As I learned long ago, you have to be yourself in life. Everyone else is already taken.
Today’s post title comes courtesy of a t-shirt graphic I observed at last night’s birthday party. I rarely attend parties, but in some ways, my daily life is almost like a party. There is always plenty of cold beer to enjoy! Here are some scenes from another party day in the life.
The Friday hikers took a Jeepney ride to the far side of Subic town and set about walking the Philseco loop.It’s been several months since Todd’s been back in the Philippines. Nice to see you again!Keep on trudgin’!Dispensing cookies along the way.Saying hello to my favorite tree.Bridge work.A rest stop.7K on a hot day was worth the effort.
The day’s big event was attending Ashley’s birthday party at Red Bar.
I guess technically there were three birthdays being celebrated, but Ashley was the star.We arrived early and secured our coveted outdoor patio seating.Birthday girl Ashley and hubby Cliff recently moved from IDM to Red Bar and brought most of their customers with them.When the party was in full swing, Red Bar was packed inside and out.
And it appeared a good time was had by all.
From Facebook memories, a happy day that didn’t stand the test of time:
Twelve years ago, after months of delays, Jee Yeun finally received her permanent residence status through the issuance of her Green Card. A year later, she didn’t want to return to the USA.
Big news in the October 2017 LTG archives: Despite my pledge to never fall in love again, I threw caution to the wind and took that leap of faith once more. We’ll find out soon enough how that worked out for me.
Has anyone been missing Smart Girl Philippines? It’s been a long time since I shared one of her YouTube videos, so here we go. At this stage of my life, her words of warning no longer apply to me. I’m already in the last relationship I’ll ever have, for better or worse.
There’s always time for a smile or three, right?
That’ll wipe that smile off your face!I don’t know, it might make it taste even better.That’s wrong on many levels.
Had enough? Yeah, me too. I’ll get on with the rest of today and tell you about it tomorrow.
I’m not sure what the secret to a long life might be, but I reckon being lucky is part of it. Life comes in daily doses, and here’s what my medicine looked like yesterday.
A morning walk with my sweetie-pie, Swan, to kick off the day.This village is right next door to where I live in Alta Vistaand yet a world away.A shit creek runs through it, and there’s not a paddle in sight.It was a hot day, but we managed over 6K.
A nap, a blog post, and a shower later, it was time to go and see what was happening in Barretto. We kicked things off at It Doesn’t Matter. Turns out it did. The bar has a totally different vibe now that Cliff and Ashley have departed. That’s okay, as long as there is something to fill the void. So far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. And yes, that matters. Only one of the waitresses offered a greeting when we arrived. Another, a recently returned long-term employee who was friendly in the past, didn’t say a word the whole time we were there. The waitress sitting next to Swan’s stool had long hair, and when she flipped her hair, it hit Swan in the face. Swan wasn’t pleased, but instead of apologizing, the waitress made some rude comment that Swan should sit elsewhere. And that’s what we did — paid our tab and left.
We went to Myleen’s next and grabbed a bite to eat.
We both had birria tacos, and Swan conceded that they are the best in town.
We hadn’t been to the Alaska Club for quite a while, so that was our next stop. Got warm and friendly service, and owner Jerry sent me over a free beer. I did my usual tipping-the-dancers thing and bought a couple of lady drinks. It was nice to be treated right after the IDM experience.
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot next door and enjoyed our “regulars” status there with the crew. Neighbor Mike popped for a beer, and we all had a good time. Then a trike ride home brought another Thirstday to a close.
From the October 2017 LTG archives is a post about an incident I would not have otherwise remembered. It involved a bar called IDK (I Don’t Know what that stands for) because I guess It Doesn’t Matter now *ahem*. Anyway, I had already quit patronizing IDK when I caught them adding drinks to my tab that I hadn’t ordered. But when I learned they were refusing to pay a Filipina employee, I threatened to report them to the USFK Provost Marshal for human trafficking, and they relented. Ah, the good ol’ days. Some nice pictures of the Pyeongtaek area in that post as well.
Today’s YouTube video discusses the health implications of naps for us senior citizens. I had no idea there was such a thing, but luckily, my daily naps are early in the afternoon and last less than an hour. They don’t seem to affect my nighttime slumber either, so I should be good to go.
HaHa, reading that title just now, I had to say, isn’t everyone getting closer to death every day?
And on to the humor:
That they do. By the way, I won’t be playing today, hopefully, back at it on Tuesday.Talk about butt-hurt.Is the one in jail for bad spelling?
Okay, Ashley, aka Lick-and-Spit, is celebrating her birthday today at Red Bar. Swan and I will be attending. Should be a good time.
Alright, I’m gonna need a few more years to write my death song, though.
Here’s the lowdown on the Wednesday that was:
These three old fuckers go for a walk. Ha, sounds like the start of a joke. But you know what? I’m the youngest one in the group of 70+ gents, and I’m happy that we can still get out there and enjoy ourselves.
Scott drove us out to where the new bypass road is allegedly under construction. I say ‘allegedly’ because, since our previous visit several months ago, it appears little progress has been made. I’m no engineer, but damn, I still can’t figure out how they are going to make it up and over the top of the Kalakalan Ridge. I hope I live long enough to find out.
Let’s get this show on the road.Nicely poured concrete wide enough for four lanes.The Easter Mountain view from here.Where the pavement ends.It’s Wednesday morning, and we haven’t seen a single construction worker.Maybe they can’t figure out where to go from here. That initial cutout is way too steep for most trucks and buses.
Welp, not our problem, we headed down to the valley for the rest of our walk.
Of course, once that bypass highway is completed, this area will be ripe for development.I guess we should enjoy nature’s beauty while we still can.How now, carabao? Just keep those horns to yourself, thank you! Back on the pavement and headed for Naugsol.A tree I liked along the way.Dispensing some biscuits……and lollipops to the local children. They seemed pleased.A bridge I’m glad we didn’t cross.And the one we did.The river, such as it is this time of year.For an old man on a hot day, our 4K journey felt just right.
With the walkaholic urge satisfied, at beer o’clock it was time to quench my thirst. Swan had been visiting a friend on SBMA, so I awaited her return at the seldom-visited Snackbar near the Baloy 7-Eleven. She arrived as I was finishing my second beer, and we headed for the beach.
It was high tide, so Swan enjoyed toes in the sand and in the water.A couple of big-spending tourists took care of the thirsty girls on the floating bar.One of them even pulled the chain (1000 pesos per tug) so the girls could chase the balls like hungry puppies. After collecting their commission, they refilled the bucket.The girls put on a dance routine.
A smooch for my favorite.A view of Baloy Long Beach.And watching the sun do its daily routine.As we departed the floating bar.And from the beach.Next stop, Treasure Island.The barstool view.The chicken wings hit the spot…And the chicken quesadillas were tasty too.
And that’s all there was for Wednesday.
Facebook memories reminded me of this old advertisement I’d shared:
United Airlines only provided Chesterfield cigarettes for its passengers. That’s actor Dale Robertson grabbing a pack. Curiosity piqued, I looked up Dale’s cause of death. Sure enough, it was lung cancer. But it didn’t kill him until he was 83. I should be so lucky.
Carrying on with the October 2017 LTG archives, and I’m back from my Boracay adventure with a new plan to get over my sorry state of mind: acceptance. Reading this again today from a whole other perspective, but it still seems apt. I may not like certain aspects of my life that come with age, but I need to learn to accept them.
In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger explains why he doesn’t want to live a long life. Interesting perspectives for sure, and honestly, I’m living like there is no tomorrow already. But I’m blessed to have not lost my mind (although it is fading fast) or suffered some catastrophic incident like a disabling stroke. So, I’m not in any hurry to let go of what I have, but when it is gone, I’ll likely not resist.
And on to the funny business:
Flip flops?I’m pretty sure I’ve posted this before, but it is appropriate to review the rules for writing good once in a while.I guess they didn’t see that coming.
I’m not a good as I once was, and I doubt I ever will be again.
