Born and raised in southern California. My career exodus has taken me to Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC. And as of 23 January 2005, Seoul, Korea. Married with 6 grown children (blended family). First grandchild is in the oven! I created this blog to document my adventures as an expat living and working in Korea. I'm also pretty confident that I will on occasion feel the need to express my views on current events and other matters I find of interest.
Back in the Tuesday groove: shopping, a walk through the hood, and a Baloy Beach outing.
I took note of the fact that I’m now spending over a hundred bucks a week on candies and cookies. Yeah, that money could be spent in a more productive charitable fashion, but we’re filling our niche, and the smiles we get in return make it feel like a worthwhile cause. So, dispensing sweetness will continue unabated for the foreseeable future.
Back home, groceries unloaded, I set about my neighborhood stroll.
An Alta Vista view.Greetings, my friend.I set foot on almost all of the streets in the ‘hood.
At the appropriate hour, we headed for the beach.
A Swan on the sand.Kids having fun in the sun.Our adult playground awaits.Our trusty raft operators tug on the rope to propel us to our destination.There was a downpour of rain across the bay in Olongapo City. It never reached us, however.The view from the other side of the floater was not threatening.Not many people out on a Tuesday afternoon.Storm clouds were replaced by a rainbow.Another happy ending to daylight.
We changed things up a bit and went to DaKudos after departing the floating bar. An acquaintance of mine, Norman, is working there and asked us to pay him a visit. So, promise kept. There was a time when DaKudos was a popular spot on Baloy. The new owner set about changing that and had a great deal of success. There used to be pool league teams, horseshoe tourneys, Zumba dancing, and Hash On-Homes there. The owner put a stop to all those. Last night, Norman was the bartender and only waiter. So, the only other customers during our visit (a large table of Filipinos) were not getting the kind of service I would expect, through no fault of Norman’s. There is only so much two hands can handle. Back when Mango’s owned DaKudos, we enjoyed the pork chop dinner, so we tried it again last night.
The chops were okay, but we like Mango’s better.
We stopped by Treasure Island after our meal, mostly because we’ve been bringing cookies and lollipops for the worker bees there, and I figured they’d be expecting to see us. I was right about that! I recognized some new faces at TI. Owner Bert recently purchased Sloppy Joe’s bar, and while it completes renovation, he brought the staff members he’s retaining to work at TI in the interim. One of the gals informed me that June 6 is D-Day (sorry, couldn’t resist), that Sloppy’s will reopen.
Swan and I shared a banana split for dessert. I didn’t remember to take a photo until dessert was severely damaged, but damn, it was irresistible!
The trike dropped me off at home around 8 p.m., and Swan continued on to visit a friend celebrating her birthday (Marissa’s twin sister). I was sound asleep by the time she returned. And that’s how the weakest day of my week, Tuesday, went down. Yeah, if that’s the worst, I’m doing pretty damn good!
There was a time when playing darts was my main passion and a big part of my life. This post from March 2009 recounts my performance in a big tournament with the Seoul International Dart League. Even though I’ve retired from the game, it was nice to look back on this aspect of the story of my life.
Facebook memories from this date in my history:
I shared this photo of my mom and dad before they were my mom and dad. That’s probably around 1950.Both passed in 2011.Eight years ago, I was in Pyeongtaek andcaptioned the photo, “This bar is as empty as my life.” That year I spent outside of Seoul was a sad one for me, and looking back, that was my own damn fault. I had one foot in Korea and the other waiting to be in the Philippines. I wish I had let myself appreciate how great my life then truly was. Oh well, maybe in the do-over I’m hoping for.
Eleven years ago, I shared a link to this post on Facebook (something I no longer do). Anyway, it’s a bird’s-eye view of some cultural aspects of life in Seoul, as seen from my apartment balcony.
Today’s YouTube video features Reekay talking about self-healing and past forgetting. Those are things that each individual must accomplish on their own. Simply leaving it all behind and moving to the PI won’t get you there. I can relate. Truth be told, my wounds didn’t (and haven’t) healed through the miracle of beautiful surroundings and kind-hearted people. That said, when I look back at what was, I see the happiness I missed by not embracing my blessings and failing to live in the moment and appreciate them. These days, I often take a step back, look around me, and think, damn, I’m a lucky SOB. The past is history, the future a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.
That Zen thing I’ve been doing:
He Who Laughs Last, Thinks Slowest.
And the humor attempts:
I choose…celibacy!The science is settled.I drink Zero! Everyday.
I went around about from my house getting to the start of yesterday’s Hash trail, and I was dripping sweat when I arrived. Along the way, I ran into the Hare, Vienna Sausage, who was heading back after finishing marking the trail. He told me the climb up to Kalaklan Ridge he’d selected wasn’t steep. I believed him, but I wasn’t feeling like making it, so I’ll give it a try another day. Instead, I elected to do a long street walk around Barretto to Johansson’s, the On-Home venue. My trail was longer (7.5K) than the Hare’s (6.5K), but much flatter.
Well, look who I found! Vienna Sausage was taking the same route to the trailhead that I chose.A view along the way.The trail began near the end of Rizal Extension. Not many folks elected to do a Vienna Sausage trail on such a hot day. Me included.Did I mention the Hare hails from Austria? (That’s a 55)The Hare’s trail goes up that way.I chose to go this way. A tad boring, but a good route for a hot day.This was painted on a wall we walked past. Deep thoughts that felt somehow relatable.Back on the official trail near the end of our trek.The trail I walked.And the one I didn’t.Circle up!The rewards that come from being last to pay the Hash fees.Hares on the ice!Gash on ice is nice!Me chatting with Always Wet, the cute Hare.The usual after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.
Back-to-back Hashes are over and done with. Not bad for an elderly man.
On my journey through the LTG archives, I was surprised that February 2009 was completely devoid of posts. I knew something must have happened, and this post from March 2009 reminded me what it was. Someone purchased my then domain (johnmccrarey.com), and it took me several weeks to straighten out that mess. And that’s how mccrarey.com was born. What a fiasco that was!
From Facebook memories, I’m reminded that three years ago, I had a date with Joy:
She was indeed much skinnier back then.But don’t blame me, these days I only feed her once a week.Eight years ago, I walked right on by this restaurant in Pyeongtaek without stopping for more than a photo.Doggone it!
Today’s YouTube video is one I found linked on another blog (sorry, I can’t remember which one now) where Queers for Palestine protesters are interviewed during a demonstration. Well, it proved to be a demonstration of their ignorance. If you have three minutes to spare, look and see for yourself.
A moment of Zen:
Remember, Half The People You Know Are Below Average.
And maybe you’ll like these:
Keep that up and you may not live to see tomorrow.Say what pops in your head, Mary.It’s no big deal.
Here dead we lie Because we did not choose To live and shame the land From which we sprung. Life, to be sure, Is nothing much to lose, But young men think it is, And we were young. –Alfred Edward Housman
Today is the day we set aside to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to our nation.My Uncle Frank (my grandmother’s brother) stayed in Europe after the war.
And here’s what I remember about the Angeles City anniversary Hash yesterday. Sign-ups went as scheduled at the designated location. Our Hash fees included a Hash shirt.
One more for the collection
We loaded into three Jeepneys and departed for the start of the Hash trail, a thirty-minute ride away. When we arrived, the Hare advised there were two trail options: Long (six kilometers with four hills) and short (four kilometers with two hills). And with that, we were off. It was a hot day, with little shade on the trail. Early on, we encountered a helicopter taking off. That was something different to see, but it was very loud. I guess they were practicing takeoffs and landings, because the chopper kept circling overhead. The noise got to be a bothersome distraction from the otherwise serene countryside. The hill climbs were short but very steep. But the coming down was insanely steep and slippery. There was no option for most of us than to take a seat on our ass and slide down. I didn’t like that one bit. Otherwise, the trail was well-marked and enjoyable. The Hash Circle was held under a highway overpass. I hadn’t had the foresight to bring along my foldable chair, but the Hare kindly lent me one, which was much appreciated. It seemed like a very long wait for the Circle to begin, and once it did, it seemed to go on for an excruciatingly long and tedious time. My mind began to wander, and for some reason, I thought of my softball playing days. Looking back at those happy times, I wondered if I had truly appreciated that special period of my life. And a light went off in my head (however dim it was), and I realized I ought to be enjoying these Hash moments while I still have them. That perked me up a bit, and the circle became more enjoyable.
And we are On-On!Gaining some elevation alongside a little-used roadway.That noisy whirlybird.How does it stay up with the blades not turning?Up we go on the first hill of the day.The view from up top.A brief interlude on flat ground.And then it was up again.Getting back down was the hardest part of the trail.Hmm, short or long. Which way should I go? I bet you guessed short, and you would be right about that.Encouraging words.A rooster farm.The bridge that is our destination.The bridge down under.The sun during the Circle.And on the ride home after the Circle.
Swan made a video with highlights from the hike and the Hash Circle.
Once the Jeepneys dropped us off, I was hungry. My favorite Angeles restaurant is Tequila Reef, but it was on the other side of town. And then I spotted a trike sitting there waiting for a passenger, so Swan and I jumped aboard.
The Tequila Reef view from our table.This was in the spice rack on our table, but I’d never seen anything like it before. Great name, though!I did a combo plate (enchilada, burrito, Spanish rice, and refried beans. Best Mexican I’ve had in the Philippines.These bars are near our hotel. We stopped in one last night on the way back from dinner.
And then it was time to call it a night. My driver arrived on time for our 8 a.m. pick-up, and we arrived home safe and sound.
The tunnel of love on the way to SBMA.
Sunday’s report card: 14,176 steps, 10.9 kilometers walked, 3515 calories burned. (I did look it up, and “the number you see on your Fitbit device is your total calories burned for the day.”
