, when I see a woman wearing a mask, I instinctively believe she looks like this one.Nine years ago, the Walrus died.And I haven’t worn a moustache since then.Fourteen years ago, the family gathered at my house in South Carolina to remember Mom and Dad. We planted a couple of maple trees in their honor. Of course, when Jee Yeun left, I sold the house and everything in it. Most of the people in this picture no longer speak to me.
Today’s YouTube video is an update on that crazy vlogger Vitaly, currently residing in a Philippine jail. Apparently, he claims to have found religion and wants to be forgiven and released from jail while awaiting trial. Somehow, I don’t think that is going to happen.
Let’s take a moment for Zen:
Always Try To Be Modest, And Be Proud Of It!
To the humor we must go!
There’s an old priest who got sick of all the people in his parish who kept confessing to adultery. One Sunday, in the pulpit, he said, “If I hear one more person confess to adultery, I’ll quit!”
Well, everyone liked him, so they came up with a code word. Someone who had committed adultery would say they had “fallen.”
This seemed to satisfy the old priest and things went well, until the priest died at a ripe old age. About a week after the new priest arrived, he visited the mayor of the town and seemed very concerned.
The priest said, “You have to do something about the sidewalks in town. When people come into the confessional, they keep talking about having fallen.”
The mayor started to laugh, realizing that no one had told the new priest about the code word.
Before the mayor could explain, the priest shook an accusing finger at the mayor and said, “I don’t know what you’re laughing about, your wife fell three times this week.”
Have a good trip, see you next fall!
Who let the dogs out?What a load of shit.
And there you have it. Time for me to fly, well, Jeepney, to my doctor’s visit on SBMA at the Baypointe Hospital. Adios, amigos! Hope to see you again.
Ko. And now you know. More on that soon, but let’s get to the last, first, shall we?
I came, I saw, then I saw better.
The cataract surgery took more than an excruciating hour to complete. Not painful, just staring into a bright light, moving my eye when commanded to do so, and holding steady as directed. The doctor assures me all went well and that my now cataract-free left eye vision will be improved when the swelling recedes. We shall see. Hopefully.
The procedure cost 68,000 pesos ($1200). I intended to pay by credit card as I had done after the right eye surgery a couple of years ago. Since my doctor doesn’t have a card machine, the assistant took me downstairs to the hospital cashier. There, I was told there would be an additional 1200 pesos in service fees and another 10,000 pesos “tax.” I called bullshit on that (politely) and told the assistant I would pay in cash when I came for the follow-up appointment tomorrow. Nope, they wanted at least a 20,000 peso down payment. Swan had her debit card and went downstairs to the ATM, but it was out of service. Finally, Swan was able to transfer the 20,000 electronically into the doctor’s account, and we were free to go on with our lives.
Okay, and now for yesterday. The story behind the title of this post is that our Wednesday Walk was the Philseco Road route (Phil say ko, get it? Yeah, I’m a hoot.)
Swan and I were the only two willing to hike under threatening skies.Hitting the road.Ready to learn some more Tagalog? “It is forbidden to throw garbage here!” Now you know.It’s a good thing that sign was there. Imagine how it would look without it.We didn’t get far before the umbrellas came out.Leaving Philseco behind.Bringing some sweetness to a rainy day.A brief interlude on a dirt path.I’m glad the tree didn’t fall over while I took this shot.Wet and wild.Mother Nature was busy refilling the pond with rainwater.Crossing over to the other side.Norina crossed over in a different way. She outlived me by two years, so hopefully I can top that. Dodging puddles.A juxtaposition of the living and the dead.We’d had enough fun at just shy of 7K.
As I mentioned, for some unknown reason, my blog went down for a few hours when I was halfway through yesterday’s post. That was disconcerting because I thought maybe I’d been hacked or something. But when beer o’clock arrived, I gave up waiting and headed for town.
For our Wednesday evening out, we kicked things off at Alley Cats.
For the first five years of my retired life, I spent three nights a week in this cozy little darts bar. Then I retired from darts.
We pop in once a month or so to say hello to the old crew. Swan knows a couple folks and enjoys the atmosphere (it was her idea to visit last night). So, when Swan ordered her wine, she was told it was out of stock. But unlike Cheap Charlies, they ordered a bottle to be delivered while Swan waited with a mixed drink. That’s how you take care of customers the right way, rather than calling them stupid.
