I threw surprisingly well in the dart tournament yesterday, especially since I haven’t played or practiced in over a week. It felt good to be on target and reminded me of those long-ago days when I was one of the better players in Itaewon. It was a singles tourney, which I prefer, but the way I was throwing wouldn’t have disappointed my partner in doubles. Maybe I’m back.
I was undefeated last night.
So, was it fun? Honestly, my passion for the game isn’t back. I was on the fence about playing last night, but went ahead and joined when asked. The tourney starts at 5:00 pm, and depending on the number of players, it finishes three or more hours later. That’s a long time for me to be in one place. Swan went to an eatery next door and brought me back a sandwich, which helped diminish the impact of drinking beer on an empty stomach. Still, by the time the tourney was over, I’d had more than enough. Once or twice a week will be plenty of darts for me, I think.
The morning hours were filled with the Friday group hike. We walked to the end of Baloy Beach, crossed the river, then did a street walk through Matain and Calapacuan. It had been a while since we’ve gone that way, and it made for a nice change of pace.
Todd, George, and Swan joined me for the adventure.A walk on the beach.Where the river meets the bay.Crawling into the tiny boat to ferry us across the river.A Swan on the water.A boat parking lot on the other side.And boats on the bay.Taken away in the prime of life. RIP.We did a walkabout through this old abandoned resort on the bay in Matain. The caretaker told us it was recently purchased by someone from China and will be turned into a yacht club.The place currently has a creepy vibe like from a Stephen King novel. But this tree was nice.Just passin’ through.Friendly locals.We even did a climb up these seemingly endless stair steps.Our reward for that effort was this view from up top.Another day, another 6K.
And that’s the way I rolled through another Friday. Yep, I’m a lucky bastard.
Continuing my journey through the December 2017 LTG archives. Lots going on in this post, but the most significant event is my introduction of Gemma, a gal I “met” on a dating site and had been chatting with for a few weeks. She agreed to join me for my upcoming New Year’s visit to Subic. As is usually the case with me, there is much more to the story yet to come. I’ll share those gory details soon. I heard from Gem last year, and she is back to living in Israel now.
It’s always a pleasure to spend time with the Filipina Pea, and in today’s YouTube video, she talks to older Filipinos and shares what they really think about older foreigners dating their daughters. Swan’s parents are now both deceased, so my being older than them shouldn’t be a problem.
Smile for me:
The scary thing is that crazy people are in the majority in some places, like NYC and California.Did Micro wave?Yeah, and a Klingon never lets go!
And then you get to the final chapter and start worrying about how many pages are left to be turned.
Live ’em while you got ’em, that’s the best and only option. Here’s how that worked out for me yesterday.
Our housekeeper, Jane, is Swan’s niece and resides in our basement apartment with her hubby and three kids. It’s equipped with everything they need to live comfortably except a television. Our mission yesterday morning was to rectify that situation. There’s an appliance store on the far side of town, and I told Swan we could make that our walk destination. She was a little surprised when I took her the back way via the My Bitch trail and Rizal Extension, arriving at Robinson’s a little over 6K later. Here’s some of what we saw along the way:
Swan looks so excited about taking the long way there, doesn’t she?That tall thatch grass has now been burned, which makes the walking easier. After all my time living here, I still can’t figure out the motivation for coming up here to burn. I also wonder how in the hell the fires don’t rage out of control, but they also seem to burn themselves out in due course.Everyone’s favorite mountain.Those houses down there are on Rizal Extension. Up above is the Kalaklan Ridge.A view of Subic town and the bay from here.And a mountain view.Show me the way, Sweetie Pie.Once we were back on pavement, Swan was thirsty, so we stopped at a sari-sari store. You buy the Coke, and then it is poured into a plastic bag for take-out.A wanted poster outside the local DILG unit.Be on the lookout, especially if you are a Korean.
And then we arrived safely at the Robinson’s appliance store, where I purchased a 50″ Smart TV for a little under $400. Our downstairs residents were ecstatic.
Welcome home!
Later in the afternoon, Swan and I made our way to the Kokomo’s floating bar.
That would be the one.A US Navy MSC ship anchored in the bay. Civilians crew them, so I’m sure the bargirls will enjoy the company of young men for a change(military members are confined to SBMA when in port).
Our visit to the floating bar proved to be a disappointment. No wine for Swan, so she had water. They wanted 120 pesos for a gin shot, plus another 100 for the can of soda water. I had one, and then we decided to move on.
