Of course, my brain seems to be emptying out these days. I guess that’s one way to lose weight.
Yesterday’s Hash Run #1699 is in the books. A portion of the short trail happened to intersect with my chosen path (the My Bitch trail), so in that sense, I was On-On. From what I’ve seen, the long trail was an ass-kicker, including a climb to the Kalaklan Ridge and a steep and slippery descent. I noticed quite a few Hashers had dirt on their backsides from sliding down on their ass. Glad I missed out on that fun!
The trail began and ended at the Hare’s house (Tiny Cunt) located at the far end of Rizal Extension. That is my least favorite area to Hash because it is hard to access without a vehicle. My plan was to walk from my place to Tiny Cunt’s, then leave the Circle early and walk back to town. As it turned out, not far down the road, a trike dropped a passenger (many trikes can’t make it up the steep road, so they are hard to find), and we provided the driver a fare back to It Doesn’t Matter. I’d call that a win-win.
Once again, BF’s Wet Spot and Cums Alone joined me on my trail.On the Bitch.Next Monday is the annual Easter Mountain trail. The hard trail climbs the mountain, the easy trail goes around it.A hello and cookies for Mountain Mama Onelia.Evidence that we were indeed on the Hash trail, albeit briefly and in the wrong direction.The hazy day view from here.Heading On-Home.
During the Hash Circle, Cums Alone was recognized for her 75th run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.
I presented her with the commemorative headband.Then it was time to head back down to town before the sun was done. Unexpectedly catching that trike cut a good 2K off my trail. Oh well, 4K was enough.
A bigger than usual after-Hash gathering at IDM.
The Hash Gash enjoying some food and beverages.
I declared it a “cheat night” and went to buy some ice cream. Swan started flirting with the trike drivers. Just kidding about that last part, but I did enjoy some ice cream for the first time in a week. And that’s how the Hash Monday went down.
Four years ago, I was the most popular (and only) customer at the Outback Billabong bar.
My friend, Bhel, was the bartender there back then. When she left, I stopped going.
It’s June 2018 in the LTG archives, and the SBH3 Hash trail was so fun it had me in stitches. Fucking barbed wire. I’ve had some cuts, scratches, and bruises over the years, but luckily this only happened once.
Blood on the trail.Getting things sewn up in the ER.
Today’s YouTube video attempts to answer the question of whether expats are happier in Thailand or the Philippines. I think it does a pretty good job of citing the strengths of both countries, and it all comes down to what works best for you.
And now on with the funny stuff:
What rhymes with orange?Um, dude, did you look at what you are talking to?Welcome to my world, kid.
And now it is on with my Tuesday. I reckon there are some darts and beers in my future.
Nothing quite like being part of Generation Grumpy.
The first time I said goodbye to Arizona was in 1983 when I moved to Arkansas. I said goodbye again yesterday when the losers on the Arizona floating bar couldn’t be bothered to step away from their card game and send the raft to pick me up. Fuck off, you cunts!
My farewell photo. As you can see, there were no other customers on board. I guess they like it that way. I won’t be back.
Not much to say about the rest of the day, which I guess, comparatively speaking, is a good thing.
The Sunday Sweet Stroll was a success.
We headed out for the far side of town at beer o’clock only to be disappointed upon arrival. I stood on the beach waving my arms and shouting, but the crew never looked up from the card table. Swan was the first to say, “screw them, let’s just go.” So we headed back up the highway and popped into Red Bar.
A large gathering at the “backslappers table” (sitting with manager, Cliff). One of the guys was flying out today and bought two rounds of drinks for everyone (including Swan and me). I’d never met him before, but thanked him and wished him well on his journey back to Finland.
We do our Sunday nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks, and I figured I’d just order something off their menu for my Sunday dinner (Swan had eaten some Filipino street food at Red Bar). As I perused the menu, the manager informed me that everything was out of stock except chicken fingers and fries. Oh, well, fine, I’ll have that. A few minutes later, she returned and said, sorry, that’s not available either. Apparently, they had a big night on Saturday, and this being the Philippines, they hadn’t restocked for anyone wanting to eat on Sunday. I’d used up my daily allotment of irritation, so I just shrugged it off. Then again, I can’t remember the last time I skipped dinner. Does that qualify as intermittent fasting?
After some beers (wine for Swan) and a game of pool, we called it a night and headed home. If that’s as bad as days get around here, I’m doing alright.
It’s the final day of May 2018 in the LTG archives. I learned that a good friend in South Carolina has succumbed to cancer, I was throwing awesome darts, and getting rejected by the women I was attracted to. I guess you could say I was settling into life in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, people are starting to panic some over the looming energy crisis. Word is that the fuel supplies will be running out next month. Swan is shopping for solar generators so we can at least run our fans and charge our phones. I’m remaining confident that oil will be flowing again soon, but who knows? Today’s YouTube video is warning folks of the troubles on the horizon. Hope she is wrong.
Laugh while you still can:
It will be nice to meat her.It’s snot bad.Have a blast!
And now, another Monday, another Hash. Today’s trail begins and ends at the end of Rizal Extension. That’s a non-starter for me. I’ll walk from my house to the On-Home (Tiny Cunts house), have a beer or three, then walk back down Rizal to Barretto. I’m channeling Frank Sinatra and doing it my way.
Prescott, Arizona, was the best place I ever lived. I saw Rod Hart play in a local bar, and Junior Bonner was filmed there.
Old age comes with its aches and pains, but it also provides a lifetime of memories to look back on. In many ways, this blog has become the story of my life. As I’ve been journeying through the archives, I often come upon a post that reminds me of events I’d otherwise have forgotten. One of these days, I hope to gather the best of these stories in a book on the off-chance that someday, somewhere, someone will ask, “Who was that guy?” Hey, it could happen, even if it is in the form of don’t be like that guy. We shall see.
The story of yesterday isn’t that special, but I was still glad to live it. We kicked it off as usual with the Decay Dance, but since we still had candy left at the end of our regular route, we extended the journey another couple of kilometers.
Swan is the godmother of that toddler in front.The requisite Easter Mountain shot.Our longer trail included the seldom-crossed Bridge #2.A rare Mary Poppins sighting.
So, the big news for our Saturday night was an invitation for Swan to join in a “’70s night” event at the Palm Tree Resort. There is some history involved that makes the story a little more interesting. Swan used to be the hotel receptionist, and her now-deceased former boyfriend, Allan, managed the upstairs bar/restaurant. That’s where I met them both, as I was a semi-regular (weekly) visitor at Palm Tree. I don’t know the circumstances, and I’m not passing judgment, but when Allan died, Swan did not receive the compensation she felt entitled to. After I began my relationship with Swan, she was boycotting Palm Tree, so I haven’t visited there for a couple of years now. I was a bit surprised when Swan accepted the invite and asked me to attend with her. I guess it was more about reconnecting with her former co-workers. So, I got to revisit one of my old favorite haunts last night.
Swan’s outfit for the night. She would have fit right into the ’70s as I remember them. Well, bell-bottoms would have worked too, but where are you gonna find a pair of those?
The Palm Tree gathering was scheduled to commence at 7:30, which is close to when I usually finish my night out. What to do? Well, we started a little later, and I paced myself. We decided we’d arrive at 6 and eat, then take it from there. On our way to Palm Tree, I suggested we take a break from the walk in the air-conditioned Gold Bar.
We had Gold Bar to ourselves, so I had Swan pose on the dance stage.
Then we crossed the highway, hit the ATM, and climbed the stairs to the bar/restaurant at Palm Tree.
As was my custom back in the good ol’ days, I grabbed a table on the patio.I love the views from there.The restaurant was quiet inside when we arrived, but as the evening progressed, they had a fair number of diners.And surprise, surprise, Palm Tree had San Mig Zero. Three of them. And now they have zero Zero.I enjoyed a bowl of seafood chowder for my dinner.And then Swan’s lady friends arrived to celebrate the glory days that I lived through, but they could only imagine.
I moved to the bar and let the gals enjoy their reunion. There was a DJ, and he was playing the classic rock tunes suitable for the occasion. And then some dancing broke out.
Keep on rockin’ me, baby!
Palm Tree has long been noted for its fresh-baked breads. From the bar, I had a clear view of the kitchen and saw the work in progress.
No one was loafing.Swan and her friend Mercy came to check on me at the bar, and I was still doing alright. But all good things must end, so I suggested we pay our tab and depart.It’s kind of sad, but these days this is a late night for me. Then again, my early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule seems to work to my advantage.
So, that extra hour last night didn’t faze me, though I did have some leg pain this morning. I think that just comes with being elderly.
With gas prices continuing to rise, trike drivers are looking for cheaper solutions:
So, Lucky can’t talk, but he’s already told me this in his own way several times:
Fifteen years ago, I’d just moved into the house I bought in South Carolina.
The house featured my own personal dart bar setup. Gone but not forgotten.
From the May 2018 LTG archives, I’m one week into my new life in the Philippines. Throwing some awesome darts, meeting new women, and discovering the joys and pitfalls of small-town living. And I wouldn’t have remembered meeting MJ but for this post. I don’t know why or what happened, but we never connected and then one day she just disappeared from Barretto. Maybe she met that “rich” foreigner she’d been looking for. John and Mango wound up getting married. Sadly, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and it progressed to the point of being totally disabling. I understand he moved to Mango’s province and she and her family are taking care of him there. And life goes on, until it doesn’t.
What could have been and never was.