In January 2009, I posted about the fourth-year anniversary of my arrival in Korea. The transition from my American life was pretty much complete and there was no going back.
Facebook memories reminds us why the floating bars are put away BEFORE the rainy season begins. This is what happened to the Arizona floater after a freak storm few years ago.Fourteen years ago, my father passed away.That photo is from around 1960. He lived to be 83.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay poses the question of whether expat life is paradise or purgatory. My response would be “both.” I mean, I call my life here in the PI “paradise,” but sometimes it feels like a stop along the way to somewhere else. I’m hoping it’s that do-over life I’ve been dreaming of. I’ll get it right next time, promise!
Time for a smile or three:
What a burden to bear!What a nice mouth you have, dear.Seriously? Let me try it on my phone…Well, I’ll be damned, it really works!
Another day, another Hash. It’s a Vienna Sausage trail today, so I’ll need to find a workaround. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.
Or should I just say, SMH? Things didn’t go according to plan yesterday, which can be frustrating. Still, we made do with our own alternative, and in the end, that proved to be as satisfying as our original intentions. Funny how that works.
Sat 24 May at 3.00 pm: BEACH run (men only). Start at T-Backs (Thunder Girls) bar. P100.
The Angeles Hash provided the above information regarding the BEACH run and my fellow SBH3 mates, Rob and Erik, were up for it. Swan was meeting some old friends of hers here, so I was free to join in the guys-only fun. Things went awry, and I’ll take some of the blame for that. When I saw “T-Backs,” I assumed they were talking about a restaurant/bar about a kilometer from my hotel. We arrived around 2:30, so we enjoyed a beer while we waited. Twenty minutes later, when no Hashers had appeared, I knew something was up. We asked our waitress about the Hash event, and she didn’t know what we were talking about. Then she suggested it might be at a bar named TBACs on Perimeter Road. Duh, we had walked right past it on our way here. So, we grabbed a trike and headed for the other bar with a similar name. And there were no Hashers there either. WTF? Seeing our perplexed faces, the waitress asked if we were looking for someone. When we mentioned the Hash, she told us they were coming at 6:00. Damn, so this must be the last bar on the hop. Now what? I checked the Angeles Hash Facebook page, and nothing was posted about the Beach Run. To hell with it, we ordered a beer and decided to do our own bar hop and finish here when the Hash arrived.
And that’s just what we did. The bar we went to next told us the Hash was coming at 5:30. We laughed about doing the barhop in reverse. But we enjoyed seeing some new places and having them all to ourselves.
We didn’t go to this bar. I’m not sure if that was a good or a bad decision.I got a laugh at the different names for restrooms on the door to the toilet at this bar (Garfield’s Last Stand)I had a quesadilla for dinner at Margarita Station. It was quite good.My barhop buds, Erik on the left and Rob on the right.That looks like a ’53 Ford pickup in mint condition.My dad had one of those, and that’s what I learned to drive.Two of our stopsGarfield’s is the kind of place I’d frequent if I resided here, good music (even some country) at low volume, no dancers, just people hanging out.
I bailed at nine, but Rob and Erik kept going, all the way to the notorious Walking Street. It was a different experience barhopping in this part of town, and overall, I enjoyed it. We didn’t go big on buying lady drinks, but I rewarded a couple of the thirsty young ladies. I was back at the hotel before Swan. Damn, did I lose my balls somewhere along the way?
Oh, and when we ran into the Angeles Hashers later, I learned that they had started at Jollibee’s and did a 5K hike before beginning the barhop. Thanks for letting us know. (To be fair, the Hash webpage was updated, even if Facebook wasn’t. I just didn’t know about the web address. Now I do.)
In January 2009, I wrote about the dynamic changes in Itaewon I had witnessed over the preceding four years. That only escalated after the Army Garrison at Yongsan moved down south to Pyeongtaek.
Today’s YouTube video deems Angeles foreigners to be “lowlifes.” Not everyone here is a whore monger, and even those that adopted that lifestyle have their reasons. Why judge? I preferred Barretto’s more laid-back lifestyle, but I understand why some like Angeles better. To each his own.
A moment for ZEN
Honk If You Love Peace And Quiet.
And some funny business:
So does “whatchamacallit“Everyone loves his sister, Sara, too!I’m melting!
Time for me to prepare for an Angeles-style Hash. I know where it starts, we’ll see how it ends.
Well, by my low standards, yesterday’s 10K group hike was practically a marathon. And did I mention it was hot? I had suggested two options for the group: a hike up Kalaklan or a flat valley walk. When two Jeepneys passed by completely full, I changed my vote to the valley, and off we went. En route, I opted to forego the typical circumnavigation of the valley and instead took a seldom-used trail that led to a Govic Highway rendezvous. It was a nice hike, but wound up being longer than I remembered. Oh well, it is all part of the adventure.
My Friday hike mates.Hearts afire. They must be lovin’ the trail.We passed through a seldom-visited village.Down in the dumps.Through the valley.Crossing Bridge #4.The river is as dry as it gets, but come next month, it will be raging.Taking the road less travelled through a banana tree forest.I only pass this way a couple of times a year, but the kids remember and come running for cookies.How now carabao?All in a day’s walk.
The other “big” event in my day was attending the SOB dance competition at Wet Spot. A couple of good performances, with Wet Spot taking home top honors. It was good to see Daddy Dave in attendance again.
Two of the groups had a candle dancer as part of their performance. Hot wax on my tongue would not be fun!
As usual, I drank my money’s worth (750 entrance fee, free drinks from 6-8 p.m.) and I’d had my fill by the end of the show. A trike ride home, some dessert, and then off to bed.
A couple of memes I saw took me back to those crazy times in the 1970s:
I wore my hair long, but didn’t adhere to the “hippie” mentality.I was definitely highly educated. I recall an English exam in high school that required writing an essay. I wrote about trying to write an essay after smoking a joint before class.
Of course, we are still living in crazy times, I just don’t have any drugs to ease the pain these days.
At least I was one of those “conspiracy theorists” who saw through the scam.The science is settled!
Welp, I made it to January 2009 in the LTG archives, and it seems I’m posting with more regularity. The posts are taking on that “day in life” quality that I rely on now. Here’s a blissful recounting of my ignorance one day.
A sad memory from nine years ago–the passing of one of the most unique individuals I’ve encountered in this life, and I was blessed to call a friend, Bridget Werner.
We met through darts, but we developed a mutual friendship that extended to other aspects of our lives. Herhusband, Chris, was in the military and stationed at Yongsan. When his tour finished, he moved on to the base in Columbia, SC, where I spent half my time, and we continued to share adventures.Here we are on a weekend getaway to the west coast of Korea. Sadly, Bridget’s son died a couple of years after she did.
I was surprised to come across a YouTube video featuring someone I actually know–Matt, the owner of the Mope Resort in San Narciso, where I frequently stay. Last year, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the loss of a leg. We had a chance to sit and chat during a recent visit to Mope. I was so impressed with his positive outlook and attitude. An avid surfer (that’s why he opened his beach resort), he was looking forward to getting his artificial limb and riding the waves again. Indeed, you can’t keep a good man down. We’ll be back to see you soon, Matt!
Today’s Zen moment:
I Feel Like I’m Diagonally Parked In A Parallel Universe.
And the humor:
Yeah, I don’t want to kick the bucket, but fuck it, you gotta live your best life.A match made in heaven for sure!Isn’t that sweet?
And with that, I’m done. Time to finish preparing for my weekend in Angeles City. I’ll be participating in some events associated with the AC Hash anniversary, including tomorrow’s trail. I will head back to Barretto on Monday morning, and hopefully, I will arrive in time for our Hash trail. I’ll make sure to update you tomorrow.
Either there is beer in heaven, or I’m going to hell!
Nothing special about yesterday, but that won’t stop me from telling you about it anyway. I will endeavor to keep it as brief and painless as possible.
Swan and I are going to Angeles City for the weekend (leaving in the morning), so we decided to do the Saturday Sweet Stroll on Thursday. Y’all have been on that walk with me (vicariously through photos) several times, so I won’t bore you with multiple pics again.
It basically looked like this throughout our journey.There were trees to enjoy along the way as well.This was something we hadn’t seen before. Apparently, in this neighborhood, there is no piped-in water available. So, once a week, the residents put out their barrels and containers for the barangay water truck to fill. Talk about a Thirstday!
After sweetening the lives of the children we encountered, it was our turn for some fun. When beer o’clock arrived, we headed into town. Swan wanted to get a haircut, so I waited for her patiently at Red Bar.
Watching the cars go by from my patio seat at Red Bar.
Swan joined me an hour or so later and had her usual glass of red wine (she drinks slowly; I do about three beers per glass of wine).
When it was time for some dinner, we crossed the highway and strolled to Jewel Cafe.
Our view as we walked the highway to Jewel.
Another glass of wine for Swan, and I’m too much of a gentleman to let her drink alone. Dinner was served while we drank.
This tiny filet mignon hit the spot for me.
After our meal, we moved on to It Doesn’t Matter. You guessed it, Swan had a wine, and that meant I was forced to drink yet more beer. And that’s not all; we went to Cloud 69 for our nightcap and did it again. When we arrived home, Swan declared herself “tipsy” and went to bed. I was fine, so I played some on the internet before joining her slumber there.
After my hospitalization in October 2008 (I shared that post yesterday), my almost total lack of blogging continued for over two months. I was indeed a Long Time Gone. I finally returned with a post on December 23, 2008, appropriately titled, “It’s been a long time comin’,” where I talked vaguely about what had been going on in my life, and once again promised to post on a more regular basis in the future. I’m still unsure why I took such a lengthy break from the blog. I got promoted to the GS-15 Director of Human Resources job, which created some stress in my life. My marriage to wife #3 had ended, as had my relationship with the Korean woman I’d been dating (she moved to the USA to attend graduate school). I’m also pretty sure this was the time frame during which I met Jee Yeun, who was destined to become my final wife. Back in those days, I was not as inclined as I am now to write about the drama in my personal life, and that seems to have been all I had going on.