Throwing darts at home yesterday, I did much better than in my previous practice sessions. The main improvement was being more consistent in my throws, with even my misses being close to the intended target. So, I was feeling pretty confident when I headed out for the Tuesday tournament at Alley Cats. Alas, when I was doing my warmup tosses, it was back to being all over the place. No idea what was up with that.
So, there were enough players to hold a doubles tournament, and I agreed to participate. Almost hilariously, the partner I drew apologized before I could, and then we both agreed just to let the darts fly as they will and have fun. So, in the first round, we played Alley Cats owner Dean and the waitress Mengie. We had a shot at the out in 501, but couldn’t hit our number before our opponents did. The next round was cricket, and Dean was on fire. We were dispatched to the losers’ bracket in short order. When our turn came up in the losers’ bracket, we once again had our asses handed to us in both legs. So, that made it a 0-4 evening of darts. I’m not giving up yet.
There was a guy at the bar I didn’t know wearing a shirt that caught my eye. It’s unlike me to talk to a stranger, but I approached him and asked if he’d mind me taking a pic of his shirt. He shrugged, introduced himself, and said, “Sure.”
Ironically, I’ve been known to mess up my hyphenation opportunities.
After darts, we moved up the highway to Green Room. I used my Sit-n-Bull discount coupon to order a roast beef dip sandwich and had it delivered to my table. Another beer or two later, and it was time to go home. We’ll see if it goes better for me at Friday’s tourney.
Here’s a random shot of my ballcap wardrobe:
It’s an everyday thing for me under the sun in the Philippines.
Facebook memories was once again full of photos I’d posted from the distant past:
Qualified for high school in 1969.Graduated from high school in 1973.After eight years of delivering mail, in 1985, the Postal Service decided I was worthy of promotion as a Safety Specialist.In 1989, I made the Dean’s List at USC.And eighteen years after high school, I finally earned my bachelor’s degree.
It’s October 2017 in the LTG archives, and I’m making my first and last visit to Boracay. I helped my tour guide/caregiver, Loraine, celebrate her 50th birthday there. There were clues about what was to come on the horizon, but I foolishly ignored them.
A sign seen on the beach at Boracay. Well, I’ve always been a muff diver…
I can’t seem to shake this feeling of impending doom, so today’s YouTube video about how Buddha saw death caught my eye. There was nothing concerning the do-over I fantasize about, but it sounds better than nothing. Or maybe he meant that Nirvana is nothing. Or something.
Let’s end this with a smile.
That’s the least of my worries.The jokes on you, Paddy!Nope, that can’t steal the money back now.
Now to get back to livin’ while I still have time.
And then you start forgetting everything you thought you knew.
I might not be the same Hash hound that I once was, but this old dog still hunts for a way to make it through the trail each week. Some days that’s easier than others, but yesterday’s run didn’t exceed my limits. It was kind of the Hares to offer a mostly flat version of their trail so I could avoid climbing Black Rock without shortcutting. I still enjoy getting out and about, but I know my limits. We’ll see how long I last.
The Harriet’s: Lick and Spit, Fuck Buddy, Derby’s Bitch, and Anal Intruder.Hashers gather at the start in Alta Vista.A cow and a mountain.Getting down!It’s nice on rice!Katchi kapshida!A fairly well-marked trail.The way ahead.On the backroads of San Isidro.A beer stop at Covid 69’s house. I like beer, and I like hiking. But not at the same time. I stuck with water.Back on the trail.Leaking Willy did the long trail and looked tired when he caught up with us short-trail slowpokes.Our come-to-Jesus moment.Our heavenly view.Making our way down to the On-Home at Smokes and Bottles.Hash Gash.Chillin’ before the Circle.Chillin’ on ice in the circle.A Hashy birthday!The long and short of it. My version was just shy of 6K.
Some after-Hash imbibing at It Doesn’t Matter brought the day’s fun to its usual conclusion. Enjoy it while you can!
More high school memories courtesy of old Facebook posts. Once I thought myself a poet and penned these verses for my sweetheart:
The object of my affections:
She moved away during my senior year.
It is now October 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I announce that my time in Korea will end when my lease expires in May 2018. Work was the only positive thing in my life back then, and giving it up was a difficult decision. Looking back, I wonder if it was the right one. Then again, as commenter Brian pointed out, you can’t add time to the back end of your retirement. You live with your choices, and at least now the pain and depression I was experiencing then are gone.
Today’s YouTube video features Reekay educating folks on methods to access their money after moving to the Philippines. For my first few years, I relied almost exclusively on my ATM card to get cash. That’s an expensive method at 250 pesos a pop, but also the most convenient. But I’ve also maintained access to wire transfer services (I currently use Remitly and Wise) for paying my helpers and the rent. My credit card situation has been more frustrating, but the new one should hopefully be arriving soon. That’s my insurance money, should I need emergency medical care (private hospitals won’t admit without proof of ability to pay, and public hospitals are where you go to die).
And now for something a little more fun:
More fun to read than create, I reckon.And that’s where we’re.Now do beer.
Okay, now it’s time for me to get in some dart practice. We’ll see if I can carry Friday’s winning performance forward. Only one way to find out.
As we used to say back in my time with the Army, NSTR. Which translates to: nothing significant to report. So, here’s a quick rundown of the insignificance I enjoyed on Sunday:
There was the Sweets Stroll.
Pigs on a stick.Some graffiti that caught my eye.Some of the kids we pleased.I bet she doesn’t know either. I hope she is not being groomed.
Later in the day, I lost some hair.
The view from the chair.
Next was some time rockin’ on the water.
On the Arizona floating bar.The view from our seat.The view of us.Some of our fellow floaters. That guy was buying the gals multiple lady drinks, so they were happy.I drank the last bottle of Zero. Haven’t seen it anywhere else in town. So, I guess that means zero Zeros.There was a fire burning on the hillside, and the rising smoke mingled with an actual cloud. I thought it looked cool.And we enjoyed the usual show.
Swan was ready for dinner and wanted to go to the Coffee Shop. I asked why the Coffee Shop, and she told me, “You know I love tacos.” Yes, dear.
Off the floater and onto the busy beach.The Coffee Shop is conveniently located right across the highway from the Arizona Resort.We dined in the upstairs open-air portion of the restaurant. Empty when we arrived, almost full when we left.Swan wanted the Jumbo Taco.I aim to please.
Some after-dinner drinks at Red Bar.
We enjoyed ourselves so much we didn’t bother doing the usual Sunday nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Arrived home safe and sound, then blended up a batch of strawberry-banana smoothies for my bedtime treat. And so concludes the NSTR I warned you about.
Facebook memories took me back to my high school daze and the student newspaper I proudly edited back then.
My editorial in favor of legalizing marijuana was ahead of its time and generated quite a bit of negative feedback.
Welp, I was also an advocate for free speech:
Yeah, I have a box full of old shit like this from the past.
Speaking of the past, from the September 2017 LTG archives is a post about getting friend-zoned. I kept insisting I was done with love forever, but as I would soon learn, I was lying to myself. Seven months left in Korea, and they were painful ones.
Today’s YouTube video is not like the usual shit I post here. It discusses some unique geographical features of Luzon Island (where I reside). So, will I die in an earthquake or from a volcanic eruption? Time will tell.
You gotta laugh before you die:
I’m content being a former driver.Sounds like a three-for-all.That would really piss me off.
And now it is time to prepare myself for another Hash Monday. I shouldn’t have any trouble finding a viable shortcut on today’s trail. Tell you all about it tomorrow.
Not that it matters, but you know the drill by now. I’ll try not to waste much of your time with another meaningless post. So, here’s the down and dirty:
Decay Dance.
The kids were happy to see us again after our hiatus.It’s harvest time in the rice fields.Taking care of business.
Beer o’clock.
WTF! They’ve fenced off the shortcut out of Alta Vista that I take into Barretto almost every day. Tear down that wall!First stop, Cheap Charlies. New signage since our last visit.That gal who puts up with me most of the time.My hero. I occasionally see this old guy hobbling along the highway. I bitch and moan about the aches and pains that come with age. This guy just keeps on going.