I don’t even think about it anymore, but you don’t flush toilet paper in the Philippines. My housekeeper empties the bathroom trash bin daily, so it’s not as gross as it could be. Anyway, today’s YouTube video explains why toilets work (or don’t) the way they do here.
Now, for some shitty humor:
That’s no joke, but I lost the link to the story that accompanied the photo. I still find it worthy of a smile. The breast dentist ever!Love, American-style.Sorry if you heard that one before. Still funny though.
You’ve got to be yourself; everyone else is taken.
What’s different about a morning hike and an evening out in Barretto? Nothing really, except for where we did our Friday group hike way out on the far side of Subic, in Barangay Aningway-Sacatihan, and trekked to Balon Falls. It’s been over a year since we last enjoyed this adventure. It’s dry season, so the creek was low and there wasn’t much of a waterfall to see, but it was still a pleasant journey along the waterside. We also hiked through a friendly Aeta village and enjoyed interacting with the locals. It was a refreshing change of pace.
My fellow travelers. An advantage of low turnout is that we all fit into Scott’s car, and we can venture out to places that can only be reached by vehicle.The way ahead.Who knew we came in a bag? Or maybe we wind up in one.The first of several creek crossings. I didn’t get my feet wet until the final one.Steps to nowhere. This used to be a bridge.A Swan on the rocks.On the path to contentment.Another water crossing.Where pineapples come from.There were no falls, but some wet feet.The final creek crossing.Another carabao encounter. This one gave me the evil eye, but I made my way around him without incident.Into the village we go. The faded paint says: Aeta Cultural Heritage Center. It appeared to have been repurposed as someone’s living quarters.Bath time.Laundry day.Scrubbing the pots and pans.Aeta children enjoying their sweets.Little piggies waiting for market.The final climb of our hike.A pause at the top.Strolling through the hilltop village.Dispensing sweets for the sweet.We were looking for a different way back down, and hired this youngster as our guide.Walk this way.More kids to please.Hail Mary!I took this photo so I’d remember the name of where we were.It’s rare to see a horse in these parts, but here you go.Almost done with our journey.Back to where we started.It wasn’t long (around 4K), but it was pleasant.
Back home for a nice nap, a shit post, then a shower and a shave. I wasn’t in the mood to play darts, so I skipped the Friday tourney this week. Instead, we began our evening out at Red Bar.
The view from my patio stool at Red Bar.
When it was time to eat, we headed up the highway to satisfy Swan’s craving addiction for birria tacos. Myleen’s is the only place in town to get them these days. Swan has the recipe now, but we need to find some corn tortillas to work with.
As seen on our walk along the highway to Myleen’s.As seen on our plate at Myleen’s. They were every bit as good as they look.
We decided to finish our evening out on the far side of town at Queen Victoria. As always, it was an enjoyable time there. Manager Jake has really turned the place around. And that’s where another day in paradise came to a close.
Back to the May 2018 LTG archives, and I’ve rented my first residence in the Philippines–a one-bedroom apartment on Baloy. A step in the right direction, but my future was later found in Alta Vista.
Things are getting a little crazy here with fuel prices doubling since January. A liter of gasoline is now over 100 pesos (around $6.50 per gallon). Diesel fuel is even more expensive. This morning, Swan’s sister couldn’t find a Jeepney available to take her to work in Olongapo. On my walk, I noticed many Jeepneys parked along the side streets. It makes sense…fuel has doubled, fares remain the same. What’s the point of driving all day if it is going to cost you money? I don’t know what the fix will be, but it better come soon, or the poor folks’ suffering will be getting worse.
Today’s YouTube video discusses some more of the impact of the current energy crisis. I’m glad I don’t rely on public transport or have any flights scheduled. It’s a crazy time.
Now is a good time for some humor:
She’s got some skilled fingers there, Cedric. See what else she can do with them!Took me a bit longer than it should have to get this one.And this one was hard on my weary brain. But really, who nowadays recognizes Johan?
And that’s the story of my slightly different day. Got something a tad different in store for this evening as well. Tell you all about it tomorrow.
Gas is going through the roof here. Sadly, the only way to get to the Pinatubo Brewery in San Marcelino is to drive. Gas or beer? Well, glad I don’t have to decide, I can walk to my favorite Barretto hangouts.
It will come as no surprise to learn that there was nothing surprising about my Thursday. That won’t stop me from posting about it, but at least today’s diary entry will be short and sweet.
Saw this sign on the morning dog walk, advertising a lot for sale here in Alta Vista.I’d already taken a look before I saw that “viewing is strictly by appointment only.” Damn, I closed my eyes and walked away.A boring morning Barretto street walk to get my steps in.Spent some time at Cheap Charlies at beer o’clock. Not sure what happened, but there seems to have been a complete turnover in the waitress staff there.
Then we moved on to Wet Spot for our nightcap. And that’s all there was to it. Yeah, maybe it is surprising to have a more boring day than usual.
The appetite remains more or less suppressed. A couple of pandesal biscuits for breakfast. A pulled pork sandwich after the hike (but I didn’t eat the bun). And four or five chicken fingers at the dinner hour. None of the usual between-meal snacks, although I did have a strawberry-banana smoothie (made with yogurt instead of ice cream) as a before-bedtime treat.
Well, they left litter off the “cons” list, but the good here still outweighs the bad, IMHO.
I try to avoid politics here at LTG for the most part, but sometimes I can’t resist:
Of course, the Republicans lack the balls to push this much-needed legislation to passage. I wonder who’s paying for those “no” votes?
Ten years ago, I met a gal with a heart of stone while hiking in Seoul:
She didn’t say no when I asked to take a photo with her.
It’s still May 2018 in the LTG archives, but at least now I’m having a good day in the Philippines. Of course, wherever you are, your happiness depends on you. I’m getting better at accepting the way things are. Not exactly serenity, but I’ve been worse.
I think the only episodes of “90-Day Fiancé” I ever watched were the ones with Big Ed and Rose. At the time, I considered Ed an ignorant loser. In today’s YouTube video, Smart Girl Philippines highlights what Ed got wrong. I never heard the epilogue to the story, but I’m sure Rose came out of it just fine.
Let’s end this on a happy note:
That can give you a sinking feeling.Wow, I’d never thought of that before. Damn.Get yourself a bakla.
Yeah, this post sucks. So, we’ll leave it at that and try to do better tomorrow.
Chip Taylor passed away yesterday. I never knew who he was, but reading his obituary and Wikipedia page today was a voyage of discovery. Here’s the first song of his I ever heard. Man, the 60s were a groovy time to be alive.
As seen in the men’s room at Viking Resort. I’ll take that as a sign!
So, here we go with another day in the life. This could be a false positive, but I noticed some changes in my eating habits yesterday that might be a sign the Ozempic has already started to kick in. After my 7K hike yesterday morning, I was served a meat pie that Swan had prepared for me. It is one of her specialties, and as usual, it was very good. I ate less than half of it. I had a delicious steak dinner at the Viking Resort restaurant, and didn’t leave much in the way of leftovers. But when we got home, I had zero craving for my usual sweet bedtime snack (I had stocked up on sugar-free pudding to replace my ice cream addiction). I honestly don’t remember the last time I didn’t indulge my sweet tooth after a night out. Yeah, it is too soon to tell, but it does seem my appetite is being suppressed. And since I have no willpower to resist hunger pangs, that’s a good thing! Here’s hoping I’m on the right track, especially if this is happening with a low dose of Ozempic.
I messaged the Wednesday Walkers yesterday morning to say I wasn’t feeling well (nasal congestion and sneezing fits) and wouldn’t be participating in the hike. Then, before the start time, I told myself I needed to man up and push myself out of my comfort zone if I was serious about reaching my weight-loss goals. And so I put on the hiking shoes and hit the road.
Steve was the only other Wednesday Walker to participate yesterday. It also happened to be his 74th birthday. Good on you, Steve!We did a mostly flat 7K stroll through the Naugsol Valley.And then this guy appeared out of nowhere, put his head down, and came at me. I took off across the field to escape, and luckily, he ran out of rope before he caught me. That’s not the way I wanted to elevate my heart rate.
Ever since those two AC Hashers got attacked and hospitalized by an angry carabao, I’ve been wary when I encounter one. This was the first time one came at me aggressively.
I lived to see a tree I liked.Peaceful valley living.This kubo on a 200-square-meter lot could be mine for only $9,000. Tempting, but there is no road access for vehicles other than trikes. I used to see this guy when I walked past his compound. Ten years older than me. RIP.And a bit further up the road, another funeral banner. He was younger than me.Here’s hoping for many more trails to come in my 70s.
I invited Steve, who lives on Baloy, to join us on Kokomo’s floating bar so I could buy him a beer for his birthday.
At the appointed hour, I see this guy seeming towards the floating bar.Yep, it was Steve getting in a birthday swim. He’s going strong at 74.A pretty good crowd at the bar this week.A bit later, Steve’s girl, Viola, joined us. Kept my eye on this orb.That sinking feeling…And then an explosion of light and color. Well done!
Steve and Viola invited us to join them for dinner at the Viking Resort. When he mentioned Viking offered a steak dinner for only 550 pesos, I couldn’t say no. I hadn’t been to Viking for a couple of years (we used to Hash there occasionally), but hadn’t really ordered a meal there before.
The steak wasn’t as thick as the ones at Jewel, but it was every bit as tasty and a much better bargain price. I enjoyed it very much, and we now have a new destination when we crave a steak dinner.Viola’s brother and daughter also joined in the birthday dinner.Happy birthday to you!