I had originally planned to carry on the Wednesday tradition of popping into seldom-visited bars, and Hangout was on my radar. But I was hungry after Alley Cats, so we went to Sit-n-Bull instead. Then we did our nightcap at Green Room and headed home afterward.
I managed to complete an abbreviated post in my semi-impaired state (blogging and drinking don’t go well together, IMHO). Then it was off to bed so I’d be in a good frame of mind for today’s surgical adventure.
Who remembers that movie Dumb and Dumber? It looks like there may be a sequel on the horizon:
What’s not to love?
From the May 2009 LTG archives is a post about some off-duty time I spent with my friend Duke while I was in the DC area on a business trip. Duke is another one of the people I considered a close friend and stayed in touch with over the years, until he just disappeared. No social media presence, no response to emails, nothing. In this case, it is not just me. None of his other friends have seen or heard from him either. Everyone is asking, what happened to Duke? I hope he is okay.
Memories from this day in the history of my Facebook posts:
High school prom with my sweetheart, Karen, back in 1972,Two years ago, I was hanging with my “friends” at Cheap Charlies. They are all gone now, and rumor has it that I’m stupid. My, how times have changed.My drink chits from four years ago at It Doesn’t Matter Bar. Looks like I must have had a good time. What got me, though, was seeing a comment a friend left saying: “Spend it while you can, you can’t take it with you.” The commenter passed away just a couple of months later.Seven years ago, I got tangled up in some barbed wire during the Hash. It was no laughing matter, but it had me in stitches.Eight years ago, I was hiking in the comparatively safe farmlands of Pyeongtaek.
Today’s YouTube video is the one I didn’t post yesterday. If you are looking to find a Filipina wife, you might enjoy Irish’s advice on the three options that await you. I’m not in the market for a wife. Been there, done that, have that.
And then I have a Zen moment to share:
Plan To Be Spontaneous Tomorrow.
Let the humor roll:
A husband and wife had four boys. The odd part of it was that the older three had red hair, light skin, and were tall, while the youngest son had black hair, dark eyes, and was short.
The father eventually took ill and was lying on his deathbed when he turned to his wife and said, “Honey, before I die, be totally honest with me – is our youngest son my child?”
The wife replied, “I swear on everything that’s holy that he is your son.”
With that the husband passed away. The wife then muttered, “Thank God he didn’t ask about the other three.”
Our secret is safe!
Looking forward to the chance to try that one.Hmm, I’m a ballsy guy, maybe I should try that.
Anyway, that pretty much catches you up on my so-called life. Hope you come back for more tomorrow!
What is usually the dullest day of my week, grocery shopping day, took an unexpected semi-adventurous turn yesterday. I woke up to a message from my friend Michael saying he had contacted my driver about taking him to the airport, but was told he was already booked to take me shopping. Michael asked if I would mind delaying my shopping for a couple of hours while he got dropped off at Clark airport in Angeles City. I told him I had a better idea: we’ll go with you to the airport and then go shopping at S&R (similar to Costco) after dropping you off. So, the deal was done, and we left my house bright and early at 7:30 a.m.
It takes a little over an hour to get to AC, and after the airport drop-off, we arrived at S&R just after its 9:00 a.m. opening. It is a membership store, and the inconvenience of long-distance shopping means I only visit a couple of times a year. So, I took advantage of the opportunity to stock up on items not readily available at Royal.
One of the items I DIDN’T buy. Sorry to disappoint, Kevin and Cherry!I did purchase some new underwear to accommodate my 2XL balls.
So, filling my cart with oversized items wound up costing me 13,000 pesos. And I wasn’t done yet! As big and well-stocked as S&R is, there are still some things I can’t get there. So, we stopped by Royal once we were back on SBMA. Dropped another 6000 there, and we STILL weren’t finished. Next up was restocking our candy and cookie supply. YBC here we come!
Two carts’ worth of sweets for the sweet.I’ve never seen a sign like this one posted anywhere else I’ve shopped in this life. Scary to think they found it necessary. Luckily, they let me pay with plastic.Loaded up with goods from three stores, we headed for home.