Here, let me show you what I mean:
You’re an inspiration!
Dinner from Foodies downstairs.
Kare-kare for Swan.Sweet and sour pork for me.And that famous CR view from Cheap Charlies.
Next stop, Gold Bar. Deader than I’ve ever seen it. Nightcap at Queen Victoria, only slightly better. Called it a night at 8 pm and triked back home. As we passed through the Alta Vista gate, the guard handed me a bag with my name on it.
A gift from Dr. Jo in celebration of the grand opening of her husband’s brewery on Siargao Island. Congrats to you, Chris!
And that’s all I have to say about yesterday.
Facebook memories reminded me that it was five years ago that I rented a room for my homeless friend “Mama.” I took her to dinner at DaKudo’s, then showed her the room (also on Baloy). She took a look around, handed me the key, and said, “No, thank you.” It seems strange that she prefers living on the street, but it just goes to show you can find happiness in whatever the circumstances may be.
That’s Mama five years ago. I saw her this morning on my walk and gave her the usual 100 pesos. She thanked me and said, “I love you, Papa.”
From the September 2017 LTG archives, I’m still carrying on with my WWBD (working, walking, biking, drinking) lifestyle in Pyeongtaek. I was very unhappy with my empty life, but looking back now, I should have let myself enjoy it. The pictures in the post make it seem almost like paradise. Silly me.
Today’s YouTube video claims that the aches and pains in my legs mean my time is almost up. That may or may not be true, but I’m going to keep pushing the envelope. That guy I posted about above sure as hell isn’t letting being crippled stop him from getting out and about. Shit, it won’t let me embed the video for some reason. It’s only six minutes long; give it a watch and see if you agree with what it says.
And now for those “funny” memes:
Swan has been immersed in “The Walking Dead” series lately.I guess it makes it easier to see me moving around.That’s true love.All my old pickup lines are rusty for disuse.
“Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” Here’s what yesterday’s pebble looked like:
It being Friday, the group hikers gathered at the appointed hour.
Some visitors from Thailand and Norway joined in the fun.
I had considered taking them up to Black Rock for the views, but not knowing their capabilities and fearing that steep descent might prove hazardous, I decided to play it safe and introduce them to My Bitch instead. I’ve done that trail so often it’s a little boring now, but for newcomers it offers a relatively easy and scenic hike.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.Doing some grass along the way.Introducing the newbies to Easter Mountain.One of Mountain Mama Onelia’s cocks.We dicked around for 5K or so.
My afternoon delight included practicing darts at home. I threw marginally better than before, but was still way too inconsistent. The dartbot on my app beat me twice again. Then it was off to Alley Cats to see if the Friday tournament was in my future. One of the waitresses, Mengie, volunteered to help me warm up with a practice match. She won. I wasn’t feeling very confident (or competent), but when only five other players showed up, I was up for participating in a singles tournament. At least no one would get stuck with having me for a partner.
In the first round, I drew a guy named Tobias, who had just beaten Mengie. It took him three legs (I won in cricket) to drop me to the losers’ bracket. I won my next two matches there, then faced Tobias again in the finals. Now, here’s the strange part: the tourney had been going on for over two hours at this point. Naturally, I’d been drinking beer throughout, and it seemed the more I drank, the better I threw. We darters jokingly refer to our alcoholic beverages as “aiming fluid,” but that proved to be the case for me last night.
So, the match began with 501, and I won that leg. Then it was cricket, and I won that as well. Since Tobias was previously undefeated, I had to win another match to win the tournament. And thanks to those San Mig Lights, good luck, or suddenly remembering how to throw darts again, I pulled off the victory.
The tournament brackets tell the story.I are the champion, my friend.
Maybe I should quit while I’m ahead. It was nice to win, of course, but damn, I was feeling my age by the time it was over. So, we arrived at Alley Cats around 4:30. The tournament started at 5, and it was close to 8:30 before it was all said and done. And I hadn’t had anything to eat yet. Everything seemed a little off-kilter, I mean, it was practically my bedtime!
I needed some food, so we crossed the highway and popped into Mango’s.
That’s what time it was when I placed my order.Naturally, it was grilled pork chops for us.
And when dinner was over and done with, so were we. Grabbed a trike and headed on home.
The time on my phone when I finally hit the sheets.
I may need to incorporate pizza delivery into my dart tourney routine. Or quit playing again. We shall see.
It is now September 2017 in the LTG archives. I have to say, reliving the depression I was experiencing while living in Pyeongtaek has been painful. Oh, the photos from my bike rides and hikes are nice. Lots of time spent in the bars as well. But my mindset was almost pure misery. So, this post, where I share the story of Loraine, the gal I had hired in advance to take care of me when I moved to the Philippines, was refreshingly upbeat. Of course, I haven’t forgotten what was to come, but that’s still a month away.
For today’s YouTube video, let’s see what the Filipina Pea has to share about ten funny Filipino traits that most foreigners don’t grasp.
Humor time:
Unless it is a Zippopotamus.Our future president? And to be fair, I’ve seen this meme done with Trump in the photo.And check your privilege, white buoy!
Sorry for all the lameness. It’s bound to get better. Or not.
Ironically, I found this looking back through the LTG archives. As true as it ever was, though.
I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, not really sick or anything, just a tad lethargic. Luckily, my lifestyle doesn’t require much energy, and I made it through the day without incident, aside from an extra nap.
The only item on my “must-do” list was getting a visa extension at the immigration office in Olongapo. That meant getting there via public transport. Morning rush hour going to the city includes crowded Jeepneys with traffic delays compounding the discomfort. So, we waited until 10:30 to depart, then walked down to the highway and squeezed into the first Jeepney that came by. We got off at the Kalaklan gate to SBMA, then crossed the river onto the old Navy base. There’s a taxi stand right at the entrance, and I had Swan walk ahead of me in order to avoid the cursed skin tax applied to foreigners. I was prepared to pay up to 100 pesos for the short ride (less than 2K), but when Swan asked how much, she was told it would be 150 pesos. Bullshit! I’d rather walk than be scammed, and that’s just what we did.
Coincidentally, later in the afternoon, SBMA posted on Facebook in response to complaints about taxis overcharging customers. So, they shared the approved fare chart that drivers must adhere to.
All those 150-peso fares were at least twice as far as our destination, and our fare should have been in the 50-peso range.
Yeah, I can afford to be overcharged, but my pride will not allow it. Anyway, I needed to get some steps in anyway. Things went without a hitch at immigration, and my tourist visa was extended until March 23 for “only” 4100 pesos (you only get 30 days for the first extension after entering the country). Then we caught a metered taxi (which aren’t allowed on SBMA) for the ride back to Barretto. It’s about 8K and thirty minutes, and the fare was just shy of 200 pesos. I knew the driver had a slim chance of finding a fare back to Olongapo City (we don’t even have a taxi stand in Barretto), so I gladly tipped him 100 pesos and wished him well.
Exciting shit, eh? Well, when beer o’clock rolled around, we made Sloppy Joe’s our first stop. I had beers, Swan had a glass of wine, and we sat and watched the world go by until hunger prompted us to change our venue.
Next stop, the seldom-visited Myleen’s. After perusing the menu, we agreed we’d share an order of chicken quesadillas and birria tacos.
I told Swan that these are the best birria tacos in town. She said she still likes John’s better. I told her John’s gone, and these are the ONLY birrias in town. And that, my friends, is how you win an argument.
I had another coupon for “buy a lady drink, get a free customer drink,” good for one night at both Green Room and Wet Spot, and we didn’t let it go to waste. Two lady drinks in each bar meant four free beers for me. Of course, when you do the math, it would have been cheaper for me to just pay for my beers. On the other hand, I always buy two lady drinks when I visit these bars, so it is still a win.
And that, dear readers, is how I quenched my Thirstday.