You may have missed a recent comment from James, a long-time reader here. He notes that my blog content is not as enticing as it was in the days before I began my relationship with Swan. Yep, much less drama and sexcapades. Here’s what James had to say:
Long time reader, haven’t visited in a while. Glad to see that you’re keeping up with your correspondence, as it were.
As you may recall, I was one of the readers who showed no enthusiasm when you settled down with your lady. And I come here to celebrate your success 🙌 But of course it’s no coincidence that your readership may have dropped, or at least changed demographics. Now that you’re a man settled down, there’s less drama and conflict to write about, fewer bar visits and new random characters introduced, and there’s only so much information you can convey to a potential tourist when you’re living the sedate married life.
I say all this because I am still shocked at what Browser wrote all those years ago. Last year I think you attracted some political commentary that animated the blog for a while. But to imagine there was once a time when you were berated for not writing on your own blog; I am shocked. What was he even thinking 🤔 Writing daily is hard And yet you keep writing ✍️ My gratitude and admiration will never cease. You inspire me to pick up a pen and write, starting with just my grocery list. There’s something soothinng and invigorating about writing down one’s thoughts daily.
and for those who miss the drama, let me say that Joy – she of the feeding scheme- has gotten fat. We’ve all gotten fat, but I don’t have a mirror and I have a side-by-side photos of Joy’s face. Boom! There’s some drama for you addicts
Again, thank you for the daily writing ✍️
James
Today’s YouTube video is short and sweet about the five things a first-time visitor observed about the Philippines. It was nice to look back and remember my first trips here, where I pretty much saw the same things this vlogger talks about. For me, the first thing I noticed that was shocking was the poverty that so many here endure, which made all the positive traits noted in this video all the more impressive. Filipinos are a special breed.
Today’s Zen wisdom:
Light Travels Faster Than Sound, Which Is Why Some People Appear Bright Until You Hear Them Speak.
And now for the funny stuff:
Where is this place?They are off to a good start!I used to be into Scrabble big time. And Monopoly and Risk.
My last night in town will be spent at the SOB. I’ll try to dash off a post in the morning before we hit the road to Angeles City.
Nothing changes much with me, for better or worse. Since I ain’t complaining, I’ll just take each day as it comes, filling up those hours, however comfortably and well. For example, this was my yesterday:
Kicked things off with the Wednesday Walkers group hike, a pleasant 6K jaunt through the hills above Barretto. We finished up at The Rite Spot for some food and cold beverages.
This week’s group.Getting downAnd heading up.A Barretto-eye view.A brief respiteA new framing of Easter MountainThe Subic side of things.More Barretto.Beth is harvesting some mangoes at Onelia’s place (with her permission, of course).Hilltop dwellers need sweets too!The grass is high but we’re holding on…This tree looks thirsty…Valley view.Down we go.Some of our Sunday kids in San Isidro saw us coming.Back in my neighborhood.Up on the roof after our hike.Lunch Filipino style.We went thataway.
Swan wanted a “me night” to visit some friends, so I had Barretto to myself. I kicked things off at Annex Bar and saw a couple of folks I know there to chat with for a bit. Then I did the Cheap Charlies thing, and to prove that I’m not a cheap Charlie despite my refusal to buy overpriced lady drinks, I ordered some food for the girls and wings for me.
The food came from the downstairs restaurant, Foodies. Usually good, but I was disappointed in last night’s effort.From my seat, I could look at one of the hills I climbed earlier in the day.The blue arrow points to Cheap Charlies. Everything is a matter of perspective.Time was passing…And so was the sun.
I went to the Green Room after sundown, then finished my evening at Wet Spot.
I only drink on days that end in “y”.
Things can always be worse, as this post from October 2008 reminded me. My first overnight stay in a hospital since my birth was a decidedly unpleasant experience. You can read all about it here.
As I review my Facebook memories daily, I can’t help but notice the Groundhog Day quality of my life.
For example, three years ago I was also at Cheap Charlies.Nine years ago, I was lovin’ my life in Seoul. I may not have appreciated it as much as I should have, though.If I recall correctly, these guys on the bench were intended to prevent people from committing suicide by jumping off the bridge. It worked for me!A view worth living for. I Seoul U!
Coincidentally, I came across this YouTube video that says Korea is the saddest nation in the world. I had my moments of depression when I lived there, but that was on me, not the country. If things had gone according to plan, I’d still be living there half the time.
Time for a moment of Zen:
42.7% Of All Statistics Are Made Up On The Spot.
And the humor:
That adds up…She’s definitely not flat…She’ll get a charge out of this one!
…to post about the nothingness of yesterday before getting on with today’s meaninglessness. Don’t worry, I’ll make it as short and painless as possible. Promise!
Grocery shopping in the morning went without incident. I decided to walk the highway home, and I survived. Here are some photos of what I saw along the way:
Leaving the Royal Duty Free supermarket and beginning my trek.Leaving SBMA (the old Navy base).On the mostly shoulderless National Highway. And where there is a shoulder, the motorbikes use it as a passing lane.Apparently, someone was newly inserted at the public cemetery.A bay view along the way.The new road down to the Bantay Bayan village is now open.Back in Barrio Barretto.I decided to pop into Sit-n-Bull and grab a roast beef dip sandwich to bring home with me.I found it mildly amusing that my hike from Royal to Sit-n-Bull was exactly five kilometers.The way I rolled.
Tuesday afternoon is our Baloy Beach time.
Toes in the sand puts a smile on her face.That’s Kokomo’s owner Steve with his back to me. There was one big group when I arrived, apparently celebrating their final day in the Philippines. Lots of lady drinks, and when they left, they took half the girls with them. Good times!The gals aren’t the view I came for.Good enough.As is our custom, we finished our evening out at Treasure Island. I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich, but I just stacked my side of slaw on top and ate the meat without the bun.
So, the highlights of the Baloy excursion were chatting with Kokomo’s owner, Steve, and later, Treasure Island’s owner, Bret. Bret shared photos of the work taking place at Sloppy Joe’s, and I’m looking forward to visiting when it reopens.
That brings you up-to-date on my so-called life.
I don’t know what was going on with me in the summer of 2008. I had two one-line posts in July, one photo posted in August, and only one post in September, aptly titled “This post’s for you!” I wrote that one from Washington, DC, where I was attending work-related meetings. I mention having just returned from a twelve-day trip in the Philippines, where I had been sick half the time (that used to happen to me a lot as a tourist, I think I eventually learned not to brush my teeth with the tap water). So, I promised to post more regularly, but nothing else was posted in October. Reading the comments from my disappointed (former readers) was both sad and amusing. But this one is worthy of quoting in full here:
or not check back would seem to be the appropriate choice, I’m thinkin at this point….!?!
u would appear, at bottom, to be just another narcissistic dude with a fairly serious drinking problem, seems pretty sure. to actually suggest that ur too busy to check in for an occasional post is both ridiculous and absurd – surely you’ve set aside spare time daily to find a bottle or five to suck on, good money bet on that. makes one wonder what your whole purpose was with this blog thing…..? and just maybe is a clue to your ability to finish or otherwise stick to things you’ve started in life…… and before you knee-jerk some response, you should maybe just check six and think about it…… most of your stuff is just innane foolishness anyway…… an idle curiosity at best.
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I wonder what he would say now that I blog every day? Somehow, methinks he still wouldn’t appreciate it.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay expounds on what it takes to have a great expat experience. I certainly wouldn’t want to try living on $1200 a month here, but I’d probably be okay with $2500. I’m blessed to bring home twice that much, so I live large and try to share the blessings with those less fortunate around me.
Today’s moment of Zen:
I Just Got Lost In Thought. It Wasn’t Familiar Territory.
And humor me these:
Well, to be frank, he’s probably doggin’ it…A Tolkien of my appreciation. Try filling her cavity more often and see if that helps.
Both bad and good. While marking yesterday’s Hash trail, one of the Hares, Stewed Rat (Rob), experienced numbness in his left arm, lost his ability to speak, and then could not stand. He was fortunate to be near the bottom of the hill and close enough to civilization that the locals could assist in bringing him down to the road, where he was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Barretto. He was diagnosed with having had a transient ischemic attack, commonly referred to as a ministroke. Rob’s symptoms disappeared after an hour or so, and he felt strong enough to attend the Hash Circle. Man, that’s some scary shit. It was just a couple of weeks ago that Pubic Head (Scott) had a similar experience, albeit more severe. This morning, Althouse linked to an article in the NY Times detailing the consequences a ministroke can bring. Bottom line, it is a warning sign that frequently leads to more severe stroke symptoms if not treated promptly. Rob is a relatively young guy (appears to be in his 40s) and still works on a ship, so this condition affects more than just us elderly types.
It was another hot day, and I was on the fence about whether or not to make the big climb up Kalaklan at the beginning of the hike. After hearing about Stewed Rat, I said fuck that and did my own shortcut, coincidentally picking up the trail at Barretto High School again and doing the more gentle end climb before finishing on Baloy Beach. My trail, including the walk from my house to the start, was still a worthy 8K, so I feel good about the effort.
Hashers gather at the start.And off we go!After our shortcutting street walk to avoid the big climb, we rendezvous with the Hash trail for the remainder of our journey to Kim’s Place on Baloy Beach.One of the first of the long trail takers to pass us slow pokes…Under and over the barbed wire fence.A tree that caught my eye.You can go see it for yourself, if you please.On the way!Kim’s back door…Hash GashHash GuysCircle up!It’s nice on ice!Stewed Rat and Anal Receptive rewarded for their Hash Crashes…Making a cake for the May birthdays.And the sun sets on another Hash Monday. The Hash trail as intended by the Hares.The Hash trail I walked was of equal length, but flatter.A nice after-Hash gathering at IDM.Nice hanging out with Pubic Head again.