My other Tuesday routine was also due for alteration since the Kokomo’s Floating Bar is out of season. We still went to Baloy, but changed things up with a visit to Harley’s.
This is one of those “why did I take this?” shots.I mean, I’ve always liked that room with the deck over the water (it’s at the Subiza Resort next door), but then I remembered there had been a kid swimming next to that rock. Oh, there he is going down, hopefully not for the third time.A nice view of the bay and the Kalaklan Ridge from our table.What shall we have to eat?Decisions, decisions…Let’s share a shrimp cocktail……and a mixed grill. They were both good.Here comes the rain again.I hadn’t noticed the Hindu (or is that Buddhist?) imagery on previous visits.Is that what they do to you if you try to leave without paying?Do you see what I see? Man, sometimes clouds suck.
Sorry for the late post! My blog went offline around three and didn’t return until after beer o’clock. I’m home again, but I’m in no condition to blog. So, I will finish this post in a hurry and get ready for bed.
After our Harley’s time, we paid a visit to Cloud 69.
We were the only customers, and the dancers didn’t waste their time trying to entertain us. We had fun anyway.
I’ll fill in the 69 gaps tomorrow. We did our nightcap at Wet Spot.
Once again, no other customers. I bought the birthday girl a lady drink.
Then we headed home to end our Tuesday.
Sorry, but I’ll forego the memories, YouTube, and humor today. Nothing goes according to plan sometimes.
I’m scheduled for my cataract surgery in the morning. Assuming I wake up after it’s done, I’ll update you then.
I hope this isn’t my last post. I’m always paranoid about going under general anesthesia. Still, going to sleep and never waking up again might be the best way to die. I sure hope that do-over life comes through.
It was lightly sprinkling when I departed home for the Hash trail. My plan was to hike to the start and then decide where to go from there. As fate would have it, as I headed up the backway to Rizal Extension, I encountered the tell-tale markings that told me I had intersected with the Hare’s intended path. So, I followed it from there. There was a good climb on a trail I don’t recall hiking before, and it eventually led to a junction with the familiar My Bitch trail. The Hare, Leech My Nuggets, did another down and up, which I chose to avoid, but soon enough, I was back on track. I followed the markings the rest of the way to the On-Home venue at Bella Monte Hotel. Both mine and the Hare’s trail came in at just under 5K, but that was plenty given the weather.
The Hare’s trail in yellow with my deviations in red.The way ahead.My hike mates, Cums Alone and BF’s Wet Spot, observe the evidence that we are indeed on the right path for Hash Run #1654.A walk in the woods.A tree I liked.Taking it slowly going down on wet ground.Still On-On!We didn’t see any other Hashers on the trail, given our early start and shortcuts.The bay view from here.And the Barretto side of things.A grassy knoll.The other side of our summit.Back on the pavement.Arriving at the Bella Monte hotel.The extent of the turnout for yesterday’s Hash. Most of them didn’t even attempt to do the trail.Gash on ice.My group was the first to arrive at the On-Home. BF’s Wet Spot and Cums Alone went out and bought some coffee. One of the beer drinkers (not me!) called them to sit on the ice for that insult.The after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.
Another Monday, another Hash. Wet with rain instead of sweat, but it all feels the same when it’s over.
From the LTG archives in April 2009, I wrote about some happenstance on the streets of DC, where I attended a work-related conference. Howard is another friend I’ve long ago lost touch with. That seems to be a recurring theme in The Story of My Life.
Four years ago, I broke the twenty-kilometer barrier.I’m still hoping to break twenty-nine one day soon.Eight years ago, I was out exploring my new environs around Pyeongtaek, got lost, and wound up here with no clue which way to go. Luckily, a cab came out of nowhere to rescue me.
Today’s YouTube video features Reekay giving the sound advice to not let stupid people fuck up your life. Hmm, maybe that explains my lack of friends. Or maybe I’m the stupid one?
And get your Zen while it lasts:
A Clear Conscience Is Usually The Sign Of A Bad Memory.
The jokes are on me:
Another golden oldie:
Joe was moderately successful in his career, but as he got older he was increasingly hampered by terrible headaches. When his personal hygiene and love life started to suffer, he sought medical help.