I’ve moved on to August 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this “ketchup” post, I share the happenings of my work life along with some photographs from my adventures hiking and biking in Pyeongtaek. I also reveal that I won’t be re-retiring in September after all. Too hard to let go of the gravy train that comes with a six-figure salary with free housing in addition to my monthly pension check. Talk about living large!
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Reekay, and in today’s YouTube video, he talks about what your goals in life should be after you turn sixty. I’ve been well aware that my timeline is shrinking, and I’ve noticed a drop in my energy levels as well. But I’ve been focused on living comfortably for a long time now, and I think I’m prepared for the inevitable declines to come. I’m sure my routines seem boring and redundant, but they’re certainly better than playing cards in an old-age home somewhere. I’m still actively hiking, and I schedule at least one out-of-town trip each month to liven things up a bit. Swan is a certified caregiver and has promised to stay with me for the rest of my ride. I’m providing her a monthly stipend so she can prepare for a life when I’m gone. I’d say I’ve followed Reekay’s advice before I even heard it.
Swan’s future home is a work in progress. I’m hoping it remains empty for years to come.
To the humor, then.
Sounds like one of your test questions, Kevin.But watch out for cracks!What about the guy from Busan?
A very nice hike yesterday at the Cubi Point area on SBMA. I hadn’t been up that way in years, and we walked through a place I’d never seen before: the JEST Camp.
JEST Camp, or Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, was a training facility at Subic Bay Naval Base that provided a five-day course on jungle survival skills, primarily for military personnel. After the U.S. Navy left, the camp was transformed into an adventure camp for tourists.
The camp is closed to tourists now, and the security guard aborted our efforts to do a walk-through, but it is still an interesting area to see, even from afar. Here’s a video about the history of JEST Camp.
I recall visiting the Cubi area during pre-move reconnaissance, scouting potential places to live. Despite the area’s beauty, it just felt a little too isolated and a little too much like Americanized suburbia for me. And so I made Barretto my home instead.
Here are a few photos from the journey:
There were only four of us, which is why we were able to have Scott drive us to a place we can’t otherwise access.A bay view from the early part of our hike. It was uphill for the first kilometer or so, but not crazy steep like I experienced on the Valentine’s Hash.A cafe in the middle of nowhere. We passed lots of abandoned Quonset huts from the old Navy days.The path not taken.Still going strong.More mysterious Quonsets.A view from on high.Sadly, this was the closest thing to a monkey I encountered.An example of the upscale housing at Cubi Point.These were former US Marine barracks.Another nice neighborhood.It doesn’t even look like the Philippines up here.Still beautiful though.Hmm, if I had a car, maybe living here in isolation wouldn’t be such a bad thing.That’s Olongapo City across the bay.
And then something weird happened. We came upon a series of signs, each bearing a line from a poem, every twenty yards or so. Since we were coming down, we saw them in reverse order. Let me fix that for you:
Thanks for that!
One of several places on SBMA where tankers offload refined oil and gasoline.The route of our scenic 5.5K loop.
One of the nicer hikes I’ve experienced here. Next up, our weekly visit to Baloy Beach.
Swan in her happy place.My offshore happy place.Sharing the joy.We’ll be keeping an eye on you.I couldn’t help but notice this couple strolling down the beach, so I zoomed in and took a shot.Yep, we are in the Philippines!Lizza, wife of Kokomo’s owner Steve, joined us for a glass of wine. Steve is currently home in Australia.Are you ready?Let’s go!Until we meet again.See you next week, Kokomo’s.
Next stop, Treasure Island.
The beef enchiladas hit the spot.What’s that you’re making, Arlene?Oh my goodness, thank you!
A sweet ending to our Thursday at the beach.
Still in the July 2017 LTG archives, and in this post, I recount the only time in history that three McCrareys were in the city of Pyeongtaek at the same time (the other two were my nephews Josh and Justin). There were pictures from our barhop, including one of my friend, Mi Young. Alas, she was not interested in anything more at the time, but we remain friends to this day.
Today’s YouTube video was a tad disconcerting in that it is a reminder that life is indeed fleeting. I try not to overthink it, but since turning 70, I’ve not been able to shake the feeling of impending doom. It might come in ten years, ten months, ten days, or ten minutes. But it is coming. And there ain’t a damn thing I can do about it, so I’ll just keep on keepin’ on as best as I am able. Unlike the story this vlogger tells, I don’t regret my time in the Philippines, and I have nothing to go back to in the USA. He made his mistakes and will die feeling the consequences. That’s just the way it works. I have a lifetime of sad memories and “what if” thoughts, but the past doesn’t dictate the future, however short it may be, unless you let it. It’s sometimes a struggle, but I’m going to pack as much happiness into each day as I can. And when it is done, it is done. As much as I like to fantasize about a “do-over,” there is no going back.
Let’s try and lighten the mood:
Hold that thought.It’s called afterbirth.Take it to the Lord in prayer.
I’ve been feeling off the mark all day today. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow.
I’m happy to report that I AM NOT peeing the bed. Yet.
Tuesday’s are rarely the best day of the week for me, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. Yesterday wasn’t anything terrible, but it wasn’t quite right somehow either. The good news is it won’t take long to tell you about it. Here goes:
So, I had marked my calendar to remind myself I needed to renew my tourist visa. I always go on grocery shopping day because the immigration office is nearby the Royal supermarket. I got dropped off at SM Mall as usual, and walked to the door where the elevators are located (immigration is on the 6th floor). The security guard asked where I was going, and when I told her, she said, “Immigration is closed today.” I asked why, and she responded, “Chinese New Year.” Oh shit, I had forgotten about that. I honestly didn’t even know it was a government holiday in the Philippines. And now I do. Plan B is to go back on Thursday for my extension.
The other big supermarket on SBMA is Puregold. I stop in there every couple of months to see if they have anything in stock I can’t get a Royal. Yesterday wasn’t worth the trip because there was almost nothing there that I wanted or needed. Well, they did have something I hadn’t seen since I left Korea nearly eight years ago:
How could I resist?
Then it was on to Royal for the usual weekly grocery cart fill. I usually keep an eye on items being rung up to ensure nothing untoward is taking place. Usually, it isn’t, although I’ve learned that if something is on sale, you need to watch to make sure you are getting the lower price. Cashiers normally count when you have multiple units of the same item, and then enter that number before scanning the item. Swan had four bottles of soju on the counter, and when the cashier entered the number and scanned it, a weirdly long number popped up. Before I could say anything, she had moved on to the next item, so I made a mental note and let it go. But when the last of the groceries were scanned, and she totaled my bill, it was a multimillion amount (my weekly shopping at Royal is usually around 10000 to 15000 pesos). She called the manager over to enter the correction, and then things got weird. I told them the soju was the problem, but it felt like I was being ignored. And then they started searching through all my boxed and bagged groceries, looking for something. I repeated that it was the soju, and Swan told me to calm down. Finally, after several minutes, they pulled out some tuna cans and rang them up again. As best as I can understand things, she had entered the multiple tuna numbers, but failed to scan. Then she entered multiple soju numbers, and the scanner spat out a wild number when the soju bottle was scanned. Oh well, it was only ten minutes of what is left of my life. I did feel bad for the customers in line behind me, most of whom bailed in disgust.
Back home, I did my nap and blogging thing, then headed to my dartboard for some practice. I warmed up pretty well, but then the bot on my darts app kicked my ass twice. I was not feeling confident as we headed out to the Alley Cats tournament. Upon arrival, I did my warmup throws and wasn’t pleased with my inability to hit the target. I would hate to draw someone who throws like me as a partner, so when I was told it would be a doubles tourney, I declined to participate. See, I have moments of unselfishness.
As we left Alley Cats, Swan told me she was hungry. Welp, it just so happened that I had a 15% discount coupon for Sit-n-Bull in my wallet.
Swan had a Filipino shrimp soup dish, and I enjoyed my submarine sandwich with a side of baked beans.