That’s the way Run #1654 went down. I’m happy to report there were no fatalities.
I’ve got friends in low places:
From the archives, the first post from June of 2008 here at LTG was a snapshot of a day in the life back then. Yes, that means mostly darts and drinking.
Fourteen years ago, I was settling into my suburban American life in Columbia, South Carolina:
I paid cash for this HUD repo house, did some extensive remodeling, and figured I was set for life. I wasn’t.That back deck was one of the improvements I added.My cozy living roomAnd my darts setup.
Damn, it still hurts to have lost it all.
Today’s YouTube video is from The Filipina Pea as she compares an American Jollibee’s with the ones back home in the PI. I’m not a big fan of Jollibee’s, but as fast food goes, it ain’t bad. This video reminded me of the first time I had a KFC experience in Korea. All I could figure was the Colonel’s recipe didn’t translate well.
Today’s moment of Zen:
On The Other Hand, You Have Different Fingers.
And now for some better humor:
That’s why I take Swan with me…I don’t get it.Their, there, they’re…just relax.
Livin’ it while I got it. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
And feelin’ groovy. I guess that term is far out these days, but it is still out of sight to recall all those cool things we said back in the glory days. Here’s how the day went in my golden years:
It being Sunday, we kicked off the morning with our regularly scheduled Candy Walk. Mostly the same old, same old, so I ain’t gonna bore you with photos of things you’ve seen before. One difference yesterday was that next door neighbors, Martin and Joss, joined us and seemed to enjoy the experience. They are devoted walkers, so I felt ashamed to finish the walk where we usually do at the 5K mark. Instead, we continued on all the way back to Alta Vista.
Martin and Joss bringing up the rear.The largest group of candy recipients of the day.
This week I videoed Section 10 of the walk. Five minutes of sweetness for you to enjoy.
Our extended route was 6.5 kilometers.
Next on the Sunday agenda is the Hideaway feeding.
And that went the way it always does. Filling the void.
Then I moved onto the beach.
Simple pleasures.I was the only customer on the floating bar.Until this young lady joined me.The view from our table.One of those paragliders taking off.Nope, never tried it, never want to.
As usual, I connected to the Bluetooth music box and enjoyed songs from one of my Spotify playlists. Until the battery on the box gave out, and no one could find the charger cord. I didn’t get pissed or anything, but it seemed like none of the staff gave a shit, they were too busy playing cards. We decided to forego the sunset and left early for some dinner at John’s place.
I was feeling in a Mexican mood, so I ordered the enchiladas.
John’s are spicier than the ones I get at Treasure Island, but still good in a different tasting way.Swan once again satisfied her birria taco addiction.
We were enjoying our visit to Red Bar and the friendly service so much that we elected not to move on to a different nightcap venue. And then the power went out for some reason. We were sitting in the outside area so it didn’t really matter, except for losing the breeze from the fans. We finished our drinks, paid the tab, and headed for home.
It’s good to be alive.
For some reason, I wasn’t feeling so upbeat on the last day of May in 2008. It may have been that three years of the Itaewon lifestyle were getting to me. I don’t mention it in that post, but I expect I may have been having some love life issues as well. Of course, the worst was yet to come!
Today’s YouTube vlogger tackles the question of why we call ourselves “expats” instead of immigrants. I think the answer is pretty straightforward: if we are not here seeking a path to citizenship, we are just expatriates living life away from our homeland. I would never relinquish my American birthright, even though I have no intention ever to return there to live.
Today’s moment of Zen:
A Day Without Sunshine is Like, Night.
Damn, two lame ones in a row. Why am I doing this? (Don’t blame me for the grammatical errors in these, I stole them from somewhere and I’m just quoting what I found.)
Maybe bad Zen jokes will make these seem funnier:
You are what you eat.Words have meaning, be careful what you say!Hasta la vista! Now, Ferme ta bouche.
Alright, I’m done. Hash Monday has arrived, and I have no clue what today’s trail will bring. Given that we are starting at the far end of Barretto and finishing on Baloy Beach, I’m expecting a climb to the ridgeline is in my near future. We’ll see how I feel about it when I get there.
Well, technically, it wasn’t a park; it was the JJB Aquafarm Resort. But it had a park-like vibe about it. I don’t recall ever spending the day at a place like this, so it had the advantage of being something different. Hell, I even did some swimming in the pool, something I hadn’t done in many years. My back floating needs a little practice, but the sidestroke still works. And I didn’t drown, so there’s that.
We rode with neighbor Martin and departed a little after eight a.m. It made for a LONG day. We had our own covered area to enjoy the ambiance of the facilities. As the day progressed, the resort filled up with Filipinos having family gatherings. Our group had the only foreigners around, and I noticed some of the other guests staring in surprise at our presence, but not in an unfriendly way. We were there at the invitation of my other neighbors, Jeff and Davina, as they celebrated their son’s birthday. It was an all-day event, and when my normal naptime rolled around, I was feeling the need. Of course, that wasn’t an option, so I toughed it out until we finally departed at four p.m. I didn’t open my first beer until eleven and paced myself to ensure I wouldn’t overindulge. It was good hanging out with friends in a different environment, although once in a while is plenty for me.
I contributed two batches of brownies for the event. They were both gone by the end, so I’ll take that as a positive review.Ample wine (which required a corkage fee) and snacks. Jeff makes an amazing cheese dip that is great with the Fritos.We enjoyed all kinds of grilled meats, including burgers, dogs, chicken, and pork.In case you want to visit, here’s the location. As I suspected, it was only a couple of kilometers away from the area I had hiked on Friday.Martin is enjoying the near solitude of being an early arrival.Swan brought her niece along(on the left) so Davina’s daughter would have a friend to hang with.Neighbors Jeff, Martin, and Joss are enjoying their pool time.The kiddie pool.I was relieved to read that driving in the pool is not allowed.Some of the gals engaged in a bit of card playing.The guy’s table.The kids engaged in some sports. It appears the gal forgot where the CR was. (Joking, I’m sure she just got out of the pool. Our area came with its own toilet and shower area)The birthday boy, Jake.The tired old man. (I’m posing, but it was tempting.)Celebrate good times, come on!
We got home just before five p.m. and I was feeling bushed. I decided it was too late for a nap and too early for bed, so I headed up to The Rite Spot to chill for a while.
The late afternoon sky.And this sweet girl to keep me company.And watching the sun go down for entertainment. I was also playing some classic rock songs on the music box.A nice ending to the day.
Back downstairs, I fired up the TV and tried to watch some Netflix, but realized my diminished attention span is exacerbated by fatigue. So, I gave up, played around on the laptop some, then said, “fuck it” and went to bed.
Damn, asleep at 7:30 on a Saturday night. What have I become?
But I woke up alive, so there’s that. Oh, and here’s a video that Swan took of me crossing that log bridge on Friday. Seventeen seconds of me defying death!
When I read some of the insanity my lefty friends post on Facebook, all I can do is shake my head and say, WTF? And now I need to get my autocorrect to spell it out:
What he said.
I liked this too:
Trump promised more things would be erected in the good ol’ USA…
As my trek through the LTG archives reminds me, May 2008 had me in stitches. Yep, another blackout incident, another fall to the floor, and a cut on the head. But this time, I also somehow sliced the skin from my pinky finger. Looking back, these incidents were preceded by my standing up, coughing, and then passing out. Although they both occurred in bars, overindulgence wasn’t the cause (happened early evening in the days when I was an all-nighter) so I expect these were the early signs of the damage my smoking was doing to my lungs (I was a a two pack a day guy back then). Yeah, I’m lucky to be alive, thank god for those Irish genes. Anyway, here’s the post about the incident, and here’s the one about visiting the doctor the following day, and finally, the post about my skin graft surgery.
Today’s YouTube video is from an Angeles City vlogger’s visit to Barretto. No substance, just some scenes from around my little town. Well, he did get hit by a car on the National Highway, but that goes with the territory.
Starting today, before the humor, we will pause for a moment of Zen. Today’s entry:
Save The Whales. Collect The Whole Set.
(Sorry about that. Another one of my old posts had fifty of these. Some are better than others, but you’ve been warned.)
This one is funny to me because it brings back a memory from my youthful days of indulgence. It was spring break; I was a teenager camping with some pals on the Colorado River on the Nevada side of the Stateline (I lived in California). So, someone came by selling paper acid (a droplet of LSD on a small piece of paper). I didn’t want to get too high, so my buddy and I agreed to split one dose. I guess we tore it wrong, because I got the whole thing. Damn, I had one of those wild trips with voices and freaky sounds in my head. And then a storm blew through (a real one), and as if I weren’t freaked out enough, my tent collapsed on top of me. I managed to crawl halfway out, then went to sleep. The next thing I remember was that it was morning, and a couple of strangers were walking by. One of them paused, looked down at me lying there, and declared matter-of-factly, “Another acid tent.” The crazy shit I remember.The brownies I served at yesterday’s gathering were clean, I swear!I’m so old I remember playing vinyl albums on record players…
And that’s the story of how it all went down yesterday. Now it is time to get on with today’s edition of this life I’m living.
A quick post this morning before we roll out of town with the neighbors for a birthday gathering at a resort in Castillejos I’ve never been to before. Sounds almost adventurous, don’t it? I guess I’m fixin’ to find out!
Another good Friday in the life yesterday, starting with a group hike to the Subic Hills area. I suggested we venture out that way, mostly because it had been a long time since my last visit, and I knew it would feel almost new again. Familiar enough where we didn’t get lost, but we all enjoyed being on ground we hadn’t trod in a while. Our journey coincidentally ended in Castillejos, and it will be interesting to see if today’s destination is near where we were.