I’d call that a good day.
Facebook memories took me back to a dinner gathering from thirteen years ago.
A galbi dinner with the wife and friends in Myeong-dong. A lifetime ago.
On with May 2018 in the LTG archives. It’s my last day in Korea. I wrap things up in two posts: “The End of Days” and “It’s Time.” One life ends, and another begins.
Today’s YouTube video offers up five signs that you might be an alcoholic. By this standard, I am not. Yes, I drink beer every day. But I’m in control for the most part. I have a narrow window, usually between 5 and 8 pm, when I imbibe. I have no desire to drink in the morning. I rarely get drunk-drunk (falling down or floored), so I feel like I am maintaining control of my drinking rather than my drinking controlling me. Beer is a part of my life that I enjoy, and like my father, I plan to drink it until the day I die (he made it to 83).
Humor time:
Reminds me of those happy times in Arkansas. “I’m fixin’ to go to the store. Can I carry ya there?” Um, why don’t we drive…Hmm, better than brownies?Yeah, the bar girls get a kick out of rubbing my beer belly. We’ll see how long that lasts.
And now to get on with the rest of this day I’ve been gifted.
A few days ago, Kevin Kim wrote a post called “The Basic Human Sin.” If you missed it, go ahead and give it a read. I’ll wait. So, I’ve often mentioned my fantasy about living a “do-over” life when the one I’m currently living comes to an end. Kevin, bless his heart, has always pointed out in the comments how unrealistic and unworkable a do-over life would be. Basically, once you correct one fuck-up, your future life would be unrecognizable, so you’d no longer be doing a do-over; you’d have a blank sheet for new mistakes. Kevin also pointed out the inherent selfishness of the do-over scheme— trying to fix your life would inevitably change the lives of innocent bystanders, and not always for the better. In my defense, the do-over fantasy was just my way of calming my brain at night to help me get to sleep. Knowing that it would not work the way I imagine takes away a goodly portion of the comfort I seek.
So, I woke up around 3 a.m. this morning and was having trouble getting back to sleep. For whatever reason, I started thinking about traveling back in time and reliving my life from that point forward, knowing what I know now. I don’t have a time machine, of course, but I imagined a psychic power capable of transporting you by viewing an old photograph of a moment in time. Yeah, none of it makes sense, but it was three in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. I thought of the picture I posted here a few days ago:
It’s 1976. I’m 21 years old, a married father of one daughter, and live in Westminster, California.
So, I started thinking about reliving my life from there. It’s great to be young again with the whole future ahead of you. But then I started to think about the ramifications of changing things that Kevin warned me about. My son was born two years later, and we moved to Prescott, Arizona. It was there that my spouse told me she no longer wanted to be a wife and mother, and left me to raise two kids (aged five and three) on my own. Could I have done more to save the marriage and the life we had shared? If I had, she would have missed out on the love of her life, with whom she’s been married for over forty years. I could have avoided the heartbreak that came with losing my next love, but, as I wrote in a post about her, “The Road Not Taken,” everything that flowed from meeting KaraLynne would never have happened. And almost all of that was good. Like meeting my soulmate and angel on earth, Linda Ketner. Needless to say, sleep eluded me, but it turns out Kevin was right about what he wrote. I’m glad I lived it and didn’t miss it, pain and all.
Okay, back to the real world. After grocery shopping yesterday, I visited Dr. Jo for my first Ozempic injection. She is starting me out on a low dosage for the first four weeks, which will give my body the chance to acclimate to the drug. Dr. Jo says the incidents of bad side effects like stomach paralysis usually occur when people begin the regimen at too high a dose level. Nothing negative to report so far, and as this article makes clear, healthy habits and lifestyle choices remain important when using Ozempic. My weekly injection cost me 3400 pesos (around $60). The price will go up as the dosages increase. I don’t intend to be a long-term user, I just need a kick in the butt to drop some pounds ASAP.
I practiced darts at home in the afternoon and threw surprisingly well, so I was feeling confident as we headed out to Alley Hideout for the Tuesday dart tournament. Warming up at the bar, my throws were shit again. I drew Troy, an experienced and solid player, as my partner. We both joked that we’d be the first eliminated from the tournament. We weren’t. A crap first round knocked us into the losers’ bracket, where we won our next match. But it was back to missing in our next games, so we didn’t make it to the money round. If I decide to continue playing, I’m going to need to work on more consistency.
That’s me, chucking the arrows.
I did bring a new shirt home from the bar:
The front……and the back.
I was whupped after my whuppin’ in darts, so we headed home for some smoothies and a restless night’s sleep. At least I did some thinking, something I don’t try much lately.
I’m glad not to be living in the USA. If I left the Philippines, I wouldn’t go back there. I’d probably give Vietnam or Cambodia a shot. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m as happy here as I would be somewhere else.
Here are the countries my fellow Americans are fleeing to.
A Facebook memory from three years ago serves as a good reminder of why I choose to stick with beer.
After a night of gin and sodas, I did a faceplant in the street while exiting the trike that brought me home.
From the May 2018 LTG archives, my farewell luncheon ceremony courtesy of the DHRM team and 8th Army. It was a good (second) ending to my career, and the memories will last as long as I do.
For today’s YouTube video, here’s a doctor who is incensed about GLP-1 “madness,” and he is so disgusted that he wants to leave the USA. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
I’ll be fat and happy for now:
Hard times.My whole world is spinning…Shit! Can you go to hell for bad grammar, too?
And that’s it for now. Time for me to get back to living the best life ever!
Our paths may never cross again Maybe my heart will never mend But I'm glad for all the good times Cause you've brought me so much sunshine And love was the best it's ever been
I wouldn't have missed it for the world Wouldn't have missed loving you, girl You've made my whole life worthwhile with your smile I wouldn't trade one memory 'Causeyou mean too much to me Even though I lost you, girl I wouldn't have missed it for the world
I made it through another Hash Monday alive, so I ain’t complaining. As usual, I did it my way. Started with a walk from my house to the start, then I picked up the Hare’s (Kermit the Frog) short trail from there. It began with a climb that was a lot harder than I remembered, or perhaps it was harder because I’m not as strong as I once was. Either way, I pushed myself and slowly made it to the top. I’ll call that a victory for the elderly!
I arrived at the trailhead five minutes before the scheduled 2 pm departure. Many of my fellow Hashers had elected to start early and had already hit the trail. No big deal, I was going my own way anyhow.This is the option I took. I’m not sure I’d call it fun, but it was challenging enough for me.Let the climbing begin! Demented Dickhead and Cums Alone joined me for the adventure.Upsy-daisy…I guess that’s not a daisy, but I liked it enough to pause for a photo.We hit a wall, but made it through.Things finally started to level out.Well, there were still some elevation gains to be conquered, but nothing like that first hill.A climb does have its rewards.A beautiful day in the barrio we call Barretto.Then we made our way back down to the real world.My trail came in at 4K.The Hash Gash hanging out at the Hotel Bella Monte On-Home venue.There were some old guys there, too.Speaking of old guys, these are the three living legends of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. Pubic Head, Queen Ass Wipe, and Road Whore, each with more than 1000 runs.It’s nice on ice!
And as usual, there was some after-Hash revelry at It Doesn’t Matter:
Enjoy the life you have.Through the years. Every 100 runs, the Hash issues a celebratory hat. These are the ones I’ve been around for since joining the Hash in 2018. Yesterday’s run was number #1698, but the hats commemorating the upcoming 1700th Hash were on sale, so I picked mine up early.
And so ended another day in the Hash.
It is now May 2018 in the LTG archives, and as I’m making final preparations for the big move to the PI, I look back on the other moves I’ve made in life. Moving from Arizona to Arkansas was *almost* as culturally challenging as the move from Virginia to Korea twenty years later. Living in Korea was life-changing. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today’s YouTube video is one I could relate to: Fat Man Walking. I’m taking some drastic steps to change the equation. We’ll see soon how that works out for me.
And now for some more of what my twisted mind finds funny:
As long as you don’t split infinitively.Well, if you are out of beer, at least you didn’t get bombed.Abbot and Costello did this first (and better).
And there you have it, assuming “you” or anyone else is out there. I’ll likely keep plugging away regardless. I’m on a mission!
The look on my face when the current me travels back to 1976 and tells the me at 21 about all the shit that’s to come over the next 50 years.
What a long, strange trip it’s been that brought me to this moment in time. Despite the scars, it is good to be here. I may not be making the most of it, but I’m doing the best I can, while I can. I’m not the man I used to be, but the man I am can still find pleasure in the simple things. That’s enough.
Here are a few pics I took on the Sunday Sweets Stroll:
Some ups and downs, but mostly flat.
Actually, it was flatter than usual. I’m still not feeling 100% right, and my lightheadedness and laziness lack of energy convinced me to forgo the stair climb near the end of the hike.
Caught this guy shamelessly stroking his cock.Giving unto others is candy at its best.
It’s not about changing the world, just making it a little sweeter.
The Sunday routine still involves a trip to the Arizona floating bar.
A busy afternoon on Barretto Beach.Waiting for my raft transport to arrive.And unlike the previous two weeks, there were quite a few customers on board.Surprise, surprise! They even had San Mig Zero. I asked the bartender where she got it, and she said, “The storage room.” Will that be the last Zero I enjoy in this lifetime? (besides the three others I had last night).Oh, and this girl followed me there.The sun, the clouds, the mountains, and the water.Looking out at the Kalaklan Ridge.I was curious about that group in the corner. Lots of younger Filipinos drinking large and expensive (frozen margaritas), a demographic you don’t normally see on the floating bars.