The raft coming to take us back ashore.
But we weren’t giving up on our beach time. There’s a small resort named Tropical Garden, further up Baloy, owned by a Hasher (Goat Fucker). We decided to check out the vibe.
The view from my barstool.The view of my fat ass on a barstool. As you can see, several other foreigners were enjoying some time at Tropical Garden.
So, Tropical Garden wanted 180 pesos for a gin shot. Add in a can of soda water, and it’s nearly three times more expensive than a beer. Nope, no can do. I’ll have to find another way to reduce calories and carbs. I still haven’t been able to find out what’s going on with the unavailability of San Miguel Zero beer.
Sunset on the beach at Tropical Garden.Swan on the beach as we made our way to Treasure Island for dinner.Our favorite place to eat on Baloy Beach.Chicken quesadillas for Swan.And an excellent grilled pork chop for me.
I’d given up on gin and soda by this point, but I enjoyed a couple of cold San Miguel Lights, then we called it an early night and headed on home. Notwithstanding the Kokomo’s disappointment, we enjoyed our beach time.
It’s December 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I recount the once-in-a-lifetime experience of walking over 50,000 steps. It’s chock full of pictures of the area surrounding Camp Humphreys and the city of Pyeongtaek. Thanks to Kevin Kim for the challenge and inspiration to make the journey of a lifetime.
For today’s YouTube video, we’ll take a journey back in time and see what traveling on a stagecoach was really like. Spoiler alert: it was not a comfortable experience.
Now we will travel on to where the humor is:
Something doesn’t add up here…No, that’s not me. Yet.How’d that work out for the men on the Titantic?
Another day, another post about yesterday. And now to get on with today.
The moon goes down, and the sun comes up. And so began another day in the life.
As I’ve alluded to in my recent posts, I’ve kinda sorta been feeling out of sorts lately. I’m sure some of this derives from being in an emotionally weird place, but there are physical aspects as well. Light-headedness, lethargy, weird aches and pains are some of the symptoms I’ve been enduring. I need to schedule another consult with Dr. Jo to see if any of this is liver-related. God knows, my liver gets plenty of exercise, but it ain’t as young as it once was. I saw an ad on Facebook that described what happens when your liver begins to fail, and it was a little too familiar for comfort. And since it was an advertisement, they suggested an herbal remedy called Lymphoria. Well, it was “only” 1800 pesos ($35), so I decided to order a bottle. I figure it can’t hurt, right?
Wednesday went as Wednesdays usually do, starting with the Wednesday Walkers group hike.
Only three this week, Swan, me, and George.We invaded the Naugsol Valley.Yeah, that again.That girl of mine.And a tree I liked.
A 6K trek on a hot day was plenty.
Swan took a “me day,” so I was on my own for the evening adventure in Barretto. I plopped my sorry behind down on a stool at Cheap Charlies and put my new drinking strategy to work. On the plus side, my gin shot with a can of soda water lasted around thirty minutes, about twice as long as a bottle of beer. On the negative side, after two gins, I was feeling a tad more buzzed than I wanted to be, so I switched to beer for the remainder of the evening. I’m not giving up yet, but I’ve got to learn to pace myself better.
Otherwise, my visit to Cheap Charlies was pleasant enough. My hike buddy Todd popped in for a while, so I had someone to chat with, which is nice. I fed the girls in lieu of lady drinks, and they were very appreciative. I was even given the rare beer on the house as a thank you.
A Barretto view from out front……and the bay view from the back.
I wasn’t quite ready to call it a night, so I popped into Alaska for a final round of drinks. Still made it home before 8 pm, where Swan was awaiting my return and the smoothie I promised to make for her. And that was all there was to Wednesday.
From Facebook memories:
Nine years ago, I was climbing these steps to Seoul Tower at the top of Namsan. I wonder if I could still make it up that way nowadays.
In the November 2017 LTG archives, I share my Thanksgiving blessings. I’m not sure why it is that it seems that it is always in looking back that I realize how good my life was, despite my feeling that it sucked. Hopefully, I’m not going look back on the present in a similar fashion.
Today’s YouTube video features people even dumber than me. Yep, you read that right. The most dangerous thing I do is crossing the National Highway, but I’d never try to take a selfie while doing so.
The correct answer is obviously “all of the above.”