My fellow travelers in search of adventure.Moving out through the Subic Hills subdivision.Off the road and onto the beaten path.The view from here.I don’t recall if this now-abandoned shack was occupied the last time we came this way.I remember this outdoor toilet, though.The wide-open spaces.We “logged” another rickety bridge crossing. A fall from here would have been painful, but we all made it.
Here is a video of the others crossing.
Working the land on a hot day.No need for a bridge here.Today’s tree.You can go see it yourself if you are so inclined.Our journey was just shy of of 7K.A nice air-conditioned bus ride back to Barretto.That’s the way we roll!
When beer o’clock rolled around, we began our journey at the seldom-visited dart venue, Alley Hideout. Got to chat with some of my old darting pals before the Friday tourney began. Then we crossed the highway and enjoyed beverages and beach views at the Outback Resort.
Like this one.Looks good from this direction, too.
Some shots of Barretto Beach:
Next up was dinner at Mango’s.
The view from our table.The view of our table.
We had our usual grilled pork chops platter. Sorry, I was a little late with the camera.
They were good, though.
We did our nightcap at Cloud 69. We were the only customers, but we enjoyed the laid-back vibe and good music.
With no one to dance for, the girls didn’t even try.
That’s why I tip the Alaska dancers when I visit, they are always up on stage and at least making an effort to appear to be dancing. These gals didn’t earn anything from me this time.
Anyway, that’s how another day in the life came to an end. Now to get on with this day. But before I go:
This cryptic post from May 2008 entitled “Disconnected” made me wonder what the hell was going on in my life back then. It also got me thinking about how disconnected my current life seems to be. And then, as now, if friends and family choose to turn their backs and walk away, so be it.
In an odd twist, these Facebook memories serve to show that anything worth doing is worth doing again.
It turns out that it was two years ago when I did the Subic Hills hike I so fondly remembered yesterday.Three years ago, I also enjoyed a meal at Mango’s. What are the odds?Fourteen years ago, I was living the Itaewon life. Friends come and go, and you find a new life elsewhere. I’ll always be glad (and sometimes sad) for the memories.
For today’s YouTube video, we check in with Reekay as he discusses the phenomenon of mothers without children, which is so prevalent in the Philippines. I probably missed out on some good women because I didn’t want to raise someone else’s kids. Childless Swan proved to be worth waiting for.
Humor time:
Yeah, and the steaks are high.That was a close shave!I’ll take a stab at getting his point.
I asked Swan if she wanted to do a hike yesterday. She responded affirmatively, so I asked, where do you want to go? “Kalaklan Ridge. I miss those views.” Damn, so I plotted which way to the top. The easiest was a Jeepney ride out of town and going up to the ridge from Lower Kalaklan. But then I changed my mind and decided to go up from Abra Street in Barretto: a little harder climb, but a shorter walk to the viewpoint from there. And we were off.
Made our way up through this neighborhood off Abra Street.I’m glad I don’t have to walk home here after a night in the bars.Swan getting back to her roots.Did I mention it was a steep climb in places?Was feeling pretty good about my ability to make the climb despite its difficulty. Then this young lad zips past carrying a load of water on his shoulder.Arriving at Rolly’s place at about the halfway point in the climb. Most often, I come down this way. Yesterday was a good reminder of why I almost never come UP here.The kids remembered me and were rewarded with cookies and lollipops.Ridgeline achieved, and this view of the former Navy base was our reward.And there lies my home town of Barretto.The final steps to our objective…the viewpoint.Happy now? I fantasize about having a house in this spot and enjoying this view for the rest of my life.
Take a minute and look around, I’ll wait.
The bay from here.And there be Easter Mountain.This horny goat kept wanting to nudge my crotch.We passed this guy high up in a mango tree collecting fruit.Living the ridgeline life.Feeling a little horse…The path we took back down.Oh beautiful for spacious skies…
Even though I only pass this way three or four times a year, it seems my regulars are always waiting for me. This place is called “Cookie Stop” on our Hash maps.The final down was a little tricky in places.Grow some, Santa!Hard and short. (that’s what she said!)
Our Thursday on the town began with some liquid refreshment at BarCelona.
A BarCelona view.And looking out from my BarCelona perch at the Kalaklan Ridge, I could barely make out the viewpoint we had visited earlier in the day. Here it is on full zoom.
We moved on to dinner at Sit-n-Bull next and ran into our neighbors, Martin and Joss, so we all dined together. We’ll join them, along with my other neighbors, for an outing to a resort in Castillejos tomorrow.
We finished our evening at The Green Room, and I was pleased to see Daddy Dave back in town. I told him he must be the luckiest SOB around. He agreed and said, also, the unluckiest. Welp, I hope I’m going as strong as he is in my 80s.
In other news, I am again wearing a Fitbit after a more than two-week hiatus. As usual, Lazada keeps things challenging. I got a refund for the false delivery (microphones instead of the smartwatch I ordered), so I ordered a Fitbit from a different supplier. It never got delivered, and Lazada emailed saying the order was cancelled. I then ordered another Fitbit through a third supplier. Yesterday, it arrived.
And lo and behold, the delivery included the one that had been “cancelled.” The driver told me I could refuse one, but I decided to keep both and have a backup on hand. At least I won’t have to order one again anytime soon.
In April 2008, I wrote about my first-ever visit to the Philippines the month before. Yeah, I was very sporadic with my posts back then, none of this everyday bullshit my readers have to endure these days. Sadly, almost none of the photos I posted survived the transition to my current server/domain. Well, nothing I can do about that. At least, not that I know of.
Eleven years ago, I was a drunken darts master. Or so it would seem based on most of my posts in the LTG archives. Darts and out drinking until dawn. Damn, how did I do it? And look at what I wimp I turned out to be now…
Today’s YouTube video from Smart Girl Philippines tells about the nine types of men she will not sleep with. Alas, I didn’t make the cut. Watch and see if you are her type.
And here we go again:
Wet and wild, what are you waiting for, Riker?Yeah, that sucks…Socket to me!
There you have it, another day, another post. I guess this is my penance (or your punishment) for all those times I’d go days or weeks without posting back in my glory days.
A nice outing with the Wednesday Walkers, although there was a misunderstanding along the way. I understood the group was going to do the Black Rock climb, and I agreed to join in. The rest of the group thought I was going to do my usual walk around and meet them at the bottom. So, when Swan and I reached the top of Black Rock, no one was there. It turns out the others decided not to do the climb and took an alternative trail. Since they thought I wasn’t coming, they didn’t bother to let me know. Anyway, it all worked out. Once we got back down, the rest of the group was waiting there for us.
These four plus me.On the road againViewing the bayBay viewThrough the narrow passageBefore the wrong turnSummit achieved. That’s Alta Vista on the hill to the left.I asked Swan to take one more step so I could get a clear shot, but she declined to do so.We will be heading down to Calapacuan.
Here’s a one-minute video clip of the view from on high.
Getting down from Black Rock is more challenging than the climb up.The rock gives good traction, at least when dry.I got this.The Black Rock ridge we saved for another day.Something about that car bugs me.7K with a climb ain’t bad for an old fat fart…
Swan wanted to spend the evening with some friends, so I was on my own with only Zero to keep me company. Well, I was surrounded by bar girls, but these days I am always on my best behavior.
IDM has a flock of cuties, that’s for sure. I would if I could, but I can’t, so I won’t.
I bought the It Doesn’t Matter crew some chicken fingers to share, and handed out cookies and lollipops for dessert. The only lady drink was for my server. Next stop was Alaska Club to expend my “buy one, get one” coupon. I bought an order of Shanghai Lumpia from Sit-n-Bull to go with the cookies and suckers. As usual, the dancers (eight of them last night) got a 50 peso tip from the “big spending” expat. It ain’t much, but every little bit helps and seems to be appreciated.
I decided to make the seldom-visited Whiskey Girl the final stop of my night on the town. The primary motivation was another SOB coupon: “buy a lady drink, get TWO local drinks.” My waitress friend Kim was to be the recipient of the lady drink, but she returned and told me the bartender said it had to be a double lady drink. Bullshit, it doesn’t say that on the coupon. So, I called the manager over, showed him the coupon, and he agreed that a double was not required. An angry outburst was avoided, Kim got her SINGLE lady drink (although I did buy her another before leaving), and I received my two free beers. I messaged Swan to let her know where I was and told her to stop in on her way home if she wanted. She did, and my lonely night ended on a happy note.
Having a “me night” now and then is okay. It reminds me of the emptiness of my previous single life and thus makes me appreciate what I have now all the more. Good motivation to not fuck things up again as I near the end stage of my life. It’s kind of sweet having all the bar girls asking what happened to Swan. I guess that’s confirmation that I am truly out of the game.
Okay, Brian, this one is for you:
We are better off with Trump in charge than without him. But let’s see what happens in a year.
At least we are done with lyin’ Biden.
Goodbye and good riddance to the puppet. I hope some day the puppet master is revealed.
In March 2008, I wrote a post in honor of my son’s 30th birthday. I offered the fatherly advice to not be like me and learn from my mistakes. He has ghosted me now, so maybe that works best for him. It hurts, but people do what they will.
From Facebook memories:
Seven years ago, I moved into a one-bedroom apartment off Baloy Beach on a month-to-month basis while I looked for somewhere to stay permanently. I was out in less than two months.Fourteen years ago, I learned the finger-block maneuver, a requirement when playing competitive darts in Itaewon.
And I was still posting bad jokes on Facebook, like this one:
A husband and wife were celebrating their 50th anniversary.
That night the wife approached her husband wearing the exact same sexy negligee she had worn on their wedding night.
She looked at her husband and said, “Honey, do you remember this?”
