Greetings from Bauang, La Union. I enjoyed reading some of the history of this area at the link and got a chuckle when Swan said the name sounds similar to the Tagalog word for garlic (bawang). The four-hour drive from Barretto went without incident, although the traffic was heavy at times after we exited the expressway. I’m staying at the GO Resort once again, a clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced lodging.
Unlike Barretto, there aren’t many bars around here. The one nearest our hotel, Footloose, is where we tend to go to fill some evening hours. On Friday, Footloose does an SOB-like thing: All you can drink from 4:00 until 7:00 and dinner for 650 pesos. They don’t have a dance competition, but for about thirty minutes, the waitresses and GROs go up on the stage and strut their stuff.
And then they finish their performance by doing something you NEVER see in Barretto—they strip naked and dance around the stage, showing their stuff. Personally, I prefer leaving something to the imagination, but that’s just me.
Neither the hotel nor Footloose Bar serves San Miguel Zero beer, so it was a Light night for me. There were more calories and more alcohol in each bottle. A wise man would have reduced his intake accordingly, but no one has ever mistaken me for a wise man.
For some reason, I don’t remember much after we left Footloose. Swan told me that we had come back to the hotel, and I continued drinking with Dave and Jo at the hotel bar. She said I also ordered a mango and ice cream dessert, and that really surprised me. I don’t like mangoes much, and the dessert menu includes a banana split. Of course, since I don’t even remember ingesting those calories, it doesn’t matter what I ate. Another reason it doesn’t matter is that Swan told me when we got back to the room, I threw up (not on the floor, thankfully). Yeah, it was one of those nights. I’ll be doing a hangover Hash this afternoon.
I can do better and I will.
I did a two-minute video of my walk to the hotel restaurant for my breakfast this morning:
When I got back to the room, the door was wide open. I thought it must be housekeeping, but when I looked inside, there was no one there. Thankfully, my laptop was still prominently displayed on the table. I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and then Swan watched the video above and observed that I hadn’t closed the door behind me when I left for breakfast. Damn, it sucks to be stupid.
Today’s memory is from eight years ago:
That was also the day I learned I had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I wrote about that experience in The Story of My Life here at LTG. I’m glad I lived to tell about it. Let’s see how long I can keep it going.
I really enjoyed today’s YouTube video from the Filipina Pea. She discusses some quirks about aspects of the culture and personalities of the Filipino people. And she looks good doing it!
Some stuff that may make you smile:
That’s all for now. Time to get out of the room and walk around some.
An interesting tree I saw along the way. Yes, it encroaches on the highway some, but I’m glad they didn’t chop it down.
They might here in South Korea, where tree-impingement is an obsession.
Yes, I’ve been shamed into trying some local delicacies, but not yet.
This is what happens when shame meets stubbornness and inertia! Look, short of tying you to a chair and cramming food down your throat, I can’t force you to do anything. If you like boring, stick with boring. But why live abroad if all you really want is an America-bubble all around you?
but for about thirty minutes, the waitresses and GROs go up on the stage and strut their stuff.
So who’s serving the customers while that’s happening? People just… have to wait? (Sure, in the cosmic scheme, what’s thirty minutes?)
The chicken parmigiana dinner that came with the price of admission.
The bluest meal I’ve ever seen.
If my count is accurate, I had twelve
Exactly. I think back to that “nine(?)-a-week average” post. Twelve a session!
For some reason, I don’t remember much after we left Footloose.
You don’t strike me as worried about your cognitive health, old-timer.
I can do better and I will.
Promises, promises. But hope springs eternal among the cognitively impaired. (And I bet I’ll suffer a mind-erasing stroke after writing that.)
I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and then Swan watched the video above and observed that I hadn’t closed the door behind me when I left for breakfast. Damn, it sucks to be stupid.
And you see no connection with the drinking?
Yongson Garrison
I’ve heard of Yongsan Garrison. Where is this “young son”?