I’m going to make the effort to change things up around here. We’ll see how that works out for me. Me being me, I’m not taking the hard road, but I intend to tweak my lifestyle by eating smarter. No, I don’t plan to count calories or anything like that at this point. I’ll just try to show a little more discipline and self-control when it comes to what I put in my mouth. As a first step in that direction, while grocery shopping yesterday, I successfully avoided purchasing the usual half-gallon of ice cream. Instead, I made a sugar-free pudding before heading out to the bars, and my drunken dessert was waiting for me when I returned.
Speaking of drinking, I’m making some modifications in that regard as well.
I’m adding gin and soda water to my repertoire once more.
So, one shot of gin is around 97 calories. That’s not much less than the 100 in a bottle of San Miguel Light. But I get the shot in a tall glass and order a can of soda water (no calories) on the side. That turns one drink into three, reducing the calories consumed and lessening the alcohol volume. But I’m not giving up on beer entirely. My current plan is to alternate between the drinks. Hopefully, that will moderate the impact of the gin intake whilst also reducing my overall consumption of calories. In my previous switches to gin, I suffered some repercussions that included getting drunker than I wanted to be (like falling down getting out of the trike drunk). Wish me luck as I move forward with my new plan!
Oh, and if you are wondering about my motivation, for some reason, I stepped on my bathroom scale yesterday. 259.7 pounds. Yikes!
I walked home from the Royal supermarket after yesterday’s shopping excursion.
A bay view from the highway.And across the road, the dead zone.
As nice as the views along the highway are, there isn’t much shoulder space, and people drive here like pedestrians have no business being out walking. The scooters are especially bad, treating that small roadside space as a motorbike lane. It tends to take the joy out of the hike for me.
Accidents do happen. I guess this person just said, “fuck it,” and left the wreck behind.That’s my life.It’s exactly five kilometers from Royal to Sit-n-Bull if anyone should ask.
I did my drinking at Sloppy Joe’s and Wet Spot yesterday. Green Room is closed for renovations now. As I understand it, the new owner is adding restrooms (yay! no more going next door to pee) and a dance stage (boo! we don’t need another dancing bar). We’ll see how that works out. In the meantime, all the Green Room staff are working out of Wet Spot. That meant buying twice my usual number of lady drinks. Anyway, I was still standing when I got home, so my moderation plan is working so far.
From the November 2017 LTG archives comes a post about my working life. With less than six months to go before re-retirement, I felt appreciation for the meaning work brought to my life and some trepidation about what my life might look like without it.
Today’s YouTube video offers five signs that your life may be ending soon. Other than my expanding abdomen, none of them is yet in evidence for me. Well, the memory is fading, but not to the extreme extent the AI voice talks about. I still can’t shake this feeling of impending doom for some reason, but I’m going to keep on doing what I do for as long as I am able.
Bad puns and bad humor are always here to be enjoyed:
It is good to liquidate what ails you.That’s a downer. I got stuck on an escalator once for an hour when the power went out.Well, so did Obama…
And now on with my snack-less and sweet-less life. Thank God for alcohol!
I’m here to report that I survived another Hash Monday. This one wasn’t all that difficult thanks to the Hare’s efforts at accommodation for the old, fat, and frail. Anal Receptive actually laid two trails, a 10K with three hills, and a mostly flat 4K trail. I’m sure y’all know which route I chose. I did add 1.6K to the effort by walking to the start from my house. Here’s some of what I saw along the way:
The view as I departed Alta Vista.We gathered at the APO Resort for the start of the trail.And away we go!The Hare was kind enough to construct a ladder to make getting down from this wall easy on us cripples.It’s a rare event to be able to walk across this rice field when it is dry.An almost pleasant stroll.Some pavement time on the streets of San Isidro.Heading back up into Alta Vista.A high view from Alta Vista. But I repeat myself.Leaving Alta Vista.I was pleasantly surprised that the Hare found a back way around that newly constructed fence that blocks my shortcut to Barretto. I’ll be using this route regularly in the future.Heading On-Home.It’s been several months since we last had a Hash gathering at Johansson’s.The way I rolled.Gash waiting for the Circle to commence.Gash at the Circle.The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers doing what Hashers do.It’s nice on ice!
Some after-Hash time at It Doesn’t Matter, then I called it a day. Keep ’em coming!