And then the big spender funding all that fun came over and introduced himself. Joe is a fellow retired American who has lived in the Philippines for several years, but moves around every few months. He said he came to Barretto four months ago because his wife is from this area. All those young Filipinos were the wife’s nieces and nephews.
Nice to meet you, Joe! We are now friends on Facebook, so we might have another meet-up one of these days.The sun went down behind the clouds. Oh well.The banana boats were out in full force.Back on the beach.
Without our John’s place routine, Sunday dinner is hit-or-miss. I thought we’d do our Red Bar stop, then order something from Jewel Cafe for delivery there. But Red Bar uses the Foodies menu, so that was fine with us, too. Swan had kare-kare, and I had quesadillas and chicken wings. I didn’t think about taking a photo.
I’ve only had four of these so far. I’m such an American!
Then we moved on to Jumpin’ Jacks for our usual Sunday nightcap.
And as usual, we enjoyed the music and friendly vibes during our visit. We should really come here more often.
And so another day in paradise came to an end.
From the April 2018 LTG archives, I write about my goodbye weekend in Seoul in a post called “Letting Go.” Lots of good times and memories, including a final climb up to the Seoul Tower on Namsan with Kevin Kim, partying with the Shenanigans crowd, a dart tourney, recognition from the Seoul International Dart League, and a stroll along the Han River. Damn, I miss those days. But when one life ends, another begins. And here I am still living it almost eight years later.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay discusses world events and their potential impact on the Philippines. Gas prices are up significantly, the dollar is worth over 60 pesos now, and China might be dissuaded from invading Taiwan (with the Philippines being collateral damage). Time will tell what happens next.
Please humor me:
Hard to argue with that logic.You don’t have to shout about it, pussy!I don’t get lit, either.
Another day, another post. When will it end? You never know.
A one-of-a-kind man who lived life to the fullest. May he always be an inspiration to those he leaves behind.
This relaxed and laid-back retired life I’m living suits me just fine. As shallow and repetitive as it may appear to others, it works for me. I’m comfortable in my routines, and my only goal in life is to keep on living this way for as long as possible. Granted, it does not make for exciting blog content, but documenting my life story daily is part of who I am. So, let’s get on with it, shall we?
Saturday morning is all about doing our Decay Dance for the children of San Isidro and vicinity.
The Candy Girl is ready to roll!Smokin’ in Marian Hills.Three of our regulars patiently await our arrival.This family compound is near the end of our trek. The kids here are always polite and thankful.Stocking up on some fresh fruit and veggies before heading home.
When it was time to head out for our evening in Barretto, I gave Swan three dining options: Harley’s, Mango’s, or Foodies. She picked Harley’s, so we were off to Baloy.
The counter seats we normally prefer were taken, so we grabbed a nearby table.Our bay view.This is why Swan wanted to go to Harley’s; she was craving the mixed grill plate.I went with the pork chops. And for the record, I only had a couple of bites of the mashed potatoes.The only downside of Harley’s is that you can’t see the sunset from there. But it occurred to me that it wouldn’t be a problem from the roof of the Central Park Reef Hotel (you can see across the way).
So, we paid our tab, grabbed a trike, and headed to Central Park.
Looking down on the bay.Swan was a happy camper.The Barretto view from here.
Part of small-town living is running into people you know. A friend of Swan’s came in with her boyfriend, and we invited them to join us at our table.
Nice to meet you!
We came to see the sunset, and we were not disappointed.
See you next time.Count your blessings.That Navy MSC ship is still anchored in the bay.My dream would be to build a house on that hilltop parcel with views of Barretto and Baloy beaches. Maybe when I’m rich and come back in my do-over life.I’ll never get tired of views like this one.The innards at Central Park Reef’s bar and restuarant.The infinity pool.Some live music.This 1958 Corvette adds to the 50s diner vibe.I wouldn’t mind taking it for a test drive, but alas, that is not allowed.
We decided to cross the highway and visit Nipsey’s for our nightcap. We had the place to ourselves, and they must have remembered the kind of music I like. It was a nice finish to the evening.
The view from our table.The view at our table.
Having achieved my goals for the day, we triked on home for a smoothie and sleep. What a life!
From the April 2018 LTG archives, I’m closing out some projects with only 17 days left in my working life. The highlight of this post is remembering the complaint someone made to the command about my blog. Fuck off, you cunt!
Today’s YouTube video is another good one from the Filipina Pea. Western gals can’t understand why men don’t want to date them, preferring warm-hearted Filipinas for some reason. The Pea explains why, not that it will make a difference to the women back home.
Humor time:
I should have saved this one for Good Friday.Tax the rich, feed the poor!Is that what they mean by getting smeared?
It may not be much, but that’s all I’ve got for today. It’s all good.
Signage in front of one of my former hangouts, Snackbar.
The thing about a bad day is that it makes you appreciate the good days all the more. Now, I ain’t saying yesterday was a bad day, it just wasn’t as good as my days usually are. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning, congested and sneezing. That made sleep impossible, so I just started my daily internet travels earlier than usual. When it came time for the Friday hike, I was still feeling stuffed up, lightheaded, and tired. I hoofed it down to the 7-Eleven meet-up, but I bailed early in the hike, caught a trike home, and went back to bed.
Swan went to the drugstore and got me some medicine to relieve the congestion, and it did seem to help. I chucked a few darts in the afternoon and threw like shit, but decided to attend the Alley Cats tourney anyway, even if I didn’t play. It was Liezel’s birthday celebration, so I baked up a batch of brownies to add to the smorgasbord.
That’s the birthday girl.
After some arm-twisting by Billy, the tournament director, I agreed to participate. I got partnered up with a young half-Filipino, half-Swedish lad, who attended the tourney with his brother and Swedish uncle. Turns out, he had never played in a dart tournament before and didn’t understand the rules of the games we played (501 and Cricket). He didn’t throw badly at first, and once I figured out he needed to be told what to throw at, we did alright, taking our first two rounds in the winner’s bracket. I’m not sure how much experience the young man had with drinking, but he was knocking down the mixed drinks. Now, the more I drink, the better I throw. That was not the case with him, and we got our asses handed to us in our third match and were relegated to the loser’s bracket. Prior to our next game, my partner said he needed to leave with his uncle, and I told him no problem. It was already after 8 pm, and I’d had enough anyway. Billy tried to set me up with a new partner, but I declined and took the forfeit.
Last night’s dart tournament action. That’s me in the blue shirt.
Anyway, it was not a bad time at darts, but I’ve still not recovered my old passion for the game. I’m not giving up yet, so we’ll see what the future holds.
Yes, with my big ol’ beer belly, it is getting harder and harder to squeeze into trikes. Some more motivation for me to lose a little weight.
And so a not-as-good-as-usual day came to an end.
I woke up feeling better with this beautiful morning view from my patio. A good start to the day!
In the memory lane department, here are a couple of poems I wrote when I was in high school. I posted them on Facebook seven years ago and probably here too, but poems are meant to be read again and again.
It seems like I’ve been running from those “shadows of my mind” for most of my life since then.I wrote this one as an assignment in my creative writing class. My teacher liked it! And yes, I had issues with punctuation way back then, too.
Thirteen years ago, I was dining at the top of Namsan in Seoul:
The view from Ciba Cima. I wonder if it is still open? It’s near the cable car station.
It’s still April 2018 in the LTG archives, and I’ve got twenty-one days left in Korea, so I’m busy closing doors. It wasn’t as over with Gem as I thought. I stayed in touch with her after the move and wound up getting scammed out of a thousand dollars. She still holds the record for taking advantage of my stupidity.
Today’s YouTube video is a good reminder not to put off retirement and to live your dreams while you can. I retired the first time at 55, but gave up my dream of the Philippines for what I thought would be a love-filled life with Jee Yeun. When that dream died, I went back to work, retiring again at 62 and making the delayed move to the PI. If I could have a do-over, I’d forego the heartbreak I endured and spend those wasted years in paradise.
And here we go with my attempts at humor once again:
Yeah, it was a Khan job.Well, to be fair, some Democrats aren’t crazed lefties. They just vote that way.That’s a pretty hairy experience.
Now to get on with making sure today is a good one.
Waking up alive every morning is the best way to start.
It has been said that it is a curse to live in interesting times. So, on my list of positives, I can be thankful for not being cursed. Here are some highlights from Thursday that probably won’t interest you.
The dollar-to-peso exchange rate broke into the 60s for the first time since I’ve been coming to the Philippines.I understand the all-time high was 60.34.
I don’t drive here, so I don’t worry much about fuel prices. I’m sure the people who drive me (primarily trikes and Jeepneys) do care, though.
100 pesos per liter is big news here, and prices are rising much faster than in other countries in the region.
Now, I understand that the war in Iran is causing a spike in oil import prices. But the gasoline retailers here raised the price on the inventory they already had in storage facilities before the upheaval in the Middle East. Seems kind of scammy to me. I hear the most egregious price gougers have been sanctioned by the government. It will be interesting to watch how this all plays out.
We were the only two passengers on our Jeepney ride to Calapandayan yesterday, and Swan and the driver chatted the whole way there.