After being referred from one specialist to another, he finally came across a doctor who solved the problem. “The good news is I can cure your headaches. The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press up against the base of your spine. The pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles.”
Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything to live for. He couldn’t concentrate long enough to answer, but decided he had no choice but to go under the knife.
When he left the hospital, his mind was clear, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself. As he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.
He walked past a men’s clothing store and thought, “That’s what I need, a new suit.” He entered the shop and told the salesman, “I’d like a new suit.”
The salesman eyed him briefly and said, “Let’s see… size 44 long.”
Joe laughed, “That’s right, how did you know?”
“It’s my job.”
Joe tried on the suit. It fit perfectly. As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked, “How about a new shirt?”
Joe thought for a moment and then said, “Sure!”
The salesman eyed Joe and said, “Let’s see,… 34 sleeve and… 16 and a half neck.”
Joe was surprised, “That’s right, how did you know?”
“It’s my job.”
Joe tried on the shirt, and it fit perfectly. As Joe adjusted the collar in the mirror, the salesman asked, “How about new shoes?”
Joe was on a roll and said, “Sure!”
The salesman eyed Joe’s feet and said, “Let’s see…9 and a half wide.”
Joe was astonished, “That’s right, how did you know?”
“It’s my job.”
Joe tried on the shoes and they fit perfectly. Joe walked comfortably around the shop and the salesman asked, “How about a new hat?”
Without hesitating, Joe said, “Sure!”
The salesman eyed Joe’s head and said, “Let’s see. . . 7 5/8.”
Joe was incredulous, “That’s right, how did you know?”
“It’s my job.”
The hat fit perfectly. Joe was feeling great, when the salesman asked, “How about some new underwear?”
Joe thought for a second and said, “Sure!”
The salesman stepped back, eyed Joe’s waist and said, “Let’s see… size 36.”
Joe laughed, “No, I’ve worn size 34 since I was 18 years old.”
The salesman shook his head and said, “You can’t wear a size 34. It would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one hell of a headache!”
I went out and bought some 2XL underwear today. Seriously. It’s not the dick, it’s the balls.
I see what you did there.It’s a matter of taste.
That’s all, folks! For today, anyway.
Of all the bands I ever saw perform live, ELO was the best.
But mostly clouds and rain. No hay problema, we didn’t let it put a damper on things.
We kicked off the morning with a wet Candy Walk.Easter Mountain in the rain.Where is everybody?Let treedom ring!I would love me a treehouse, but this one looks a tad too dicey to me.It always cracks me up that the local Sunday school lets the kids out of class to grab some candy.Come and get it!Even when there is a break in the rain, the wetness remains.
Here’s a six-minute video of section eleven of the Candy Walk:
The day’s final delivery.I made it an 8k door-to-door Candy Walk this time.
Next on my agenda for the day was attending the Alaska Club’s 20th Anniversary party. The Alaska Club holds a special place in my heart as the first bar I visited on my first trip to the Philippines back in 2008. In those days, Alaska was located in Angeles City. Here’s an old review I wrote for my Bars of Barretto series.
And my first barfine (takeout) was from Alaska. Thanks for the memories, Sheryl.
There’s plenty more to see in this post about a pool party I shared with the Alaska girls in July 2008. Damn, it feels like a lifetime ago.
So, last night’s party in Alaska started at 5 p.m. I arrived early and waited for the opening upstairs at BarCelona.
My BarCelona view of that other bar I don’t intend to patronize again, Cheap Charlies.
So, I arrived downstairs at Alaska promptly at five and secured a seat at my pal Jambo’s table.
Jambo lives out of town, but visits occasionally to photograph/video events like last night’s dance contest.
I just checked Jambo’s YouTube channel, and he hasn’t posted anything from yesterday yet.
Here’s what you missed.And there was this snake charmer.
Anyway, owner Jerry threw a nice party, and I’m glad I’m still around after all these years as a sometimes patron of the bar.
From the LTG archives is this picture-laden post about an “MT” trip to Busan in April 2009. I always enjoyed my visits to Korea’s second city in the south.
Six years ago, I visited Korea and haven’t been back since then. It’s always nice to make that hike up to the Seoul Tower.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I don’t recall watching previously, but I found it interesting to get a taste of what living on a small island in a rural province is like. Probably not for me, but this guy moved there from Angeles City and seems to enjoy his new lifestyle.