He looked up at her and said, “Yes dear, I do. You wore that same negligee the night we were married.”
She said, “That’s right. Do you remember what you said to me that night?”
He nodded and said, “Yes dear, I still remember.”
“Well, what was it?” she asked.
He responded, “As I remember, I said, ‘Oh baby, I’m going to suck the life out of those big boobs and screw your brains out.’ “
She giggled and said, “Yes honey, that’s exactly what you said. So, now it’s 50 years later, and I’m in the same negligee I wore that night. What do you have to say tonight?”
Again he looked up at her, and he replied, “Mission accomplished.”
Today’s YouTube video is an update on the insane vlogger Vitaly. Apparently, he is not doing well in a Filipino jail. That’s not surprising. But his jailers are not allowing outside food to be delivered to him, which is probably the only way I’d be able to survive confinement in that hellhole. It seems there is so much hatred for him that the jail fears the food donated for him might be poisoned. He’s fucked, that’s for sure.
Humor time:
I hope you didn’t write about showering with your daughter.It wasn’t me!That’s tit for tat
And that’s it for that, this time. Thanks for coming by.
Shopping day started at the YBC supermarket in Olongapo City.
7000 pesos worth of candy and cookies to dispense this week. And a supply of Diet Coke. I prefer Coke Zero, but “Sorry, sir. Out of stock.“
Got the rest of the weekly goods at Royal, then headed home without a flat tire this week.
My 5K neighborhood stroll (turned right).
When it was time to head for the beach, there was an ominous rumbling coming from the sky. That did not deter us from our quest.
The sand before the storm.Are you threatening me?It wasn’t a threat, it was a promise.We were the only customers who braved the storm.
The power went out for a while, but that’s no big deal on an open-air floating bar. Well, except for the lack of music. I felt sorry for the girls and the dearth of big spenders who could fulfill their drink commission dreams. Lady drinks are 200 pesos each, which is the top of my limit. There were five gals working, so I called one over and asked her which she preferred, a lady drink (80 peso commission) or a 100 peso tip. She didn’t hesitate to respond, “The tip, please!” The only one wanting the drink was the bartender. So, I spent 600 instead of the 1000 I was prepared to sacrifice. Everybody’s a winner!
And then the storm passed.And we said goodbye to the sun before dinner.
Next stop, Treasure Island.
I wasn’t afraid to try the grilled chicken. A tasty treat, indeed!Swan had some legs.
Then we rolled on home and called it a night. Not quite as boring as this post makes it seem, but that’s my way of living these days.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, things are getting a little insurrectiony:
It’s (D)ifferent when they do it.
Glad I’m safe in the Philippines! Then again, I don’t violate the immigration laws here.
Today’s journey through the February 2008 LTG archives brought me to a post I know I’ve linked to several times over the years, a tribute to my friend and soulmate, Linda Ketner. Truly one of the most amazing people I’ve had the pleasure to encounter in The Story of My Life. (The comment from “John Henry” was my mother’s. She used to call me that.)
Yesterday’s old joke was a big hit, so here’s another one from twelve years ago:
I was happy. My girlfriend and I had been dating for over a year, and so we decided to get married.
My parents helped us in every way, my friends encouraged me, and my girlfriend? She was a dream!
There was only one thing bothering me, very much indeed, and that one thing was her younger sister.
My prospective sister-in-law was twenty years of age, wore tight mini skirts and low cut blouses. She would regularly bend down when quite near me and I got many a pleasant view of her underwear. It had to be deliberate. She never did it when she was near anyone else.
One day little sister called and asked me to come over to check the wedding invitations. She was alone when I arrived. She whispered to me that soon I was to be married, and she had feelings and desires for me that she couldn’t overcome and didn’t really want to overcome.
She told me that she wanted to make love to me just once before I got married and committed my life to her sister. I was in total shock and couldn’t say a word.
She said, “I’m going upstairs to my bedroom, and if you want to go ahead with it just come up and get me.” I was stunned. I was frozen in shock as I watched her go up the stairs. When she reached the top she pulled down her panties and threw them down the stairs at me.
I stood there for a moment, then turned and went straight to the front door. I opened the door and stepped out of the house. I walked straight towards my car.
My future father-in-law was standing outside. With tears in his eyes he hugged me and said, “We are very happy that you have passed our little test. We couldn’t ask for a better man for our daughter. Welcome to the family.”
The moral of this story is: Always keep your condoms in your car!
Still funny after all these years. No matter how many times you’ve heard it before. Right?
Today’s YouTube video reminds us of that old saw, “No money, no honey.” It’s not wise to be broke anywhere, but being poor as an expat in a poor country is not a wise choice. I’ve been blessed, and I share those blessings where and when I can, but there are limits to my generosity and early in my life here I learned that people will see you as a sucker until you learn to say no.
You know what comes next:
Well, when you order a Fitbit on Lazada, you get a karaoke microphone…I hate when that happens…You sound insecure, Riker…
Okay, my duty here is done for today. If you want something of substance, head on over to The Big Hominid and read his review of the Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” I have always been a fan of Dylan, but I also enjoyed the music of his one-time girlfriend, Joan Baez. In his review, Kevin mentions a song that Baez wrote about her relationship with Dylan. I believe it is one of my favorites, “Diamonds and Rust.”
Well I'll be damned Here comes your ghost again But that's not unusual It's just that the moon is full And you happened to call And here I sit Hand on the telephone Hearing a voice I'd known A couple of light years ago Heading straight for a fall
As I remember your eyes Were bluer than robin's eggs My poetry was lousy you said Where are you calling from? A booth in the midwest Ten years ago I bought you some cufflinks You brought me something We both know what memories can bring They bring diamonds and rust
Well you burst on the scene Already a legend The unwashed phenomenon The original vagabond You strayed into my arms And there you stayed Temporarily lost at sea The Madonna was yours for free Yes the girl on the half-shell Would keep you unharmed
Now I see you standing With brown leaves falling around And snow in your hair Now you're smiling out the window Of that crummy hotel Over Washington Square Our breath comes out white clouds Mingles and hangs in the air Speaking strictly for me We both could have died then and there
Now you're telling me You're not nostalgic Then give me another word for it You who are so good with words And at keeping things vague Because I need some of that vagueness now It's all come back too clearly Yes I loved you dearly And if you're offering me diamonds and rust I've already paid
A-Hashing, we did go! More or less. And if it is true that less is more, I did the best trail ever! Yeah, even as a notorious shortcutter, I bit off a little less than I like to chew yesterday, but the alternative was taking a Jeepney out of town to the start, then climbing up to the Kalaklan Ridge. I just wasn’t feeling that. Instead, our group (me, Swan, and Beth) walked from my house to Barretto High School, then picked up the last portion of Leech My Nuggets’ trail. It was just shy of 5K for us, with one moderately easy climb. The On-Home was at Leech’s house, and it being election Monday, there was no after-Hash at It Doesn’t Matter. So, I had an early end to the evening as well. Anyway, I’m glad to be still rolling along in my dotage.
Yesterday’s official trail. So, I missed a climb up to Kalaklan, back down to Olongapo City, then up again to the top of the ridge, before coming down at Barretto High School, where I picked up the trail.I got a little tired on the way to the high school.I’ve always been curious about the schools that are NOT child-friendly.On-On at last!Up the hill we did climb.That Hash mark on the tree indicates a left turn ahead on trail #1653.Through the woods.A tree I liked.Now what?Litter-rally speaking, seeing a Walmart bag out in the middle of nowhere (no houses nearby) was freaky, even more so because there are no Walmart’s in the Philippines. That bag traveled a LONG way to wind up here.And I found another one a little further up the trail.
I made a short video clip of a portion of the My Bitch trail. (Okay, now there’s a first. I went to upload the video and discovered YouTube had made it “age-restricted.” All I can figure is calling the video “My Bitch” triggered the algorithm to punish me. So, I’m making a new video with the same content and calling it something else. Let’s see what happens.)
Success. Well, the quality is still crap, but at least you can watch it here.
The end of My Bitch.Back in Alta Vista.On-Home at Leech’s place.My short version of the Hash trail.Hash GashIt’s nice on ice!As I was saying.After the Hash, Swan drove us home in her cart.And back at the house before the sun went down.
The other day, I mentioned the student in Bohol I was sponsoring. Here he be:
Well done, young man!Keep after it, Eithan, and make a difference in the world!
And today I took the bait:
One of the lefties on my Facebook feed posted his usual nonsense that I normally just ignore. Today I responded by posting this and saying: I’m laughing at the lefttards posting shit like Trump caved to China on tariffs. My response to one idiot: I usually don’t bother responding to this BS, but I’m curious…are you intentionally lying, or is it ignorance? Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports reduced from 125% to 10%. You have one of the worst cases of TDS I’ve seen.
Not political, but still funny:
I don’t know and I don’t care!
And as long as we are thinking about religion and tolerance, this seems like a good idea:
It’s been interesting (to me) delving through the old posts in the LTG archives. I’m up to January 2008 now, and most of my posts are about darting and drinking in Itaewon (compared to now, when they are about hiking and drinking in Barretto). In this post, I note the occasion of the 50,000th visitor to my site in its third year of existence. I thanked the handful of loyal readers who bothered to engage my content, just as I appreciate the few of you who still visit now. Sometimes I wonder why I’m still doing this every day, but I guess it has just become part of who I am. And I am a selfish bastard.
Five years ago, I made this post on Facebook.
Of course, the missing context is that I was out and about during the scamdemic lockdown.
On that day, I also posted this two-minute video to make my point:
Never again!
Thirteen years ago, my sense of humor was on full display for the world to see:
An 85-year old man is having his annual checkup. The Doctor asks him how he is feeling.
“I’ve got an eighteen-year old bride who’s pregnant with my child. What do you think about that?”