The Jeepney driver was incensed about the rising cost of fuel and angry that the government hadn’t allowed fares to be raised to cover the increased expenses. He said the Blue Jeepney drivers (the ones who cover the Olongapo-to-Castillejos route we use) are planning a strike on Saturday. Most locals rely on Jeepneys for their work commute, so it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Maybe the Philippines should start buying some American oil.
Meanwhile, life goes on. Swan and I took that ride out to Calapandayan to kick off our morning hike. I wanted to do the walk where the grandmother who I like to help out occasionally lives. Before I suggested it, Swan said we should visit the lola (grandma). Hey, great minds really do think alike!
And we even dressed the same!Off we go!Through a subdivision called “Earth Homes.” Aren’t they all?Over the rickety bridge.The woman in red has a hard life raising the kids of her deceased daughter (the two closest to her in this photo). We only come out this way once a month or so, but she is always so happy to see us and grateful for our assistance.It’s a joy to help her.A short and special walk.
In the afternoon, I had a consultation with Dr. Jo. After reading and watching videos about visceral fat, I was concerned I might be stressing my liver, even though I give it plenty of exercise every night. We reviewed my most recent blood work results, and the liver numbers were all in the normal range. Her biggest concern remains my kidneys and the impact of my high blood sugar. I told her I had removed most sweets (no more ice cream and candy) from my diet, but it didn’t seem to be making much difference weight-wise. I also showed Dr. Jo an herbal remedy I had purchased online, but hadn’t tried yet, pending her guidance.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
When I showed her the bottle, Dr. Jo laughed and said I was the second patient to ask about this product. She looked at the ingredients, and she and Dr. Chris both agreed it wouldn’t hurt me, but they couldn’t say how effective it would be in reducing visceral fat.
Alright, it was time for me to make a life-altering decision. No, don’t be silly, I’m not giving up beer. But this coming Tuesday morning, I’m going to begin the Ozempic injection regimen. We’ll see how that works out for me.
After leaving the doctor’s office, we headed to Sloppy Joe’s. When the hunger pangs hit, I asked Swan what she wanted to do about dinner. She looked at me sheepishly and said, “You know I want birria.” As a matter of fact, so did I. So, it was off to Myleen’s.
Tasted good to me.
I shared a YouTube video Kevin left in the comments for making birria tacos at home, and Swan is going to give it a try. Looking forward to her version!
After dinner, we paid a visit to the Alaska Club. After we sat down, I noticed that most of the familiar staff faces were missing. I guess owner Jerry saw the look on my face, because he came over and told me a big spender had come in earlier in the week and dropped over 500,000 pesos in the bar that night. The newly rich girls haven’t been showing up to work since. Well, the girls who were there last night seemed okay with my meager 50 peso tips.
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, and I might have inadvertently caused some drama. As previously mentioned, Green Room is closed while undergoing renovations. The GR staff is working in Wet Spot during the interim. I’ve noticed some tension between the competing crews; more girls chasing the same customers, and I’m not sure what else is happening behind the scenes. I’ve made it a point to continue buying a lady a drink for my two Green Room regulars and my two Wet Spot regulars. Another thing I do when I hit the bars is bring cookies and lollipops for the girls. Knowing there are twice as many in Wet Spot now, I doubled the volume of sweets. Now, in the Green Room, I just open the bags of goodies and pour them onto the table, and then the ladies come and help themselves until it’s all gone. Some tend to be a little greedy, take more than their share, and so some gals get left out. Oh well. Now, in Wet Spot, my regular waitress divides the goodies and delivers them so everybody gets some. But last night, the Green Room gals got grabby and pissed off the Wet Spot waitress, and then loud words were exchanged. The manager eventually told them to tone it down, but the drama wasn’t fun for me to witness. Swan says that in the future, we will give the Green Room ration to the mamasan for distribution, and let our waitress handle the Wet Spot share. Geez, no good deed goes unpunished.
And so another uninteresting day came to an end.
How about a quick stroll down memory lane:
Me and that gal I dated in 2008 who doesn’t want to be mentioned on my blog ever again. Sorry about that, Say Wha. You were part of my life, and history can’t be changed.Fourteen years ago,my co-worker friend Corine joined us for a trip to Korea’s East Sea. Don’t remember the name of the town now, but it was a nice spot.
From the April 2018 LTG archives, I continue the transitory process between my soon-to-end Korean life and the upcoming life in the Philippines. Some nice pictures from around Pyeongtaek and my fifth Hash run with the Humphreys Hangover Hash House Harriers. Five runs earn you a Hash name, and that was the day I became known as Cum Together in the world of Hashing.
Today’s YouTube video is about how aging impacts your ability to travel. It kind of resonated with me. That trip to Da Nang in January was special, but some of the getting there and back again details were stressful. I think I was more resilient as a younger man.
Some call it humor, some may not. I post, you decide:
Stop while you’re ahead. And still have one.You can’t argue with geography.And don’t poop on the roof on the way down!
And that’s it for today’s post. I’ve been feeling like shit all day, and even had to bail on the Friday group hike. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll make it to darts today. We shall see.
Just keep moving forward and see where it takes you…
Each day is a new step, hopefully in the right direction. Here are the paths I took yesterday:
Scott drove the Wednesday Walkers out to the marketplace in Subic town, and we hit the road from there.On the road again…As seen from the back of the pack.Life on the riverside.A boat jam.
I wasn’t feeling 100%, and Scott gave me the option to bail on the climb. I opted not to take it.
I think Scott might have wished I had opted out.I didn’t count how many, but there were lots of steps, and they were uneven and irregular.Fighting my way upward.A view from the top.It is hard to imagine living up here and making those steps we just climbed part of a daily commute.Mountain views are nice from here, though.And now for the downward trek.Back on the pavement.On the riverside.That’s as close to heaven as I want to be for now.Something to ponder.A different river to cross.Subic living.Where the river meets the bay.Climbing those steps made it feel a lot longer than 5K.
Wednesday is also our Baloy Beach day.
Toes in the sand……sun in the sky…,,,and a bar on the water.Busy on the floater this week. That group of youngish men behind us had tabled lots of the girls and were plying them with lady drinks and a pizza delivered from Treasure Island.Whenever one of these Navy supply ships (crewed by civilians) is anchored in the bay, the younger guys make a showing in Barretto.The five o’clock sun.The Baloy Beach view.And then this happened again.Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.Thanks for another nice show!Time for dinner at Treasure Island.My dinner date.We shared a sweet-and-sour pork dish……and some beef quesadillas. They were both very tasty.
Swan surprised me by suggesting we go to Queen Victoria for a nightcap. Who am I to argue with that? So, we grabbed a trike and got dropped off at QV.
The view from our table.
Queen Vic was plenty busy for a Wednesday. Nice to see at least some of the bars doing well. Lots are empty, and I have no idea how they stay in business.
We finished our drinks, caught another trike, and made our way home. I’d say we made the best of another day.
In the April 2018 LTG archives, I’m getting all philosophical about destiny versus free will. I’m definitely in the camp that we create our destiny through the exercise of free will. I smirked a bit as I read my speculations on applying all the wisdom I had gained from past mistakes to my upcoming life the Philippines. Let’s just say there were many more mistakes to come.
Today’s YouTube vlogger argues that while tourism is down in the Philippines, the Philippines doesn’t need tourists. Hmm, tell that to the bar owners in Barretto. But in a back-handed way, he is right. The Philippines doesn’t make an effort to be tourist-friendly, so tourists explore other options. Honestly, if I had discovered Vietnam before moving to the PI, I might be living in Da Nang right now.
Sometimes you just gotta laugh:
I don’t believe anyone should drink or drive. Luckily, I didn’t learn that the hard way.She should always be late, too. (not punctual)Well, being old sucks in many ways, but it is better than not getting older.
So, let the journey continue! I’m off to consult with Dr. Jo this afternoon. I want to know more about my liver and kidneys. Shit, that sounds like a dinner my mama used to cook.
You know I must be talking about Tuesday when I’m so devoid of content that I have to kick off this post with a song. Don’t worry, it will end with a song, too. And there won’t be much else in between. Let’s get on with it, shall we?
The first stop of the morning was at the Bureau of Immigration for a 60-day extension of my tourist visa. I checked their website to confirm they’d be open (I heard a rumor it was a holiday), and it said the office opened at 8 a.m. I arrived a little after eight, signed in, and took a seat in the waiting room. There was one other person ahead of me. And then we sat there and waited for the immigration staff to arrive. Finally, around 8:40, a female agent arrived with her child in tow. The agent went about turning on the equipment needed to process visa extensions, and ten minutes later, the guy ahead of me was served. Then it was my turn, and the process went smoothly. I paid my 5180 pesos for the privilege of staying here for two more months (oddly, my receipt shows 3180 pesos), and I was good to go. I’m such a tourist!
Then it was on to the grocery shopping mission. I was able to purchase a case of San Miguel Light at the YBC supermarket, and Royal had sugar-free pudding in stock for the first time in months. Hey, it’s the little things that make for a good day, right?
There is a private school near the Manila Avenue entrance on SBMA (aka Subic Bay Freeport Zone). I noticed some new signage while we were at a traffic light in front of the school.
So, attending the First School of SBFZ makes you a “Firstian.” That’s kinda cute. That motto seems off somehow, though. Shouldn’t they be building “the” future? Oh well, who am I to criticize grammar errors?
Oh, and it turns out yesterday was indeed a holiday, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Day. Luckily for me, it is not a “non-working holiday,” so government offices were open for business. I’m pretty sure employees report late for work, whether it’s a holiday or not.