Well, drinking oneself into oblivion is, I guess, an adult choice like any other. If you’re happy on the River Lethe, then I guess you’re happy. But think about those around you. Are they made equally happy by this “choice”?
I think throwing up on the floor in my place right now would be an improvement from the current state of affairs, John. A quick look around and it’s swarms of fruit flies, dead mice inside my shoes, toilet looking like the worst toilet in Scotland, both sinks piled high with months-old dirty dishes, pots of food on the stove crawling with maggots because I forgot to put the food away or chuck it out weeks ago, every inch of the kitchen counters covered in empties and food packaging, dead cockroaches littered here and there because I couldn’t be bothered disposing of them after killing them, bed sheet and pillow cover stained yellow/brown from alco-sweats and avoiding showers for 6+ weeks, and crusty cum socks strewn across the computer desk.
There’s currently some semi-dessicated shrimp on my windowsill, outside, that I set out months ago to try and bait the rat trap, but the rat just decided to fuck off instead (maybe he has a shellfish allergy).
Even worse is my sex drive. My libido has gone down the toilet. I have little interest in sex anymore. I can muster the enthusiasm for maybe the first month, with a new partner, but I think it’s just the novelty that excites me. After that my enthusiasm starts to wane and if she doesn’t initiate I can happily go months without a shag.
Add to that decades of boozing and smoking, the alco-anxiety and being a man in his 40s, the whisky dick is more of an occupational hazard now than when I was a 20-something and went home with a girl after a night out.
I’ve partially given up on the idea of settling down in a long-term relationship, after the ex, because if she’s wanting sex (and good sex at that) frequently…she’s not getting that from me.
But still, John, worse places to throw up on/in than a floor or toilet. I had a really fucking bad spew earlier. Drink immediately went down my throat the wrong way and you know when you get that horrible sensation that fluid is going into your windpipe and you start hacking and coughing and spluttering, all red-faced and wide-eyed? Well that triggered an impromptu puke from me. Had no vessels at hand to receive the vom, I wasn’t going to puke into the mostly-full cup I’d drank from, and I knew I wouldn’t make it to the bathroom, so grabbed the only thing to hand drunk-brain thought I could use – the cum sock on my computer desk. Stretched that fucker like a gaping anus and heaved into it. Surprisingly little vomit seeped out before I was able to chuck it into the shower basin. A testament, I guess, to Asics and how well-crafted their socks are.
I think drawing the line at living creatures and even people is a respectable thing to do. I for one would never throw up on my cat, Morgoth the Third .
Is Bauang popular with expats to retire to, or it is just more of a vacation spot? Looking at a map, looks like San Fernando City is a bit bigger and may have more to offer?
Brian, I haven’t been to San Fernando, but I understand it’s a good place for shopping (malls, supermarkets, etc.)
There is a large ex-pat community here in Bauang and it has a nice beach town vibe about. Before the scamdemic there were a lot more bars to enjoy, but it’s still fine as an occasional weekend hangout.
Welcome back, Thompson! I was wondering how you’ve been doing, but it sounds like everything is about the same. Maybe you should find a girlfriend just to cook and clean for you. Yeah, you’d have to bang her now and then, but it might be worth it.
When I was ready to upchuck the other night, my girl helpfully brought me the wastebasket to puke in. I’m a lucky guy!
“Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
Kev, I ordered lunch yesterday and breakfast this morning off the Filipino menu! Pictures coming soon.
The thirty-minute service gap went by unnoticed. I guess everyone was distracted.
It’s rare that I drink 12 beers in one night, but when I do I can maintain control unless I’m not drinking low-alcohol Zeros. I’d say “lesson learned” but you know me…
My cognition is definitely in decline. I just can’t remember if beer is a contributing factor. Leaving the door open was more a matter of being focused on the video. But then again, if I can’t managed two thoughts at once…
Yeah, I know how to spell Yongsan and saw the mistake. I just forgot to correct it. That cognition downhill slope is getting steep!
Swan was not happy with my over-indulgence on Friday and kept reminding me at the Hash circle last night to slow down. I’ll try and do better.