From the November 2017 LTG archives, I’m offering up the unprecedented three-for: each post has a similar theme as I make my way out of the recent heartbreak I’d experienced. The Dating Game is about my online and real-time efforts. Who’s Your Daddy covers a night out on the town with my buddy Duke. And Keep the Customers Satisfied is about my exploits as an asshole. A gal named Joy is the common denominator in all three posts. I’d forgotten all about her until re-reading these posts. Let me say I’m sorry again, Joy.
And in another odd coincidence, today’s YouTube video is about the seven signs you are a stupid person. I’m smart enough to recognize that at least five of them apply to me.
At least I’m good for a laugh:
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Enjoy those virgin goats!I never knew…Be careful what you wush for.
I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it. –Groucho Marx
Easier said than done, but worth the effort, I suppose. Yeah, I’m having one of those days, but this too shall pass. In the meantime, I can take comfort in knowing that things can, and have been, worse than they are. It’s easy to forget your blessings when you take them for granted, but you don’t have to look far to see that the struggles of others are infinitely worse.
When I decided to move to the Philippines, one of my goals was to try make things better for people by my being here. Yeah, you can’t help everyone, but you can make a difference for some. To some degree, I’ve achieved that goal, even if you don’t count providing lady drink commissions. One of my current projects is helping an acquaintance who is currently fighting uterine cancer. I help out with rent, food, and medical expenses, but damn, the struggles of getting proper treatment in a public (versus private) healthcare system here are phenomenal. Here’s her latest message to me:
Hello John, update for today; I couldn’t undergo chemotherapy this Monday, and I was also confined for another day because I had a blood clot in my catheter. They conducted some tests, and I was discharged from the hospital after the tests. I will return to the hospital this Friday for my CT scan urogram. I hope it gets done so we can know what the urology department will do regarding whether I will need surgery or not. I’m back on antibiotics again because chemotherapy didn’t go ahead due to my cough and cold. It’s really frustrating because I seem to catch coughs and colds quickly now.
Always fighting, John. I don’t want to die yet; I don’t want to stress myself over what’s happening with my treatment. I constantly pray that I can get through all of this.
What happened to me earlier was intense. Before my CT urogram, I fainted; suddenly, I couldn’t breathe, my legs started to tremble, and I had a headache. I thought it was the end for me, and I ended up praying unexpectedly, saying, “Lord, please don’t take me yet.” My blood pressure and sugar levels weren’t low; I just couldn’t handle the prolonged fasting because I needed to fast for the CT scan. They’ve postponed my schedule today, and now I’m rescheduled for the CT scan on March 5. Aside from the severe headache I’m experiencing, the equipment for my CT scan isn’t complete, so I have to go back on March 5. The effects of the chemotherapy they are giving me are hard; they are not just attacking the cancer but also weakening my good cells and immune system. I need to find a clinic that prescribes fenbendazole and ivermectin because they have been effective for colorectal cancer patients. I need to try it; I don’t want to die, Lord. Please help me; don’t abandon me.
Endless gratitude, John, for all the help you have given me, and thank you for not abandoning me in this fight. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude, as the Lord sent you to help me financially. Thank you, Lord, for everything, and please do not forsake me in my battle against this illness.
What a nightmare to go through. I believe she is in her 30s. At my age, I wouldn’t have the strength or the will to fight this battle. When my time comes, I hope I go easy into that gentle good night.
Here are my blessings from yesterday:
Sunday Sweets Stroll:
We both randomly picked the same shirt to wear, almost like a Korean couple.About as close as we got to Easter Mountain.One of our regular sweets recipients offered Swan the opportunity to pick some mangos off the tree.One of those alley-wide neighborhoods.Between the walls.My least favorite part of our path.Welp, those stairs ain’t gonna climb themselves.On up!Made it!A girl and a tree (the girl is the short one).All in a day’s work.Heading home.
Later in the day we made our way out to the Arizona floating bar:
A big crowd on Barretto Beach.We were the only customers on the floating bar for the duration of our visit.The view from our table.The clouds obscured our sunset view.
When our time on the floater was done, we popped into Red Bar for some libations before moving on to Jumpin’ Jacks to check out their menu.
Nice music and ambiance. But the food (a burger for Swan, nachos for me) was mediocre.
I did play a game of pool with one of the waitresses while waiting for our food order, and I won! Maybe that darts practice is paying off.
And that’s all there is to the Sunday story.
As expected, the Iran memes are exploding across the internet. I found this one worthy of sharing:
We’ll see who gets the better results.
From Facebook memories, John’s place opened in its new location four years ago:
It lasted longer than John did, but now the building has a “for rent” sign up. We miss our Sunday dinners there.