That moment of Zen you (haven’t) been waiting for:
Monday Is An Awful Way To Spend 1/7 Of Your Week.
Let’s do some humor:
Sam had been in the hectic newspaper business for twenty-five years when he decided that he was sick of the stress and quit his job. He bought 50 acres of land in the middle of Nowhere, Vermont. His place was so isolated that the postman came only once a week and he went to the grocery store only once a month.
After six months of near total isolation, he hears a knock on the door. He opens the door and a big bearded Vermonter is standing there. He says, “Names Enoch…your neighbor from four miles over the ridge. Having a party Saturday…thought you’d like to come.”
“Great,” replies Sam. “After six months of living like this I’m ready to meet some local folks. Thanks for inviting me.”
As Enoch is leaving, he stops. “Gotta warn you, though, there’s gonna be some drinkin’.” “Not a problem. After 25 years in the newspaper business, I can drink with the best of them.”
Again, as he starts to leave, Enoch stops. “More ‘n likely gonna be some fightin’, too.” Tough crowd, Sam thinks to himself. “Well, I get along with people. Don’t worry, I’ll be there. Thanks again.”
Once again, Enoch turns from the door, “I’ve seen some wild sex at these parties, too.” “Now that is not a problem,” Sam says. “I’ve been up here all alone for six long months. I’ll definitely be there.
By the way, what should I wear?”
Enoch stops in the doorway one last time and says… “Whatever you want. Just gonna be the 2 of us there.”
He’s fucked!
Theirs a write way to say it unless you are commatose.That’s what I am. Until August.
And now it’s time to get ready for a rainy day Hash. I’ll make a decision about what to do when it is time to start. (As I wrote that sentence, a bolt of lightning just exploded outside my window. I might be screwed.)
Today’s song is one of my favorites from Gordon Lightfoot. But I never knew until today that it was written about his then-girlfriend, Cathy Smith. What a crazy bitch! She’s also the one who fed John Belushi the heroin overdose.
Into each life some rain must fall. I’d better get used to it.
Harkening back to my days as a mailman, the Sweets Stroll goes on despite the weather.Unsurprisingly, there were not as many kids out and about as usual.I popped into the Sizzle and Glaze shop along the way for a brownie. Not as good as mine are!The view from here.
Once home, I prepared for the going-away party for the Kokomo’s Floating Bar.
What’s a party without a batch of my brownies?
There was a break in the rain, so we headed for the beach a little earlier than we normally do.
The sky looked like this as we left the house.But we beat the rain to the beach.Wait a minute! Something is missing here. Where’s the floating bar?Oops, I didn’t get the message.They pulled the floating bar out of the bay that morning because of the waves and heavy rain.The so-called “Tiki Bar” doesn’t have the same vibe as the floater somehow.Making the best of it.The view from the Tiki. It was raining, but the locals stayed on the beach anyway. And those folks out in the water must have gotten soaked!I was the only white guy in the place.When these two weren’t yapping, they were trying to mate.
After our time at Kokomo’s, we went to Treasure Island for some grub, then took a trike back home and brought our rainy day to an end.
From the LTG archives is this post from April 2009 of things I saw walking around Itaewon. I’m sure it looks different now.
Two years ago, I shared a Robert Frost poem that is often in my thoughts. If God grants me the do-over life I’m dreaming of, I will explore some of those paths I didn’t take.Six years ago, I shared a poem from one of my favorite poets, a former postal worker and a drinker like me.Eleven years ago, I was hanging out at my then-favorite Itaewon bar, Dolce Vita, with owners Jim and YJ. Seems like a lifetime ago now.
Today’s YouTube video talks about the curse of the Philippines’ geography. Well, luckily, there are also many blessings that come with living here. You just take the bad with the good and hope you don’t get blown away or all shook up.
Time for some Zen:
Support Bacteria. They’re The Only Culture Some People Have.
And on to the humor:
Time to clear the air.And halfway through the procedure, he noticed the doc had both hands on his shoulders…But even that might go away as I age.
So much for the rainy day that was, time to move on with the rainy day that is. ‘Tis the season!