The Doctor considers this for a moment, and then says, “Well, let me tell you a story. I know of a guy who’s an avid hunter. He never misses a season.
But one day he’s in a bit of a hurry and he accidentally grabs his umbrella instead of his gun.
So he’s walking in the woods near a creek and suddenly spots a beaver in some brush in front of him! He raises up his umbrella, points it at the beaver and squeezed the handle. BAM !
The beaver drops dead in front of him.
“That’s impossible!”, says the old man in disbelief, “Someone else must have shot that beaver.”
The Doctor says, “My point exactly.”
Today’s YouTube video is from Smart Girl Philippines, and she makes some interesting points about how the sex industry has ruined it for the rest of us.
Humor time:
Okay, let me translate this Filipino humor for you. These two guys are riding in a Jeepney. The protocol is to pass the fare to the driver via the other passengers. “Bayad po” means here’s my fare. The flip side in the lower panel is that the change is passed back similarly. So, “Daw po” is here’s your change. So, the first guy got his just desserts for not taking the fare money up front himself. Anyway, Jeepneys are rarely not full of enough people where getting up and moving to pay is necessary.Yeah, happens all the time…Works for me!
And that’s all I’ve got for today. Back tomorrow, the good Lord willing.
I kicked off my eighth year in the Philippines with a night out on my own, just like my first night as a resident back in 2018. Of course, I do have a girlfriend these days, but she was spending election eve with family. I missed her but also embraced the rare opportunity for some “me time.” I enjoyed revisiting the old perspectives, if only to reinforce the reality that I am much happier in my current circumstances. Granted, I’m still a man and sometimes my mind wanders to those days when variety was the spice of life, but then I remember how empty and meaningless those “relationships” truly were. So, despite my past history I don’t believe I’m in any danger of fucking up the good thing I have found.
As I began my bar journey, I was a little surprised at just how many bars were closed. Some are never open on Sunday, and others shut down to avoid any conflicts with the law that prohibits Filipinos from consuming alcohol during the 48-hour election window. I intended to see the old crew at the Snack Bar to kick things off, but they were closed. I made my way up the highway to It Doesn’t Matter, but they weren’t serving in the outdoor area I prefer. So, I went to one of the bars I used to visit regularly, Cheap Charlies.
Upon arrival, Aida, the long-time bartender at CC, warmly greeted me. She’s the only one of my old regulars still working there. We chatted for a bit, and of course, I sensed the expectation that I would buy her a drink. I have no problem with that, except as I learned on my previous visit, Cheap Charlies raised the lady drink price to 250 pesos, which exceeds the max of 200 that I’m willing to pay. As I explained to her, it is not about the money as much as it is about feeling like I’m being scammed. A single lady drink is 180 pesos or less in almost all other bars. I have no qualms with buying two at that price, but I won’t buy one if it is more than 200. That’s just me, and Aida said she understood.
A couple of beers in, my resolve began to weaken. It was Mother’s Day, and I assumed the gals working were likely mothers. There were only four there, so what’s a thousand pesos to spread some joy? I called Aida over and asked her what the girls preferred, a lady drink or some food? She consulted with her co-workers and came back with a menu. I told them to order what they wanted, which came to 930 pesos. I tipped the Foodies waitress the change. So, I got in a Sunday feeding after all, and I was happier buying dinner than overpriced lady drinks. Win, win!
The feedies.
I didn’t partake in the eating, but enjoyed sipping my beer and taking in the view.
The usual insane Sunday traffic in Barretto as the tourists head back home.The bay view from the comfort room.And the sun did its thing.Thanks for the show!
Before heading home, I crossed the highway and stopped in at the Green Room (that yellow building in the photo above). I did the usual lady drinks and watched some pool while waiting for my takeout order from Sit-n-Bull to arrive (pulled pork and cole slaw). Swan still wasn’t home when I arrived, so I ate my food and went to bed without her.
We did the usual Candy Walk in the morning, but I won’t bore you with the details of that weekly story again.
There was this tree, but I messed up saving the coordinates. Next time!Some of the 250 kids we serviced satisfied served.
Here’s a video clip of Section 9 of our walk:
I woke up this morning, looked out the window, and this is what I saw:
Here’s a closer look:
And before I finished my coffee, it looked like this:
The zoom view:
Yeah, I need to learn how to use my camera settings.
I’ll settle for fifteen more healthy years of this life in the Philippines.
Speaking of which, this post of mine from January 2008 might explain why I’m such an energetic old man. Spoiler alert: it’s something in the beer!
Facebook memories brought back the poem “Somebody’s Mother” I posted thirteen years ago:
The woman was old and ragged and gray And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.
The street was wet with a recent snow And the woman's feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long, Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eyes.
Down the street, with laughter and shout, Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"
Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her - So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop, The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low, "I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."
Her aged hand on his strong young arm She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along, Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went, His young heart happy and well content.
"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know, For all she's aged and poor and slow,
"And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To help my mother, you understand,
"If ever she's poor and old and gray, When her own dear boy is far away."
And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was "God be kind to the noble boy, Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"
- Mary Dow Brine (1816-1913)
We’ll lighten things up a bit with today’s YouTube video from Mikey Bustos. It’s been a while since I’ve posted one of his parodies.
Now that we are in the mood, here’s some more:
Why do you make it so hard on me?I’ve got that sinking feeling…That’s enough cutting up for today.
Hash Monday is upon me. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, which translates to “I’ll be shortcutting again.” Hey, it’s what I do, and I’m good at it!
Today is the anniversary of my retirement and move to the Philippines seven years ago. If things go as I hope they do, I’ll celebrate my 70th birthday later this year. So, there is no denying that I’m in the midst of the final chapter of my life, and I hope to make the most of it. I don’t recall having any real expectations when I made the move, and although I’ve had my share of disappointments, I don’t have any regrets about the decision to make the Philippines my home.
I still spend a lot of time dwelling on the past, which may not be a healthy thing to do, but in a weird way, remembering what I was, and what I had and lost, and all the things that led me to this moment in time are sometimes painful, yet somehow comforting. I can’t adequately describe the kaleidoscope of feelings looking back brings me, but I almost feel as if I’m in an afterlife and seeing my past lives from an otherworldly perspective. Perhaps this is my purgatory.
I wrote a post about my final day in Korea here. In that post, I quoted something I had written in January 2005, before changing my world forever when I decided to leave my American life behind.
I never really had a plan for life, I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroads, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose. No mulligans. But I have been extremely fortunate and blessed. The roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck perhaps, but even though I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be, it has been a very nice ride. So it is time to look forward again. And it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure.
I reckon that is as true now as it ever was. And it occurs to me that I’ve been blessed with a multitude of lives within my lifetime. Here are some of them off the top of my head:
My California life
My Arizona life
My Oklahoma/Arkansas life (I lived on both sides of the border)
My South Carolina life
My Virginia/DC life (lived in Virginia, worked in DC)
My Korea life
My Philippine life
And within those lives, there was a multitude of others: growing up, working, parenting, four marriages, and other relationships and adventures. At one time, I began to explore some of these in a series of posts here called “One Lifetime, Many Lives”. Perhaps I’ll find the motivation to complete that effort before I die.
Anyway, nothing else to do but hang on and see what happens next. In the meantime, here is the first post I wrote after arriving in the Philippines. I had to smile at the mention of Jessa, who worked at Treasure Island, where I stayed my first few days. We did wind up dating briefly, but I managed to fuck it up. We are still friends, though, and I’m glad for that.
If you are a regular reader, you know my life is not much more than daily walks and nightly beers, with some occasional travel in the mix. I’m sure it gets boring to read about, but I enjoy it. One of my goals when I moved here was for my presence to make a difference in some small way for the less fortunate who surround me. I feel good about some successes I’ve had in that regard. My biggest project in terms of cash outlay is supporting a widow with three kids born to an American father who couldn’t be bothered with securing their citizenship before he died. I also sponsor a student in Bohol who regularly makes the Honor Roll at his school and, hopefully, is destined to escape the poverty of his family’s life. I am also helping Maria, the gal I dated briefly when she was eighteen, as she attends college. I’ve got a full-time helper who has been with me from the beginning of my time here and earns a generous living wage. And of course, I’m supplementing the salary of bargirls through the generosity of the lady drinks I provide. Hey, every little bit helps!
And there you have my anniversary reflections and the rare LTG post with a semblance of substance.
Tomorrow is election day here in the PI, and Filipinos are not allowed to consume alcohol starting today. Most Barretto bars are open for the foreigners they cater to, but I moved my Sunday routines to Saturday just to be on the safe side.
I did the feeding at Hideaway, even though they are open today (closed tomorrow). Then it was off to the floating bar to meet Swan.
The beach was not nearly as crowded as it had been the past few weeks.Only one other customer besides Swan and me.The sun upon arrival.The sun a couple of beers later.
We got hungry and impatient waiting for the sun to put on the endo of the show, so we headed back to shore.
From the beach, we got to see the rare rising moon……and the setting sun sharing the same sky.
Then, it was off to John’s place for some dinner. Once again, we shared:
After our meal, we stopped at Red Bar for a bit, then finished the evening with a nightcap at Wet Spot.
By the way, I didn’t forget about the Saturday Sweet Stroll, but how much more can I say about that weekly event that you haven’t seen or heard numerous times? Well, there was this:
Nothing special about this tree; it was just my first attempt at pinning something on Google Maps.And there you have it. Now what?
I also did a video clip of the final neighborhood on the Saturday Stroll:
As my trek through the archives of LTG continues, I came upon another anniversary, or should I say, blogaversary. The third year of my blogging efforts was in December 2007. Sadly interesting were the comments of wife #3 and my step-daughter, Avery. One more episode in The Story of My Life.