We paid a visit to Green Room after dinner, then did our nightcap next door at Wet Spot. As we departed for home, I met the new owner, a guy named Philip. We’ll see what changes may be in store in the days to come.
And that’s the story of my Tuesday.
Continuing with the journey through the July 2017 LTG archives, I found this post of interest (to me). It’s about a bank teller I was crushing on in Prescott, Arizona, but I didn’t have the balls to tell her until I was leaving for a new job in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She looked at me sadly and said, “I wish you had let me know.” Another road in life not taken.
Today’s YouTube video is a bit out of the ordinary. I had never heard of Frederick Wiseman (or at least I don’t remember hearing of him) until I saw a post on the Althouse blog this morning about his recent passing away at age 96. He was a documentary filmmaker, and Althouse included this clip from his 1968 “High School” film. Well, I did high school from 1969 to 1973, and the clip really resonated with me. I thought of myself as something of a poet back then, and wish I’d had a teacher like the one portrayed. I’m also a big Simon and Garfunkel fan, so hearing “Dangling Conversation” recited was nice as well.
Here’s more on Wiseman and the “High School” documentary. Fascinating.
Now for the funny business:
You should ask Barack Obama about that.He was probably drunk when he got swallowed.I’ve been Jonesing for some Kool-Aid.
It’s weird getting old. My brain ain’t what it used to be, but the things it forgets and the things it remembers seem strange. There was a girl I dated when I was living in Oklahoma. She was the last one ever to give me her virginity. That’s a pretty big deal. And now, try as I might, I can’t remember her name. Then, last night at Green Room, they played Don McLean’s “American Pie,” a song that runs over eight minutes. And I remembered every damn word in the lyrics. Go figure.
The scene of the crime(s).Tropical Garden, Treasure Island, Viking, Snack Bar, Sloppy Joe’s, Cheap Charlies, Red Bar, then On-Home at It Doesn’t Matter.
The Hashers gathered at the Tropical Garden on Baloy Beach at 2 pm to kick off the Red Dress Hash Run. I’d never visited Tropical Garden before and had my first beer of the day there. It’s a nice place.
Sir Clitoris at the Tropical Garden.My red “dress” was a hooded cloak.Hashers on the beach, going to the first stop on the bar crawl, Treasure Island.Dressed for suck cess.Our Hash Grandmaster, Buddy Fucker, hails from Montana.Making our way to our second stop, Viking Resort.At Viking.The third venue, SnackBar.That would be Tiny Cunt, looking like, well…Stop #4, Sloppy Joe’s.What’s a Hash without a climb?The 5th venue, Cheap Charlies.The Hash Gash at Cheap Charlies.Red Bar was the last stop on the bar crawl.Then we moved on to It Doesn’t Matter for the Hash Circle.Who’s the breast one?I prefer the real thing.Cums Alone receiving recognition for her 69th Run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.Slippery When Wet got the Hashit this week.It’s nice on ice! Or so the saying goes.
And that’s the way my first Red Dress Hash Run went down. The beers also went down. Seven (one at each stop on the bar crawl) before I got to the On-Home venue. Four more or so during the Hash Circle. And probably three beers at the after-Hash gathering. You can do the math, but that total exceeds my consumption limit. Especially when San Miguel Zero is no longer available. Suffice to say, by the time I got home, I was floored. Or so Swan says. I don’t remember a thing.
Practice, practice, practice.
From the July 2017 LTG archives: I’m back in Korea after my visit to Barretto, reflecting on how I hope to be living after making the move. Two lines in that post that stood out:
“I am so glad that my future will not include being a lonely old man looking for love in all the wrong places.”
“As the prophet has said, man does not live by bars alone.”
Oh, well. The best laid plans don’t always turn out the way you intended.
In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger discusses how breaking the expat rules can lead to a better life. Well, I’d say to each his own, and some things depend on the lifestyle and location you prefer. I remember as a tourist here, I’d frequently get sick after a couple of days, and I suspected it was the water. These days, I still drink bottled water, but I cook and brush my teeth with tap water. I probably have acquired immunity by now. As for living with relatives, my new live-in housekeeper is Swan’s niece. I’ve agreed to allow her husband and two kids to join her in the basement (it’s a fully equipped, separate living area). I don’t expect there will be any problems with that. As for his other points, I’m following my own rules that work for me. So yeah, I live in a subdivision, but I can still hear the Philippines from here. I’ve not immersed myself in the local culture; I hang out with other expats and dine on the foods I like in nice restaurants. I can afford this lifestyle, and for the most part, I’m happy with it.
And now for today’s lame humor attempts:
She gets all his Woody.But at least there are no breakfast dishes to wash.I didn’t check the math…
I wrote about the Valentine’s Hash yesterday. Tomorrow I’ll be writing about today’s Subic Red Dress Hash. So, I guess that makes this post a Hash sandwich. Not a lot of meat, but better than nothing. Let’s get to it, then.
Filling in some gaps from my time with the La Union Hash in the mountains near Baguio with photos I didn’t take:
The pizza we had for lunch on Saturday.
After the Hash Run, we had a shooting contest:
It’s been many years since I’ve shouldered a rifle. This was an air-fired pellet gun. Three shots at the target (water bottles). I missed all three.Dining on my hot-off-the-grill hamburger.And speaking on behalf of the Subic Bay Hash at the Circle.
Another Hash event, another Hash shirt to wear:
The front……and the back.
We got back home to Barretto around noon on Sunday, tired from a difficult night’s sleep in the kubo room. Took a nap, but still wasn’t feeling up to speed when beer o’clock arrived. We decided to pass on our Sunday visit to the Arizona floating bar and went for dinner at Jewel Cafe instead.
Jewel had updated their menu since our last visit, and that tiny little filet mignon steak I usually enjoy has gone up from 599 pesos to 690 pesos. Hmm, nope, there’s not enough meat for that money.
So, it was baby back ribs for me last night. Yeah, not much volume, but they tasted good.
We popped into Red Bar for a couple of drinks, then visited Jumpin’ Jacks for our nightcap. Then it was back home for a quiet night’s sleep.
Swan had a breakfast surprise for me this morning:
She made me a Monte Cristo sandwich. Yum!
Are any of you old enough to remember Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone?
Does anyone know which party he is talking about?
Continuing on with the July 2017 LTG archives, I’m halfway through a visit to Subic Bay with my travel companion/caregiver, Loraine. And then my step-daughter, Avery, and her partner, who were touring Asia, decided to come join in the fun. It was a pleasant surprise to see Avery again. She’s the only one of my kids who visited me since I left the USA. She’s ghosted me since then.
Today’s YouTube video is about monitoring your resting heart rate. That’s one of the daily stats I track. I used to be consistently in the mid-50s, but it has been creeping up to the low-60s lately. I sounds like as long as I stay under 70, I should be okay.
Have you been missing these?
Sounds like God is damned.You’re done, Gladys!These are important things to keep in mind.
And on that note, we’ll give this post a rest. I’ve never participated in a Red Dress Hash Run before, but there is a first time for everything, I suppose. Basically, everyone wears a red outfit and does a bar crawl. I’m not exactly looking forward to it, but I’ll try to make it through. Details and photos tomorrow.
The long day’s journey into night began with a 7 a.m. pickup by our driver, Bong. The first stop was the gas station to fill up with 2500 pesos’ worth of fuel for the trip. Then we met fellow Hasher Beth (BF’s Wet Spot), loaded her camping gear into the car, and were ready to hit the road. I put the destination into my Google Maps app, and we were on our way.
It was an uneventful drive until we reached the end of the expressway. Google told us to go one way and driver Bong wanted to take the route to Baguio he was familiar with. I told him, “up to you,” and we proceeded his way. Normally, the map apps recalibrate to follow the chosen road. Not this time. The Google voice kept telling us to turn around, so I knew something was wrong. I advised Bong that since we weren’t technically going to Baguio City (the venue is actually in Tuba, Benguet), we should go the way Google wants us to. That turned out to be the right call. I spoke with a Hasher who went the other way, and it took him an additional 2.5 hours due to heavy traffic in Baguio.