I’m still not feeling quite right, which provided an excuse to be lazy and not do a neighborhood walk. I did practice with my darts for a bit before heading out to the Alley Cats tournament. It was a doubles tourney, and I once again drew Amie as my partner. We went 1-2 in the double elimination tournament. That was better than our two-and-out last time. So, I can truthfully say that I was as good once as I ever was.
After being eliminated from the tourney, Swan and I stopped by Gold Bar for a nightcap. They had a good crowd for a Tuesday night, and we enjoyed the music, the vibe, and our visit.
The view from our table.
I even stayed out late, not leaving for home until almost 8:30 p.m.! Not bad for a Tuesday, eh?
We’ve now marched into April 2018 in the LTG archives, no fooling. In a post titled “The Lasts Shall Be Firsts,” I reflect on entering my final 30 days in Korea and discuss my preparations for the upcoming big move to the Philippines.
Even when I was a kid, I was a big fan of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone.” So, I especially enjoyed today’s YouTube video talking about events from ten 1960s episodes that seem to have come true in 2026. Fiction can sometimes be truth, it seems.
Let’s share a laugh or three before I go:
Talk about dirty laundry…That’s pretty full.The truth will set you free!
And now to see what happens next.
I heard this song for the first time last night, and I might make it my anthem. Around the one-minute mark in the video, a guy pulls up in a Ford pickup truck like the one I had in high school. A few seconds later, an AMC Pacer appears, like the one I bought as a family man in 1978.
Things went fine on my personal Hash trail yesterday, other than it being a little bit boring. The Hare’s trail was 6K long, and mine was a tad over 7K, so you can’t accuse me of shortcutting. Of course, a Guenter trail has several climbs and descents and is much more challenging than my one-up, one-down route. The other “cripples” did a shorter and easier version of the Hare’s trail (most on the My Bitch route), but I just wasn’t feeling like going that way again. Anyway, it is what it is, and I have no regrets. There comes a time when you just embrace your limitations and go out and do what suits you best.
My followers yesterday were Cums Alone and BF’s Wet Spot. The first portion of our trail departed Alta Vista and went to the starting point of the official Hash trail near the end of Rizal Extension.Now that we have that out of the way…The path leading to our climb.Up top, we were passed by three other Hashers from Alta Vista (Anal Receptive, Anal Intruder, and Leech My Nuggets), who were also making their way to the Hash start.These ashes were still smoldering as we walked by.Our view from on high.Arriving at the Hash trail starting point.And then it was On-On! They went their way, and I went mine.As seen along the way. Hmm, I reckon I’ve violated all of them, except for the littering.My trail took us down Rizal Extension.Then onto Abra Street.The gals stopped for a snack at this sari-sari store on Abra.Heading up the National Highway.Turning down Zamora Street.Then onto Dagupan Street.A few steps on Cagayan……then a long stretch of Jolo Street.Del Pilar was next.Then Gabaya.And finally, the last street on our trek: Laguna.This portion was part of the real Hash trail.That’s always music to my eyes.Arriving On-Home at Cyclone Bar.The trails I didn’t take.And the one I did.The Gash table.Old farts chillaxin’Why you don’t wear new shoes to the Hash.Heading to the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.The gals hangout at IDM.And some grumpy-looking old folks.
A few beers later, and it was time to call it a night. And so another Hash Monday was survived, and no falls this week.
Well, I’ve always known women have a monthly period, but now I see they have an annual monthly here in the Philippines.
Onward in the March 2018 LTG archives, with a post about my career’s final team-building excursion to the Byeonsan National Park way down south on the West Sea. Damn, it was one of the most beautiful places I’d seen for the first and last time in Korea. But what I miss most are the people I shared those memories with. Lots of photos in that post, so have a look if you are so inclined.
Today’s YouTube video features the tale of the vlogger who moved to the Philippines with a $2,000-a-month income and was broke in six months. Um, that’s what happens when you spend more than you earn. And his excuse about not thinking of pesos in terms of dollars is just about as ignorant. I use 50 pesos to the dollar, which makes calculating pretty easy. I tend to live large and spend large (2200 pesos at IDM last night is a good example), but I have a budget three times the size of his. Even so, I find clean, comfortable hotel rooms for half the price he was paying. You can get by on two grand a month here, but you have to be smart about it.
Let’s move on to the humor. Sometimes, real life can be funnier than a joke. Especially if you are stupid:
You really can’t make this stuff up. Some of these moments are so unbelievable, they sound like jokes—but they actually happened.
1. The McNugget Mystery
Recently I stopped by McDonald’s and noticed the menu offered Chicken McNuggets in orders of 6, 9, or 12.
So I said to the teenager at the counter, “I’d like a half-dozen nuggets.”
She looked at me and replied, “We don’t have half-dozen nuggets.”
“You don’t?” I asked.
“No,” she said seriously. “We only have six, nine, or twelve.”
I blinked. “So… I can’t order a half-dozen, but I can order six?”
“That’s right.”
I just shook my head and said, “Okay… I’ll take six nuggets.”
Unbelievable… but apparently true.
It reminded me of the same place where I once asked for sweetener for my coffee and was told, “We don’t have sweetener—only sugar or Splenda.”
2. The Checkout Divider
Another time I was checking out at Walmart with just a few items. The woman behind me placed her groceries right up against mine on the conveyor belt.
To keep them separate, I grabbed one of those little divider bars and placed it between our items.
After the cashier scanned everything I bought, she picked up the divider and started turning it over in her hands, searching for the barcode so she could scan it too.
After a moment she looked at me and asked, “Do you know how much this costs?”
I said, “Actually… I’ve changed my mind. I don’t think I’ll buy that today.”
She simply nodded. “Okay.”
I paid for my things and left. She never realized what had just happened.
But the woman behind me was trying very hard not to laugh.
3. Online Shopping… Sort Of
At work one day, I noticed a woman repeatedly sliding her credit card into the floppy-disk drive on her computer and quickly pulling it back out.
Confused, I asked what she was doing.
She replied, “I’m shopping online, and the website keeps asking for my credit card number. So I’m using the ATM thing on the computer.”
I didn’t even know what to say.
4. The Remote That Wouldn’t Work
One afternoon I saw a young woman standing beside her car, looking very upset and wiping away tears.
I asked if she needed help.
She explained, “I knew I should have replaced the battery in my remote door unlocker. Now it won’t work and I can’t get into my car. Do you think that store over there might have the right battery?”
I asked, “Does your car have an alarm system too?”
“No,” she said. “Just this remote.”
She handed me the remote and her car keys.
I simply took the key… put it in the door… and unlocked it.
Then I handed the keys back and said, “Why don’t you drive over there and check for the battery? It’s a long walk.”
5. The Photocopier Trick
Years ago we had an intern who wasn’t exactly the quickest thinker.
One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, “I’m almost out of typing paper. What should I do?”
The secretary replied, “Just use some paper from the photocopier.”
The intern nodded, took her last blank sheet of paper, placed it on the copier… and made five “copies” of it.
Five completely blank sheets.
6. The Emergency Call
A worried mother once called 911 because her young child had eaten some ants.
The dispatcher calmly told her, “Give him a little antihistamine medicine and he should be fine.”
The mother replied, “Oh… well, I already gave him some ant killer.”
The dispatcher paused for a moment and then said, “Ma’am, please take your child to the emergency room immediately.”
Sometimes real life is stranger—and funnier—than anything you could invent.
We’ll leave it at that for today. Thanks for dropping by. I really do appreciate my readers.
HaHa, I hadn’t heard this song in so long I’d forgotten it existed. But, damn, it seems more relevant than ever now. You listening, Iran?
And the wheel in the sky keeps on turning. Here’s a quick look in the rearview mirror.
From the Sunday Sweets Stroll:
It’s all about dispensing sweetness.And getting our steps in.When you don’t have much, a little candy means a lot.And you can’t put a price tag on those smiles we get in return.
Sunday is also the day we visit the Arizona floating bar. For the second week in a row, we were the only customers during the two hours we spent on board. At this rate, I don’t know how long it will remain operational. In the meantime, we’ll continue to enjoy the views on the water.
The view on arrival.A Swan on the water.And so it begins…
Without the John’s place option, we no longer have specific Sunday dinner plans. So, we decided to have some food from the Arizona Resort kitchen delivered to us on the floater.
Which would come first, sundown or the food?Well, the chicken wings arrived, but they forgot to bring the quesadillas.Munching on the wings of a sunset.Both were delicious.Thanks for the show!The quesadillas made for a nice dessert.And then it was time to head ashore.
Next stop in our Sunday routine is Red Bar.
We received the usual warm welcome from Ashley and Cliff.
We offered our regular waitress a lady drink, but she told us she preferred a cash tip instead. No problem for me, I consider that a win-win; she gets money, I save money. Coincidentally, an internet forum I visit had a post today about the history of lady drinks. I found it interesting, perhaps you will too. (If the link takes you to the comments, just scroll up to see the post.)
We did our nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks, and I played two games of drunken crappy pool, but I still played well enough to win both, which says more about the competition than me. And so on that high note, our night on the town came to an end.
Today, the 8th Army Director of Human Resources Management sent me this photo from the past:
That’s her on the right. This would be around 2007, and she was one of my newly hired team members. Now I’m long retired, and Shey has my old job. Well done!
Today’s post from the March 2018 LTG archives is also work-related. I enjoyed my work, but in my heart I knew it was time to call it a career and move on. I had 58 days left to go. Also included in that post is a copy of my federal career work biography. It was quite the ride!