Facebook memories for today:
Four years ago, I knew what the ignorant were denying.Five years ago, I was calling out the Nazis who were revealing themselves during the scamdemic. I had one now former friend disclose the location of a speakeasy I’d found where I could enjoy some beers during lockdown. The fucker recognized something in the background of a photo I posted, and named and shamed the venue. What a cunt!Seven years ago, I left the 8th Army Headquarters building for the last time.Also, I flew business class seven years ago to my new life in the Philippines.
Today’s YouTube video takes a slightly different twist on the reasons why the Philippines attracts expats. As I was searching for where I might spend my retirement years, I ultimately chose the Philippines for two reasons: the friendliness of the locals emphasized in this video, and also, that English is commonly spoken here. The cost of living is another positive, although I disagree that most hospitals provide quality and value. I’m glad I found an excellent doctor I can trust, though.
And bad humor is better than none, or so I keep telling myself:
Damn, I hate when that happens!My wife #3 said the kidney stone hurt more than childbirth.Lifting those twelve-ounce weights every day helps.
And now to get on with year number eight. It occurred to me that Swan won’t be able to drink in any of the open bars. She suggested I have some “me time” tonight, so I reckon that’s what I’ll do. I’ll let you know how that works out tomorrow.
As Fridays go, yesterday was a good one. It began with a hike and ended with an SOB. Well, the hike had a bit of bitchy hiccup, but it all worked out to be just part of the adventure.
With only six participants, Mike offered to drive the group so we could explore some seldom-visited territory. He mentioned wanting to do the Praeda river walk out near Castillejos, so the Barretto participants rode a Jeepney to Philseco Road and met Mike there. We loaded up in his car and off we went. Somehow, we missed the turnoff, so I suggested we continue on to the Govic Highway and find a trail I had done with the group a few years ago. I did a Govic hike a couple of weeks back, and saw the turnoff, but after that, I wasn’t quite sure where to go. We’ve really been missing having Scott as our tour guide, as he has infinite knowledge of rarely traversed trails. Ed was along with us and had done the hike I suggested, so between us and some lucky guesses, we found our way to the trailhead.
As we progressed along the path, our vague memories were challenged when we came to intersecting trails. Our instincts proved correct for the most part, except for missing the turn to our intended destination, Pamatawan Falls. After four kilometers and a 174-meter climb, we turned around and headed back from whence we came. On the way down, Ed spotted the trail to the falls, but I was too bushed to make that journey. Swan and I continued on to where we started, and the rest of the group enjoyed some time at the falls. We got back to Mike’s car and waited for the others to return. Thirty minutes later, Rob and Chris showed up without Ed and Mike. It seems that after taking a swim, the group walked most of the way to the car before Mike realized he had left his glasses at the falls. So, he and Ed went back to find them.
It was already approaching 1 p.m., and Rob had a dart league match to attend at two, or his team would forfeit without him. What to do? They said it would take over an hour for Mike to make the trip to the falls and back, and we were 5K away from the highway. So, Rob flagged down some locals passing by in their three-wheeled vehicle (like a trike, but with an open storage container instead of seats). They stopped, but couldn’t understand what Rob was asking. Swan translated, and the locals (a man, a woman, and their child) agreed to take Rob to the highway. Rather than spend an hour-plus hanging around, Swan and I crowded into the basket and came along for the ride. Once we reached the highway, I gave the kind strangers 500 pesos for their willingness to help out strangers in need. We got lucky, because right after we got dropped off, a bus came by and we were able to ride back to Barretto in air-conditioned comfort for 50 pesos each.
We gathered for the hike at our usual Baloy 7/11, and this sign was out front of the Snack Bar. Hard to argue with that sentiment.This week’s Friday hiking group: (L-R) Rob, Chris, Ed, Mike, and Swan.It’s so nice to get out and see some different terrain.A tree that caught my eye.And so begins our journey upstream.Not surprisingly, we had a couple of water crossings along the way. Not too difficult with the water levels low. Onward and upward!We were fortunate that this carabao wasn’t feeling aggressive and didn’t challenge our crossing of his water hole.The only people we encountered during our journey were this grandmother and kids. We added some cookies and lollipops to their burden.I’d follow her anywhere.I’m not sure what that’s all about. It doesn’t appear to be manmade.That’s me, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.And here we are partaking in the kindness of strangers as they carry us back to civilization.Riding the Victory Liner bus back to Barretto.Farting on the bus isn’t allowed? Who knew?
Here is the video Swan made from our adventure:
Our 8K journey there and back again.
It was after 2 p.m. when we got back home. I dashed off a post here, showered up, and saw I needed to hurry to the SOB dance competition.
Time to go!
This week, the SOB was at the Alaska Club. Out front is the now-closed Sloppy Joe’s.
See you again soon.
The SOB went like it always does, which is why I only attend once or twice a month. Daddy Dave, the SOB founder and master of ceremonies, was once again not in attendance. I was saddened to learn that after recovering from his recent illnesses, he was involved in a horrific car accident when his driver fell asleep on the expressway. He’s lucky to be alive, but is expected to recover.
This week’s competitors.And our tablemates after the show. Yeah, we got a little more generous than usual with the lady drinks—a good time for us, and a little extra pay for them.
And that’s as far as we took our Friday night on the town.
And this one is for commenter Cherry:
I’ve been married four times. I fathered two kids with my first wife, and five others came along with the other wives. I did my best to love my step-children just like my own, but I was not much better at being a father than I was as a husband. Back in December 2007, I wrote a post in tribute to my second wife’s daughter, Avery—another episode in The Story of My Life.
Eight years ago, I moved from Seoul to Pyeongtaek.And seven years ago, I spent my last night in town saying goodbye to the friends I had made there.
And I also posted this memory on Facebook seven years ago:
Walking home from work today I remembered something from 35 years ago. I was still living in Arizona, but I had sent my daughter and son to stay with my mom in Oklahoma while I recovered from my first divorce and a subsequent heartbreak. I had gone out there for a visit and when the time came for me to leave, my seven year old daughter said to me “Daddy, I know all about goodbye. It is spelled S-A-D”. And she was right.
Today’s YouTube video from Reekay shares the story of guy who is screwing up his FIFTH marriage over a misunderstanding. It’s good to know that, as bad as I’ve been throughout my lifetime, I’m better than the loser Reekay tells about. I’d never heard of white blood either, but I wouldn’t have jumped to this guy’s conclusion.
And some jokes before I go:
Choking the chicken?It’s not her Fauci, I mean fault.I’m glad I didn’t moo at that carabao yesterday!
And there you have it. A busy evening ahead, so I’d best get after it. Back with more of this drivel tomorrow.
My life isn’t all about beer; there’s also daily hiking. Yesterday’s adventure with Swan took us to the far side of Subic town for our Philseco Road loop.
Ain’t we sweet? Dressed in matching shirts and everything!
The Jeepney ride out to Philseco was a tad on the unusual side.
For one thing, most of the way, the Jeep was empty except for us. That is extremely rare.
And then a couple of passengers boarded near the Subic marketplace. One of them was an older woman who sat down across from me, then started saying how much she loved and wanted me. Yeah, obviously mentally ill. I just ignored her until we got to our stop. Swan thought it was funny.
And so the journey begins.Philseco Road awaits our footstepsOnce we left the road behind us, the walls began closing in. We put up our best de fence.It was good to be on the dirt path again.Said hello to one of my favorite trees again. This tree overcame horizontal roots to achieve majesty.Swan was stumped.Life on the riverside.Pond scumBe on the lookout for three escapees from this cemetery. Or maybe they got evicted for not paying the rent.What’s a hike without a rickety bridge crossing?Taking a bow.A 7K stroll to build up some thirst.
So, we decided to pay a visit to Sloppy Joe’s to begin our evening out. There was a large gathering in remembrance of Sloppy’s founder, Joakim. The bar has a new owner, and last night was the last in its present iteration. It will undergo massive renovation and is scheduled to reopen in three weeks. Will be interested in seeing the changes.
Saying our goodbyes to Sloppy Joe’s and Joakim.
Next stop, Sit-n-Bull for dinner.
Chop suey for Swan…And a Maui chicken burger for me. Yummy as usual.
We did our nightcap at the Green Room and had our usual good time quenching our Thursday thirst. Home on schedule, and early to bed again. Still, I’m having a lot of fun for an old guy.
Back when I was a relatively young man (52), I was living the life in Korea. Beer, darts, and hanging out with friends. This post, A night on the town, from December 2007, captures the glory of those days nicely. I mention a guy named Brian, and I wonder if it is my regular commenter by that name. I know we met in Itaewon, but I can’t remember when. Glad to include this in The Story of My Life.
Facebook memories from this day in history:
Four years ago, I was with this one who got away. We are still friends, and she appears to be better off without me, so it all worked out in the end.
Seven years ago, I was busy wrapping things up in Korea:
Taking all my work clothes to the thrift store on post.Packing all the shit I was taking with me to the Philippines.And saying my goodbyes to all my bar girl friends in Anjeong-ri.Fourteen years ago, I was busy doing what I do best.
And as long as we are dwelling on the past, here’s a YouTube video I linked on my blog seventeen years ago. Korean history ages well.
Funny or not, here they come:
Hands down winner.I recall the time I had three equally qualified candidates for my vacant personal secretary position. So, I called them in for an interview and asked them each the same question: If I gave you $10,000, what would you do with it? The first responded, I’d feed the hungry children in Africa. The second said, I’d go shopping and buy all the things I ever wanted. The third told me, Sir, I would invest the money and double it in ten years. Which one do you think I selected? The one with the big tits, of course. An oldie you are, Keith, but a goodie.
And now I have to run. We got back later than normal from the group hike; I’ll tell you why tomorrow. I’m going to do the SOB at the Alaska Club today, so I need to hustle on down to secure a good seat.