I’ve always been fond of mountain drives and enjoyed many journeys in the Rockies and Sierras when I lived in the USA. That said, I don’t recall a more narrow, twisty-turny, steep route than the one that took us to our final destination. The excitement was heightened by blind-corner passing, necessitated by idiots who parked and blocked one of the two lanes. It was both a beautiful and a scary ride, but Bong got us there alive.
There were also a couple of impressive tunnels we passed through on the way up, including this one-lane version.Destination achived!We arrived at 11:30 and things were still being prepared for the afternoon Hash gathering.We pitched a tent for Beth and one for Bong.
I opted to stay in a kubo instead of a tent.
My lodging for the night. Don’t let looks deceive you.
That’s kubo #2 (out of three units). Inside, there are FOUR separate rooms, two down and two up.
Looking through the kubo’s front door, you can see two of the rooms. I was thankful to be in the lower room, but later, maybe not so much.Inside our “room.” I’ve seen bigger walk-in closets. And that thin mattress pad was better than sleeping on the ground, but not much.I can’t say we weren’t warned.
Oh, there were two toilets behind our kubo, shared by the four guest rooms. The toilets didn’t flush, so you scooped buckets of water into them until the nastiness went away.
Also, the kubos weren’t at the campsite; you had to walk down quite a few steps to get to them. I didn’t count how many, but I was sweating bad when I walked back up to camp.
This photo is from the campsite. That red car down there is parked across the road from the kubos.
But the worst part of the kubo experience was the noise. I swear, every time the person sleeping upstairs from us rolled over on the bed, we could hear the bamboo loudly creaking through the floor. And whoever it was did a lot of tossing and turning throughout the night. All in all, a tent with an air mattress would have been preferable.
Oh, and speaking of noise, someone at the campsite was doing karaoke until one in the morning or so. Luckily, we were far enough away that it didn’t bother us much. I mean, it couldn’t drown out the creaking floor from upstairs. Bong, in his nearby tent, said it kept him awake.
I guess this rule doesn’t apply when the Hash has rented all the space.
Anyway, enough bitching about the minor shit like accommodations, we came for the Hash! We were checked into our room a little after twelve. A Hash lunch was scheduled for 1:30 with the trail due to begin at 2:30. So we had some time to look around.
Loved the signage on the bar.Swan had a swingin’ good time.A little bit further up the hill was an actual motel-like room. Wish I’d known about that beforehand. It was already booked by a LUH3 Hasher, of course.Looking back down at the campground.Hey, good lookin’!Beth, Swan, and Bong at the campsite. Bong wasn’t a Hash participant, but we’d packed plenty of food and beers for him to help pass the time.Other arriving Hashers setting up camp. I understand there were thirty tents, all told.
I was surprised to see that food delivery was available up here (presumably from Baguio), but at the appointed time, a motorcycle rider pulled up with twenty boxes of pizza. Each Hasher was afforded two slices, and I ate mine in due course.
And then right before the Hash run was set to begin, this happened. Yep, those clouds are full of raindrops.
I was really on the fence about the Hash trail. There was no “easy” trail available, and the Hare assured me that shortcutting wasn’t possible either. On the plus side, the trail wasn’t long (around 5K), but on the flip side, it was steep downs and ups the entire length.
Last-minute guidance from the Hare, Booked Up.Well, fuck it. I came to Hash. Let’s go!We began by going down the super steep road leading to the campground. With each step, I was dreading the thought of hoofing it back up here at the end of the trail.And oh yeah, it was still raining.The view from here.Time for a pee break.After a kilometer or so on the highway we came in on (all downhill), we got off the pavement and continued our downward journey. You don’t see any other Hashers because we were bringing up the rear by a long shot.That path took us through this pigsty, and then into the jungle.Damn, this down was a lot more difficult than I’d bargained for.But the up was so much worse!
And then, when we got to the top, the trail almost immediately headed back down through the jungle. Fuck that! I could see some nice houses and figured there must be a road to reach them, so the search was on. And by golly, we found not only a road, but the actual highway leading back to the On-Home campground. Better yet, it was part of the Hash trail. I consulted Google Maps just to make sure, but we were on the road to success. Which, of course, is always uphill. Also, I’m a master shortcutter!
And then we got passed by the female Hasher known as Front Running Bitch (I don’t think that’s her actual Hash name, but she is consistently the first LUH3 Hasher to finish the trail.That relentless uphill highway walk totally kicked my ass. And when I was faced with that long, hard climb back up to the campground, I had to sit down and contemplate options.
And I decided to call Bong to come down and pick me up. Yeah, I’m not proud of it, but I was wiped out.
Much harder than it looks. At least it was for me
Back in the safe confines of the Hash On-Home, I do what most Hashers do after a grueling trail: I opened a bottle of beer, sat down, and waited for dinner to be served.
The burgers hot off the grill were muy bien!Hungry (and thirsty) Hashers filling the void.The rain stopped, but then the fog rolled in. I figured the sunset I was hoping to enjoy was doomed.But the horizon did clear up some a bit later.And we got to see some color.I was seeing red by the time it was done.
La Union Hash Circles are much more mellow than the ones in Subic, and that’s fine with me. We all pulled up our chairs around the bonfire and enjoyed the comraderie.
Flame on!
I stuck around later than usual, hoping the beers would help me sleep through the night. As I mentioned earlier, they didn’t. I slept in bits and pieces, eventually giving up around 6 am. We packed our gear and headed up the stairs to the campsite.
The morning view from in front of our kubo.And a morning campsite view. You can barely make it out on the mountainside, but that’s as close as we got to Baguio this trip.Here, let me zoom in on it for you. Of course, that’s only a small portion of the large city of Baguio.
Bong and Beth were up and about shortly after we got to the campsite. The Hash breakfast wasn’t scheduled until 9, so we packed up our gear, said our goodbyes and thank-yous, and headed for home. Google Maps unsurprisingly took us back the same way we came.
Going down the mountain, I thought to myself, those rock retaining walls wouldn’t keep a vehicle from plummeting over the edge into nothingness.
And if that happened, you would never land.We were above the clouds.
And now I’m back in Barretto safe and sound. Feeling tired, though, for some reason.
So, dear readers, I’ll leave it up to you: Did I rough it, or am I a pussy? At least I lived to tell about it.
I’ll get back to the usual posting BS tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by.
Just a quick post before I head for the mountain city Baguio to take part in the La Union Valentine’s Day Hash. The event includes an overnight campout at a place called The Green Narra. I’m a tad nervous about how this adventure might play out for me, but you only live once.
It’s been a long time since I’ve roughed it.
It gets chilly up in the mountains, so hopefully the sweatshirt I bought in Vietnam will keep me warm during the Hash Circle. I’m pretty sure trekking up and down the surrounding hills will have me huffing and puffing up a good sweat.
Here’s a walkabout video showing what the camping area looks like.
I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you how it went. Wish me luck!
I made the most of my Thirstday this week. Even stayed out past 9 pm, as hard as that may be to believe. Swan and I kicked things off with a pleasant walk through the Naugsol valley. Then I got the good news from Dr. Jo that my blood work was negative for pancreatic cancer. An overdue foot spa to scrape away the dead skin from my feet, followed by beers at Red Bar, Jumpin’ Jacks, and It Doesn’t Matter, before we joined the fifth anniversary celebration at Smokes and Bottles. That’s what I call pushing the boundaries, but then again, you only live once.
Heading out for the valley.Down in the valley.The valley view of Easter Mountain.This used to be a bustling little livestock farm. No idea what happened since my last time out this way.Kids playing at the riverside. Looks a tad dangerous to me now, but that’s how I rolled as a child, too.The Matain River in low season.A rickety bridge too far. Nope, didn’t even consider crossing this one.The way we strolled.
At Dr. Jo’s, she reviewed the ultrasound results and found no issues of concern. I honestly hadn’t considered that cancer might be causing my urination issues, so I was equally surprised and relieved to be told I’m clean. My blood pressure has slowly been coming back down to my normal range (123/73 this morning). So, the meds seem to be working, and I might just keep on keepin’ on for a while longer. Thanks for that!