As an added bonus, in the comments to the post linked above is this gem from Kevin Kim:
This sudden spate of mutual politeness calls to mind an old joke that my mother heard at work and brought home to the family:
The politest man in the world managed to find the politest woman in the world. The two fell in love, got married, and in short order, the wife was pregnant. After a few months, the wife had her first sonogram, and the doctor reported, “Congratulations! You’ve got twin boys!” The couple were delighted, and they eagerly anticipated the arrival of their two kids.
But something strange happened. The due date for the birth came and went, and there was no sign of the mother’s ever going into labor. Days became weeks; weeks became months; months became years. Nothing.
Even the most polite couple in the world couldn’t wait forever, so the two finally broke down, went to the hospital, and demanded a full examination to determine what was going on.
The doctors put the mother under a scanner, flipped on the audio and video, and saw two ancient, wrinkled babies inside the mother, each with a snow-white beard, and each endlessly prompting the other with, “After you!” “No, after you!”
You are welcome!
Today’s YouTube video is also work-related as it explores the five things that disappear after retirement. I’ve found my personal replacements for four of them, but I’ve never overcome my loss of ambition. I guess it wasn’t that important to me.
I’m glad I never lost my sense of humor:
Keep looking, your perfect match is out there somewhere.Who you callin’ a shit talker, motherfucker!Fucking statistics kept me from getting my master’s degree. What are the odds?
And with that, it is time to move into preparation for today’s Hash. I won’t be doing the Guenter trail, but I will walk to the start from my house and decide where to go from there. I’ll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. To be content, you must live in the present.
Starting tomorrow!
When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day Just go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife Whose judgment upon you must pass The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest For he’s with you, clear to the end And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years And get pats on the back as you pass But your final reward will be heartache and tears If you’ve cheated the man in the glass. –Paul Dale Wimbrow
Greetings from the lovely retirement community of Barrio Barretto. With over fifty bars to serve you here, being bored or lonely is a matter of choice. We’ve got beaches and mountains to enjoy, lots of dining options, and plenty of friendly Filipinas ready to assist in fulfilling your needs. Compare that to vanilla places like Sun City, Arizona, and you will be happy you chose to spend your golden years in a town where your money goes further, and age is just a number.
What’s not to like?
See, I told you I was going to strive for a more positive attitude! If I spend the remainder of my time amongst the living like I did yesterday, I’ll be satisfied. No, it was nothing out of the ordinary, but that’s the point; ordinary here is extraordinary compared to sitting around playing cards in a retirement home stateside. Let the good times roll!
We began our Saturday with the usual Decay Dance.
We are in the midst of the burning season here, and as we exited Alta Vista, we walked through the ashes of a freshly burned hillside.Always nice to see you, my friend.
As we got closer to Easter Mountain during our Dance, I noticed there had been a recent burn there as well, probably while we were in Pundaquit. The Easter Monday Hash is on the horizon, but I’m doubting I’ll be able to make the Easter Mountain climb this year. Part of aging gracefully is accepting and adapting to your increased physical limitations. We’ll see.
Here are some of the over 250 children we helped by providing them with tooth decay through candy distribution.We stocked up on some fruits and veggies at this stand in San Isidro.I couldn’t help but wonder, when the gate is open, is it ajaring?(Sorry, that’s just the way my mind works.)
I decided to change things up for our Saturday night out by making a rare visit to Harley’s, located on the road to Baloy. It had been months since we were last here.
I’m not sure why we don’t visit here more often. It is a tad off our beaten track, but only a couple of blocks from the National Highway. In my opinion, it has the best pub vibe in Barretto. Sports (usually the UK and Aussie variety) on big screen TVs, pool, darts, and lots of popular English beers.We prefer to ensconce ourselves in the bay view seats.Subic Bay and the Kalaklan Ridge.And I was very surprised to discover they had San Mig Zero beer in stock. I’m guessing it is not popular with the strong-brew crowd that hangs out at Harley’s, so they haven’t run out yet. None of the distributors in Barretto has Zero available.
It was a busy day on the bay.
A cruise ship departing SBMA.Kayakers.Banca boat tours, jet skis, and banana boat rides.Off they go!I asked the waitress, Can you tell me about the menu, please? She said, “The men I please are none of your business! Hmm, methinks I’ve used that joke here already, but it’s worth one more repeat.We enjoyed some delicious nachos while we watched the action.
When we were ready to move on for our nightcap, we headed out to Wet Spot. With Green Room still closed for renovation and both bar crews working out of Wet Spot, it was pretty packed. Like last time, I felt obligated to take care of my regulars from both bars with lady drinks. Better than the drama of them fighting over me, right? And yes, I’m being facetious. These gals have been serving me for years now and I am happy to help make their night a little more profitable.
Then it was time to scurry back home before my early bedtime. I made a tasty batch of strawberry-banana smoothies, and they were a sweet ending to a sweet day.
From the Facebook memories, an old photo of my workmates in Korea in 2005:
The good ol’ days. I still wish I could go back and relive them.
Continuing on with the March 2018 LTG archives, a meeting with the Korean Employees Union brought me back to Seoul. Naturally, I spent the night and partied in Itaewon with some old friends, then went back to Pyeongtaek the next morning and climbed a mountain. Life’s a Dance, indeed. It was nice to feel happy for a change.
In today’s YouTube video, The Filipina Pea interviews foreigners about their impressions upon visiting the Philippines. Very similar to my experiences: friendly locals, happy despite living in poverty, loud and littered, cheaper, an easy visa process, and you can get by speaking only English. It’s not for everyone for sure, but it works for me, and I’m happy to call it home.
Humor time:
This is a shitty start…That’s more like what I like!Death be not proud…
And on that note, I’m positive there’s nothing left to say today.
Yeah, I’m glad I missed out on the prohibition era.
Here I am again, immersed in the activities that fill the hours of my so-called Barretto life. As boring and repetitive as that may seem here on the blog, I’m not complaining. I had a bit of an epiphany this morning. Between not being able to shake the feeling of impending doom and my fantasies of going back in time for a do-over life, I’m forgetting to live in the moment and enjoy the days I’m blessed with living, no matter how many I may have left. I’ve made that mistake before, as revisiting my old posts about my last year in Korea has reminded me. I was sad and lonely, looking forward to moving to the Philippines, yet unable to let go of the heartbreak of the past. But now, when I look back from the perspective of eight years on, I see what a happy time that could have been if I’d opened myself to all the positive aspects of that life. Hell, I was living in a palace paid for by the government, I had a six-figure salary plus my monthly retirement pension. I was surrounded by beautiful countryside. I was climbing mountains and hiking riversides. Work provided some substance and meaning, along with the companionship of my coworkers. I don’t have any regrets about retiring when I did, but I wasted a year lamenting what I’d lost and thinking about a future that hadn’t yet arrived, instead of living in the moment. So now I’m resolved and committed to embracing what I have today and appreciating this life for what it is.
Okay, with that out of the way, let me share the story of my yesterday. Our driver, Swan’s friend Mercy, picked us up from the Wave Song Resort at 8:30. I had it in mind to treat everyone to breakfast at the FRA in San Antonio, which has a great kitchen, at least the last time I visited. I entered the venue into Google Maps for directions, and we were off. Or the app was, because the direction it wanted to take us didn’t align with my memory. Who you gonna believe, GPS or a feeble brain? Eventually, I just had Mercy take the route I knew to the main highway, and we went from there.
We were the only car in the parking lot when we pulled into the FRA. I planned for us to sit in the outdoor dining area, so I went to the service window to fetch a waitress. It was empty inside except for one young woman behind the counter. I asked if they were open (it was after 9 now), and she said yes, then added that the kitchen staff had not yet arrived. I asked how long it would be until they got here, and she didn’t know. Hmm, okay then. I heard the FRA was going downhill, and this seemed to be confirmation. So, we reloaded into the car and hit the road for Barretto.
I was hungry, but unfamiliar with alternative options in San Antonio. I remembered a place in Castillejos called Mukbang, but as we passed, it was closed. There is a place called Spice Restaurant in Subic that I’ve always wanted to try, but it wasn’t open yet, either. As we entered Calapandayan, I recalled a new resort that had recently opened. We did a walkthrough on a previous hike, and it looked nice. So, we pulled in to give it a try.
Welcome to the Costa Resort!Featuring beautiful bay views like this one……and this one of Snake Island.Best of all, we were finally going to have something to eat!
The gals all got traditional Filipino breakfasts, and since I was hungry, I of course went with the Hungarian breakfast.
The Hungarian cured my hunger.I also ordered a side of pancakes to share with my tablemates. Those we the thickest pancakes I ever did see.
Anyway, it turned out to be a nice enough place to enjoy a bayside meal.
Back home safe and sound, I set about my usual afternoon routines of napping and blogging, then showered up and headed into Barretto for the first time in days! I needed to hit the ATM, and It Doesn’t Matter has a good one, so that’s where we kicked things off. The ATM worked fine, but sadly, IDM isn’t what it used to be without Cliff and Ashley running the show. A totally different vibe these days, not unfriendly, but not warm and welcoming like we were accustomed to. I’m sure we’ll still visit occasionally, but there are plenty of bars to choose from here in Barretto.
Not as many restaurants these days (yes, still missing John’s place), but I offered Swan three dining options all within a block of IDM: Jewel Cafe, Myleen’s, or Foodies. Swan chose Myleen’s because it has the best (and only) birria tacos in town.