On to November 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I was reminded once again how stupid I am when it comes to matters of the heart. Jesus, what was I thinking?
Today’s YouTube video provides 10 reasons not to retire in the Philippines. Damn, NOW you tell me. But seriously, going on eight years now, and I don’t regret coming here. Most of these can be overcome by invoking the mantra I learned long ago as a tourist: Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way. That said, the noise does still bother me, and if I drove here, I would be insane from road rage by now. Still, I’d rather be here than back home in the USA.
Humor me:
The chips are down.This one made me grown.That’s what Buddy did.
And now to prepare for another Hash Monday.
The Hare prepared two options. Hmm, which one will I take?
I woke up to the first morning in March and the news about the big takeout in Iran. I’m not a big fan of regime change wars, but Iran has been a worldwide threat for decades, and sadly, the USA has enabled its terrorism. With the leadership now dismantled, it’s on the Iranian citizens to stop being victims and stand up for their freedom. The clips I saw of the people in the streets in Iran celebrating Khamenei’s death were telling. Just like the outraged American leftists protesting this bold move that may lead to a more peaceful Middle East, they have shown where they stand in opposition to freedom, peace, and human rights. We shall see what happens next.
An oldie but goodie:
Meanwhile, life goes on in my little piece of paradise, such as it is.
Decay Dance:
Swan is the Godmother of that little girl. When she was a newborn, her mother, whom we’d met while walking, asked Swan to be the Godmother ($$$). We haven’t seen the mother for a long time now, but Grandma comes out to say hello, and we dispense cookies and candy.Three of our regular recipients–always polite and thankful.Come a runnin’!Sorry you ride on Earth was so short.
In the afternoon, I practiced darts and threw halfway decent, but I wasn’t feeling the Saturday tourney at Alley Cats. Instead, we made our way out to Cheap Charlies.
The usual view, with a different twist. I saw on Facebook that BarCelona (on the roof of that yellow building) is available to rent for 40,000 per month. Welp, it’s tempting (I’d rename it The Rite Spot On The Roof), but that’s a young man’s gambit and I ain’t young no more.I had beef stew delivered from Foodies downstairs.
We decided to try somewhere we seldom visit next. Our first option was Cyclone Bar, but before we even got to the door, we could hear the crap music blaring. That was a good reminder of why we stopped going there. So we ventured further up the highway and popped into Nipsey’s Bar. We were the only customers, but the girls on stage stood up and went through the dance motions as we sat down. The music was shit, but I am more tolerant when young gals are movin’ to the beat of songs they know. And then the thought occurred to me that the music genre shouldn’t matter to a dancer. I called the waitress over and asked if I could request a song, and my request was granted. I had them play the Glenn Miller classic, “In the Mood.” That song is even older than I am. I couldn’t resist dragging Swan up from her seat and doing a little swing dancing with her. The gals on stage seemed to enjoy watching, too. After my requested song was done, the playlist reverted to some classics from the ’50s and ’60s, and I was really enjoying the vibe. And then a couple of the gals on the dance stage tried their hand at swing dancing and did a nice job of it. Naturally, they earned a tip!
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria, and they actually had some customers. I guess they are doing something right. I even got comped a beer for the first time there. A nice way to end our Saturday night.
And now, from the October 2017 LTG archives, is the post entitled “FUCK ME!” Yeah, one day into my new “love” affair, I got fucked good and hard. At least I didn’t have to wait seven years to get screwed, as I did in my previous relationship. And for those who might be interested in the epilogue, after years of no contact, on a whim, I sent Loraine an email a few weeks ago to see how she was doing. I was a little surprised she bothered to respond, but she told me she is doing well. She and Kev are still together, but he’s living in the UK and can’t yet afford to retire in the Philippines. Also, Loraine’s annulment still hasn’t been granted, so the marriage Kev promised hasn’t happened. She chose the path she considered best for her, and I wish her a happy life. Things turned out okay for me in the end.
Today’s YouTube video is the story of another man’s unhappy ending in the Philippines. As is the case in most of these sad tales, stupid choices lead to bad outcomes. Obviously, avoiding the quagmire of the Philippine “justice” system should be everyone’s primary goal, but sometimes shit happens.
And now for the happy ending:
Well, I’ll try to remember that.I guess that’s why Barbie never had babies.Sneeze on the burger and pee on his fries, that’ll teach the racist bastard.
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.