Scrapping bottom.
After Red Bar, the plan was to grab dinner at Jewel Cafe. When we arrived, the place was packed, so I suggested we check out the menu for the newly opened kitchen at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Calamari rings……and chickenfingers with fries.
Not bad for pub grub.
The view from my barstool at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Next, we crossed the highway for what I thought would be our nightcap at It Doesn’t Matter.
I guess it doesn’t matter that it didn’t work out that way.
Swan got a message from her girlfriend group that they were all at Smokes and Bottles for the fifth anniversary event. She wanted to go, so I tagged along.
Have fun, ladies. I’ll be at the bar.The Smokes and Bottles bar view.
It was past my bedtime, and I was over my beer intake limit, so we didn’t stay long. It was a nice night on the town, though.
It is now July 2017 in the LTG archives. In this post from Angeles City, I share some observations and perspectives on the grind of daily living in a city I never much cared for. But whatever life you are living, the only real option is to make the best of what you have.
We haven’t checked in with the Filipina Pea in a while, and in today’s YouTube video, she asks her fellow citizens whether they want to become the 51st American state. It’s a mixed bag, but I sure as hell don’t want the USA to follow me here. However, historically, when the PI was a US colony, the people may have been better off. I think the dumbest move the Philippines made was kicking us out of our military bases here. Now that China is threatening, they want us back. We’ll see how things play out.
Time for a smile or three:
Praise the Lord!You’ve got to laugh at ignorance.Slip slidin’ away…
Early tomorrow morning, we are heading up to Baguio to participate in the La Union Valentine’s Day Hash. I’ve got some mixed feelings about this going in. We’ll be Hashing from a campground on the outskirts of Baguio, and most of the Hashers will be staying in tents. I reserved a Kubo hut, so at least I won’t be sleeping on the ground. I spoke with one of the Hares who was in town for the Beach Bash last weekend, and he told me the trail was short but had a couple of tough ups and downs. Not surprising given that Baguio sits on top of a mountain. I guess we’ll see if I’m up to the challenge.
I won’t be able to post from the wilds of Baguio, but I will try to update you when I get back home on Sunday. Assuming I survive.
It was a wonderful Wednesday as I partook in my wanderings. Starting with the Wednesday Walkers outing.
Only three of us this week: George, Erik, and yours truly.
George is from a small town in British Columbia named Tumbler Ridge. His wife is still there working. George told us we’d be hearing about what happened there yesterday, and now we have. Sad for sure, but as more details emerge, it was another case of trans insanity. Time to wake up and get them help, not encourage their madness through mind and body-altering drugs. Condolences to all the victims.
We started our trek with a steep climb and we were rewarded with this view when we achieved the summit.
It had been a while since I’ve been up here, so it was good look down on Barretto again.A tree I liked.That mountain I like.The other side of town.Marching onward.Mountain Mama Onelia’s place.A cookie-and-lollipop delivery earned some smiles.My fantasy shack.A view as we began our descent.Fuck that Bitch.
Swan told me she was craving my beef stew. What’s a good boyfriend to do?
Fire up the crockpot, of course!And now I can truthfully say that I satisfied Swan’s desires.
But that’s not all she wanted, so then we did this:
Some toes in the sand time.Which led us here.We’ll be keeping an eye on you, Mr. Sun.Frank the Frenchman stopped by the floating bar in his watercraft for some liquid refreshments.What are you looking at, Swan?Oh, I see.That sinking feeling.See you next time!
Having gotten what we came for, we headed ashore and paid a visit to Treasure Island.
The view from our TI perch.
Owner Bert was there, so it was nice to see him again. He even bought me a beer. We weren’t very hungry after our earlier beef stew indulgence, so we decided we’d just share some chicken quesadillas.
I must have been distracted because I forgot to get a photo before they were gone. Still, this shot confirms that the quesadillas were quite tasty.
And then it was time to wander back home via a tricycle. And I made it through the whole day without Swan calling me out even once for being “arte.”
Today’s YouTube video is about a joint US-PI military exercise. Getting some practice offloading America’s tools of war here in Subic. Don’t FAFO China!
Humor me this:
Ain’t that the naked truth?Keep your eyes closed and suck it, bitch!She reminds me of my Aunt Flo from Redlands.
And so goes another circle on the carousel of time. I’m scheduled to see Dr. Jo this afternoon so she can review my ultrasound results. I’m hoping for an all-clear to continue this life of leisure indefinitely.
Well, when I say double trouble, I’m talking about darts. But I’ll get to that in a minute. I like to keep things chronological around here; that’s what comes with being old and set in your ways.
So, let’s start with the shopping. No incidents or issues, and I came up with a new way to pay for my groceries without a credit card. I transferred money into the local BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) account Swan set up for me. That’s cheaper than ATM cash withdrawals and also more convenient. Then I used the debit card tied to the account to pay the cashier at Royal. Easy peasy. Once my new credit card arrives, I’ll just keep it in a safe place for emergencies. Oh, I just now thought of something: the debit card has Swan’s name on it. When I paid, I followed the standard procedure and handed the cashier my card and ID. She glanced at the ID and processed the transaction without comment. Hmm, I thought the purpose of checking the ID was to ensure the card belonged to me. I wonder how often I’ll get away with the name discrepancy. Not that it matters as long as Swan is with me.
Back at the house after shopping, I headed out to do my 4+K neighborhood walk. Nothing new or even worthy of a photo. Then it was the usual routines of a nap and a blog post. With those tasks completed, I broke out my darts and commenced to practice.
I used my DARTCOUNTER app to make it a little more interesting.
I’m not saying I threw all that great, but I beat the Dartbot twice (501 and Cricket). Last time the bot kicked my ass, so there’s that. Then it was time to head out to Alley Cats for the Tuesday dart tournament. And that’s where the troubles began.
Billy, the tourney organizer, told me it would be doubles and asked if I still wanted to play. Well, I had to break that ice eventually, so I agreed to join despite feeling bad for whoever drew me as a partner. When the numbers were drawn, I got paired with a woman I’d never seen before. When we shook hands, she apologized, saying she was new to the game. I also apologized in advance for not being very good at the game. We were the perfect pair for my return to doubles! No pressure, no expectations, no disappointment!
Our first game of the night was 501. We didn’t play well, but we were decent enough to keep it close, and we had a couple of shots at the double-out, which we failed to execute. The second leg was cricket, and I played embarrassingly badly. So, two games, two losses, and down to the losers’ bracket.
When our turn came to play again, things hadn’t improved much. A loss in 501 followed by another beating in cricket. I did manage to hit the double bullseye twice, but that wasn’t enough make up for the otherwise shitty darts I threw.
So, it was two and out, and my doubles debut was a double dose of bad darts. I’m not giving up. Yet. I will try again on Friday.
There was a time when I could hit what I was aiming at. Let’s see if I can find my way back to those good ol’ days.
After darts, we stayed on the same side of town and popped into Gold Bar. There were no dancers on stage, and I wondered why. Then I saw a “two-week millionaire” had them all tabled. That’s a dream come true for the gals, and I’m happy for them. When he got up to go to the CR, I noticed the shirt he was wearing had a Kern River logo on the back. Wow! I spent many happy times camping there when I was growing up. When the stranger returned, I mentioned how much I’d enjoyed my time on the Kern. We introduced ourselves, and he told me he lives in Bakersfield, the nearest city to Kernville, and that he visits often. He hopes to retire and move to Barretto within a year or two. Nice to meet you, Jeff. Thanks for the memories and good luck with your Philippine dreams.
The Kern River.
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria.
The Queen Vic view from our table.And the view of us at our table.
We triked home, and then things got a little heated when I looked out the bedroom window.
That’s on the hillside we call Black Rock.And it was spreading fast.A zoom-view of fire on the mountain.