The view as we made our way up the highway to Myleen’s.
Myleen’s was busier than I’ve ever seen it, but they handled it well. As a long-time customer, I’m on friendly terms with the manager, Eve. Which means I subject her to my warped sense of humor, and she doesn’t get offended.
Last night, I gave her teasing shit about this conflicting signage. Good thing there wasn’t an emergency!But I had the most fun with this sign. I ranted about what kind of restaurant doesn’t allow customers to eat or drink? She, of course, insisted it meant no outside food or drink. I rightly pointed out that it doesn’t mention anything about “outside” food. Anyway, it was all in good humor, but I’ll check during my next visit to see if they’ve updated the sign.And we got what we came for, and they were good.
Swan said the dipping sauce was much better than what they had served during our previous visit. I passed that along to Eve, and she said she’d let the chef know.
After our meal, we crossed the highway and did our nightcap at Cheap Charlies. They were fairly busy as well, and we sat near several folks we are acquainted with, so we had some nice chitchat while we drank our beverages.
Cheap Charlies is an open-air bar that plays good music at an enjoyable volume. What’s not to like?
Well, there was a surprisingly brisk breeze blowing last night, and that made Swan chilly. Poor girl has never experienced what a real winter is like. She says she wants to, though. Maybe I’ll take her to Korea in January before I die.
Since we had already had dinner, I didn’t order food for the girls or buy them an overpriced lady drink. I did give each of the staff (seven in all) a 50 peso tip. Then we headed home for bedtime.
I’ve gone from working 9 till 5 to sleeping 9 till 5. It’s good to be alive!
Until I die, I’ll keep exploding heads on Facebook with crap memes like this.
Still February 2018 in the LTG archives and in a rare positive post from back then, I talk about My Beautiful Life. It shouldn’t be hard to focus on the good in life. I’m going to do my best to get better at it.
Although I accept that time travel is not in my future, you can still visit the past via YouTube videos, such as this one about saloon life in the Old West. Honestly, I don’t think I’d enjoy drinking piss-warm beer and hanging out in joints like those. But I guess there weren’t any other options back then.
I haven’t lost my sense of humor. Such as it is:
Um, put you in the middle seat, asshole.Been there, done that. Sort of.And yeah, it made me happy even though there was no sex involved.I’m fat as a double bass.
So, now it’s time to get out and enjoy the things I have in my life while I can. I know folks who are crippled up and homebound, but I hope that if that day ever comes for me, I’ll make the best of it. Life truly is a gift.
Beer doesn’t always lead to a great story, but it usually has a happy ending. This sign is one of several with similar themes at The Beach Bar.
Speaking of endings, the second and final day of my Pundaquit getaway isn’t in the books, but it is now on the blog. It wasn’t much more than a change-of-scenery excitement-wise, but I enjoyed the visit. Life plods on, and so do I. Here, let me show you what I mean.
A short morning walk to kick off the day:
Where the river meets the sea.That’s proud Swan, strollin’, strollin’, strollin’ on the river.The road ran out but the river did.So we turned around and headed back.Some coffee and breakfast at The Beach Bar, then back to the room for some time on the porch, a nap, and a blog post.
At the appointed time, we walked back into Pundaquit proper to feed our faces at the local BBQ joint.
It’s owned and run by a white guy (Aussie, I think).Nothing fancy about the place.But it has a friendlyand inviting atmosphere. As is our custom, we prefer to forgo the tables and belly up to the counter to watch the world go by outside. During our dinner visit, four or five other expats came in to dine and drink.I think the pricing probably doesn’t appeal to the local folks.Lots of menu options…But we came for the BBQ.And I can’t say no to pulled pork.The pork rib was yummy, but a tad on the expensive side (750 pesos).And damn, that was a big-ass pulled pork sandwich. I don’t recall being served pulled pork with cheese on top, but I liked it. Sorry about the onions, Kevin.We were happy campers after enjoying our meal.
So, we hit the street again and marched our way to The Beach Bar for some liquid refreshments, sand, and another sunset.
The bar wasn’t as crowded as it was on Wednesday, but it still had a nice buzz going on.Then we set up our seats for the show.We still had a while to wait.We were the only two customers on the beach portion of the bar. But the owner sent one of the waitresses out to stay and take care of us exclusively. Now, that’s service!Uh oh, are the curtains going to close before the show begins?Erick, the bar owner, sent out a couple of free shots to enhance our enjoyment.Breaking on through!Getting down!And then on down behind the clouds.
It’s nice to spend some time at a legit beach bar. It irks me that we don’t have anything like this in Barretto. After the sun went down, we moved back to the bar area for our nightcap.
And then said goodbye to the friendly waitresses who took good care of us during our visits.
Wherever we are, we try to stay on schedule. But in vacation mode, we overindulged early (Swan had THREE glasses of wine!) and then did the short beach walk back to our room. Poor Swan had a rough night trying to sleep, but I was out like a light.
Yeah, asleep before 8:30. I’m such a wimp!
Like I said, nothing exciting about the day, but we enjoyed the change of scenery.
Moving on to February 2018 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I reminisce about the only time in my life when I was placed under arrest and carted off to jail. Now, I’m not saying I never committed other crimes; I just never got caught. And I’m fairly certain the statute of limitations has rendered me untouchable now. We’ll see if I find anything in the archives about the time I [allegedly] stole a car.
Today’s YouTube video is something I came across in Facebook memories from seven years ago. It’s a parody song about dating a Filipina. Based on what I learned from hard experience, it’s mostly true. It’s only a couple of minutes long, so give it a watch if you are so inclined.
Here’s some funny business:
She might be right about that.And a person from the Philippines is Pinoy. Go figure.Knock, knock, knockin’ on Heaven’s door…
Made it back home to Barretto alive, and I reckon I’ll get back into the flow of my routines tonight. We shall see. Speaking of seeing, and not wanting to be an ass about it, Swan took a photo of the bruise that came with my Hash fall last Monday. It may well be the biggest bruise I ever did have, no ifs, ands, or butts about it. For those who may be morbidly curious, I’ll post it below today’s song. You’ve been warned!
My ouchy:
Back is still a little stiff and sore, especially in the mornings. But I expect I will continue to grow older.
Greetings from the province of Zambales, municipality of San Antonio, at Barangay Pundaquit! It is nice to be soaking up the beach vibes that go so well with an icy cold San Miguel Light beer. We are staying at the Wave Song Beach Resort once again, with a lovely view from our front porch of Capones Island. Had a short walkabout, then met up with an old friend who lives in San Antonio at the beach bar next door to our hotel. The place was packed in a way you rarely see in Barretto. There were even a couple of other familiar faces there to greet. We enjoyed a nice ocean sundown from the beach, had some dinner, and then had a sandy walk back to our room. Not a bad way to spend the day!
It was 33 kilometers door-to-door from my house to Wave Song. Coincidentally, Kevin Kim took a 33K hike yesterday. Upon arriving in Pundaquit before checking into our hotel, we stopped at one of my favorite places, CMC Car Wash, for lunch. Swan’s friend Mercy, at the far end of the table, provided the driver service. If all goes according to plan, she’ll find her way back to pick us up in the morning.CMC is a big open-air bar with a great kitchen.This snake was only on display, not on the menu.I enjoyed my big pork rib lunch.Our room at Wave Song is small, but clean and functional. 3000 pesos per night.The view from our front porch.That’s a good sign that I’ll be sleeping well.Boats on the beach.Boats on the water.Mountains, sand, and water. Pundaquit has it all.
Speaking of sand, this sand is thick and soft. Much harder to walk on than it is in Baloy. Maybe that’s a natural difference between ocean and bay sand.
I gave up on the beach walk, and we ventured through this little village on our way back to pavement. The natives were friendly.This is where we will be dining tonight. Full report tomorrow.We finished our walk at The Beach Bar.We were surprised to see some familiar faces, including this gal who works at Queen Victoria in Barretto.Then the sun started doing that thing it does at the end of every day.We settled in to watch the show from our chairs on the beach.And we were not disappointed.The bar was still hopping after sundown.The Beach Bar pork chop dinner.
Then it was one last beer, back to the room for a good night’s sleep, and waking up ready for day two of our Pundaquit adventure.
From Facebook memories, twelve years ago I made a cameo appearance on a local news broadcast from Augusta, Georgia.
That’s me in the blue, trying to pretend I’m good enough to compete with the dart pros.
One of the Facebook groups I belong to is about remembering the 70’s.
I remember those good ol’ days.Being in my 70s isn’t nearly as much fun, but I’m glad to still be around anyway.
From the January 2018 LTG archives, I climbed a mountain in the snow. And damn, it’s been all downhill from there. Oh well, I can still look at the mountains, and I don’t miss the snow and ice.
I’m done with seduction as well, but in today’s YouTube video, the Filipina Pea has some guidance for those who are not. Turns out, she’s using Visayan language phrases, not Tagalog, so it probably wouldn’t have helped me here on Luzon anyway.
Ready for the funny stuff?
I don’t have a clue, but it sounds as unworkable as my “do-over” dream.The joke notwithstanding, I’m pretty sure the way this meme is written is enough to make an English teacher’s head explode. Right, Kevin?And it explains why we know Elizabeth Warren was never an Indian.
I guess those weren’t so funny after all. Oh well, I’m on vacation, and I need to get back to not working. We’ll try again tomorrow, assuming I find my way home.