Anyway, the fires never seem to burn out of control as they do in California. This morning, I could see the blackened landscape but no apparent collateral damage.
The aftermath view.
So, I took a stroll through my photo albums and enjoyed the memories of happy times on the Kern.
We were working-class poor, so it was always camping vacations for our family. You could catch fish fairly easily in the river, and I recallfresh trout on the grill almost every night.It didn’t seem like roughing it back then.Thanks for the memories, Mom and Dad.That’s me rafting the Kern with my older brother back in 1959.
And now to the more recent past, but still feeling like a lifetime ago, a post from the June 2017 LTG archives where I write about becoming a biker again after the move to Pyeongtaek.
Today’s YouTube video discusses “bitter expat syndrome.” I suffer from occasional grumpiness, but I’m not bitter about it. Life in the Philippines is the best life I currently have.
Maybe these will dissolve bitterness:
No bitterness there!IDK about that.Did he hold you in contempt?
Not bad for a Tuesday, eh? We’ll try to keep the joy alive with a visit to Kokomo’s floating bar later today. Lord, keep these days coming!
Oh, and at Queen Victoria last night, the girls were “dancing” to their kind of music. Then, a customer wanted to pick a song for them, and it was some hip-hop crap. Well, I figured if he can pick a song for the gals to dance to, so can I. I don’t think they were expecting this:
Yeah, I know I just posted that song on Monday, but it is worth hearing again. I even did some swing dancing with Swan when it played at Queen Vic last night.
I’m not against descending; it’s the ups I find difficult.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was almost completely flat. Well, to clarify, the “cripples” trail had no hills. I’ve now deemed Leech My Nuggets to be the overall best Hare in the Subic Hash. His trails are always well-marked and easy to follow. And Mr. Leech always offers an option for those Hashers who are no longer up for the challenge of a long, hard climb. I enjoyed the 5K version of the trail very much, as it took me through areas I hadn’t seen before. In fact, I’ll be adding this hike to my repertoire and revisiting it in the future. Our On-Home venue was at a Hasher’s house in Calapadayan, which we’d never been to before. It’s situated right on the edge of the bay and was a very pleasant hangout for our Circle. Overall, it was one of my better Hash experiences.
So, the trail began at Subic High School near Waltermart, a 7K Jeepney ride from Barretto. Here’s some of what I saw during the Hash:
Off we go!Only a month younger than me. RIP Rodolfo.The first of several bridges we crossed on our journey. Also, the sturdiest.The early portion of the trail ran along the banks of the Magnan-Vaca River.Where the long and short trails diverged. Except Leech My Nuggets doesn’t use the term “short.”I’d never been this far down the river before.A new way to go is always nice to find.And here’s another place to go.But I’m not ready to go there yet.The biggest challenge we faced was a series of rickety bridges.Like this one……and that one.I’m happy to report that they all carried the load.The path ahead.A gathering of “cripples.”Sweets for the sweet.Riverboats.I’ve learned to deal with a fork in the road, but what do you do when you encounter two?That old gal doing her laundry is one of my charity projects.We don’t run into her that often, but on the occasions when we do, we slip her 500 pesos. She is raising her deceased daughter’s kids, and it’s a struggle, I’m sure.Now we are on the home stretch.Arriving at Sully’s place.The purple “cripple” trail bypassed the hill climbbefore rejoining the main trail. I enjoyed the riverwalk.Our host for the evening, Sully.Hanging out at Sully’s place.Some Hash Gash.I enjoyed the trail so much that I voluntarily joined the Hare (Leech is on the right) on the ice.It’s nice on ice!And then it was time for the sun to go down……and another Hash came to an end.
Some of the usual after-Hash fun (and beer) at It Doesn’t Matter, then we headed home, thankful for another fine day in paradise.
It’s still May 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I share photos from my first week after moving to Pyeongtaek. It was quite an adjustment. As a bonus, here’s a tour of my “Palace,” two stories, four bedrooms, and four baths. It was like an exclamation point on my loneliness.
Today’s YouTube video is one I made thirteen years ago as I prepared to depart Korea for some USA time. It depicts how I filled the months I spent in Korea with the woman I so dearly loved. I didn’t know then what was just around the corner, and that the life I was living and loving would soon come to an end.
Time to cheer myself up:
I never saw such a bad pun.That stinks.And why is it a crime?
Another day, another post. Now it’s time to practice my darts in preparation for the tournament this evening. I’m eating before I go this time to take the edge off my grumpiness. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
A bump in the road can be a good thing. It reminds you to watch your speed, maintain situational awareness, and accept the reality that there is no such thing as perfect. Then you leave the bump behind and get on with enjoying the life you’ve chosen. And so it goes.
A much quieter than usual Decay Dance, but we didn’t make the children suffer due to tampo.
There is always peace to be found if you seek it.Don’t let misunderstandings get your goat.Sometimes things get hot, other times, not.It’s the mission that matters.Isn’t that right, Jesus?
Anyway, after the candy mission was completed, Swan warmed up the birria tacos I’d brought home for her the night before. She enjoyed them and decided to accept my intended peace offering. We talked through the incident that happened on Friday from both our perspectives — my temper was the trigger, her reaction to my wrongness was overblown, and we both committed to doing better in the future.
So, with that behind us, we were ready to attend the annual VFW Beach Bash at the Outback Resort together. I arrived around 4 pm, and the beauty pageant was scheduled to begin at 6 pm. How to fill the time? Well, with beers, of course. And this:
That’s the double cheeseburger. I wanted mahi-mahi fish and chips, but all they had was dory. Nope, bring me the beef then. The burger was very good.
Beer cards were 500 pesos for six bottles, so that was a fair price. No Zero available, of course. Then I was asked to be a judge for the pageant, which is an honor, but I didn’t want to commit to staying through the end of the contest. See, I know my limitations!
It turns out, I made the right call. I don’t like to be critical of what is the local VFW Chapter’s main fundraising event, but damn, it was a disorganized mess. The singing contest, slated to begin at 5 p.m., was still being sound checked at 5:30. They eventually decided to split the eight competitors into two groups of four, with the first four performing before the beauty pageant and the second group during an intermission while the contestants changed into bathing suits. The performers sounded like the usual karaoke singers to me, and some of the contestants were men, including a bakla (transgender). It was painful to listen to. But hey, maybe that’s just the grumpy old man that I am speaking.
And then, when the beauty pageant was supposed to finally begin, it was announced that the “girls weren’t ready yet.” What the hell, starting late and STILL not ready? Okay, I’ll shut up about it now. When my beer card was full, I’d had enough of both beer and the pageant. I left halfway through the bikini contest.
The view from my seat upon arrival.And when the show finally began. As you can see, they filled all the seats.The contestants.A bikini shot.
And that’s all I got photo-wise. Jay, the owner of Hot Zone, posted this photo:
So, I assume one of his girls won.
Oh, and I got gifted this shirt:
It’s from last year’s event, but still…
Sorry I didn’t do a better job covering the event. If I had more patience, I could have been a doctor.
It’s May Day 2017 in the LTG archives, and I’m saying goodbye to my Itaewon life as I prepare for the move to Pyeongtaek.
My dear friend Sohee (on the right) took her life two years later.
Today’s YouTube video is from a new (to me) vlogger, Maya Life. She could have titled this one, “don’t be stupid,” but I’m guilty of a couple of these transgressions. I sometimes raise my voice, which is frowned upon in this culture (ironically, other forms of noise are welcomed, like bad singing at high volume). I also haven’t accepted invites to Swan’s family gatherings. I do have some of her relatives working for me, and have had her family over for rooftop fun at The Rite Spot. I’m not saying I’ll never go to a family function, but it’s just not my thing.
And now let me throw these at you:
Better snatch him up!Tall tales from the crypt.May the fork be with you! When I first moved to Korea and had a problem with those metal chopsticks.
There you have the current state of my affairs. And now for the Hash run. The Hare, Leech My Nuggets, has prepared a “cripple trail” for us old farts, so I should be good to go. Tell you all about it tomorrow.
