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.
My pleas will continue to go unheard. At least until April 30, it’s gonna be more of the same around these parts I reckon.
Yesterday afternoon I attended a nice Easter gathering (non-religious) at a neighbor and fellow Hasher’s house here in Alta Vista. Three other couples also joined the festivities. Ed did up some nice roasted chickens. I brought some brownies and ice cream. And beer, which is getting to be in short supply at the markets these days. And so the running out of essentials begins!
The Alta Vista subdivision as seen from a friend’s drone. Yep, I can spot my house from here.
You can see Easter mountain off in the background. Today is the traditional day the Hash hikes up to the top. Some of the folks at yesterday’s party are making the trek today. I opted out as it is my grocery shopping day. Plus I didn’t want to climb that motherfucker in this heat!
Later in the afternoon, I made my way over to “Gomans” for my usual fix of brews. As I approached I saw a police car pulling away. That can’t be good I thought to myself. I went on in and all the customers were crowded out on the back patio. The bartender said no one can sit at the bar and they would be closing at 6:00 (the curfew). Today the Barangay had these pictures posted on their Facebook page:
Interesting.Let’s take a peek inside.
So, I’m still unclear about what if anything happened. I mean, they didn’t close the place down immediately or haul anyone away. I’ll go by later to see if anything has changed.
I chose not to stay at “Gomans” because I didn’t want to be out on the deck with everyone else. I am serious about keeping social distance, even if I’m drinking illegally. So, I moved down to my Speakeasy. Sat out in the back at a table on the beach. No one else was out there. A bit later, a waitress came up to me and said “thank goodness the police couldn’t see you sitting out here. They were just here!”. Oh boy.
I guess they stayed out front. The door is locked (kind of like this one, but obviously this place is not called Speakeasy). Just an example of Olongapo’s finest doing their duty.
Grocery shopping this morning. Pain in the ass as usual. Store used to open at 7. Got there at 8 and still closed. Was told it would open “before 9”. Turns out that meant 8:30.
Another line to wait in, but this group did much better with the whole social distancing thing.
The store was out of much of what I wanted, but I scored some needed items. Got the rest with a stop at Divimart on the way home. Ah, how I miss my Royal shopping experience!
Hell, I miss just about everything from the “good ole days”. Including the view from Cheap Charlies. Yeah, and maybe even the traffic. It was a sign of normal life at least.
So, yesterday I had to go out for a large injection of vitamin D. 15K worth in fact. Still, the best defense against the Wuhan virus is a good offense. As my doctor succinctly stated:
Going outdoors is what stops every respiratory disease
Well, it wasn’t MY doctor who said that. And it wasn’t a medical doctor. I’m pretty sure he has a Ph.D. though. And the above quote came from something I found on the internet:Epidemiologist: Coronavirus could be ‘exterminated’ if lockdowns were lifted. Anyway, I’m not taking any chances, hence the long hike yesterday. I’ll have some photos from that adventure later in this post, so stick around.
But first, indulge me in this rant, please. The #stayathome nanny-state do-gooders are really trying my patience. I know I’ve talked about it before, but c’mon! I get that some people have bought into the whole strict compliance with quarantine rules, even though many are completely contradictory, self-defeating, ineffective, and potentially dangerous. I mentioned in an earlier post that the brainiacs in charge of the checkpoint into Barretto have been spraying cars and people with some unknown liquid. And then I read that the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) in Manila told municipalities to not engage in this practice because it doesn’t kill the virus and it could cause adverse reactions for those who come in contact with the solution. Once again, the left hand has no clue what the right hand should be doing. Just another example of government here demonstrating why the Philippines is a third world country.
But what really pisses me off are some of my expat “friends”. They are openly critical of the decisions I make that could not possibly have an adverse impact on them. These clowns just love applying that #stayathome hashtag on any Facebook post in which I dare to share photos of my outdoor activities. For example, yesterday I posted a photo of the after-hike hamburger I enjoyed at “Gomans”. A commenter felt compelled to use the actual name of the restaurant in pointing out that serving food for dine-in was in violation of quarantine rules. I wound up deleting the comment and the photo.
The patty was too small for the bun, but the burger was quite tasty nevertheless.
Anyway, I go out for my daily walks and I acknowledge that it is a technical violation of the quarantine rules. You can, however, be in compliance if you are walking to, oh let’s say, the wet market on Rizal street. Now, in order to maintain appropriate social distancing, only a select few are allowed in the marketplace at any given time. All others must wait their turn. In a line. That looked like this when I passed by this morning:
I have zero guilt about my walks, thank you very much! Yet again, the concept the authorities are going for I understand, but the implementation is completely flawed. They limit the wet market hours (closes at 1 p.m.) which means people are forced to stand in long lines and share what germs and viruses they might be bringing with them.
Alright, I’ll let it go. We will all get through this, one way or another. It is just frustrating to see that it is all so pointless. And I’m prepared now with a standard response the next time someone lays that #stayathome bullshit on me:
Get over yourself!
A really long but mostly pleasant hike yesterday.
Around 15K all told. One mountain, the rest flat.Once again, Scott joined me for the adventure.The high point of the hike.Encountered these kids making a picnic for themselves. Was glad I had brought some candy along to contribute…I reckon these carabaos will be happy for the rainy season to arrive next month.I came to a bridge and I crossed it.There was a checkpoint at the entrance to this barangay. They asked some questions and decided to let us pass.Living on the edge……of a landfill. And seeing what might be salvaged from the waste.I was definitely tired at the end of the day.This was something “interesting” I saw on the hike. I mean, who takes off their shoes way up on the mountain and walks off without them? One of life’s mysteries I suppose.
Yesterday was “National Siblings Day” and I dutifully reposted this photo of me and the bros:
This photo was taken in April 1960. Which just so happens to be exactly 60 years ago! Wow!
Alright, sorry for the ranting and raving. Sometimes life can be a real pain in the ass, but I realize just how Lucky I am.
A dog that loves the smell of my feet. Does it get any better than that?
Over at the Big Hominid, Kevin has a post with a video showing people actually talking through their political differences in a sane and civil manner. I mentioned in the comments that I recalled having similar conversations with a few liberal friends, usually over some beers. Minds weren’t necessarily changed, but we could usually find some common ground at least.
I don’t do politics here at LTG much anymore, and even less on social media like Facebook. But most mornings I will take a peek behind those doors at the political insanity that currently has America divided in the grips of uncivil war. It makes me glad to be here on the other side of the world. Obviously, we have always had differing views amongst the people and different ideas on how to change things for the better. I’m old enough to remember the Vietnam protests and cultural wars of the late 60s and early 70s, but somehow things seem worse these days. So, what’s changed and who is to blame? I honestly believe the problem has a lot to do with the biased news media.
Sheep are gonna sheep I guess. Herd immunity is a good thing, herd mentality not so much.
Ignorance abounds, and maybe it always has. But when I see otherwise reasonably intelligent people regurgitating half-truths and outright lies they’ve read somewhere without questioning the source, it makes me worry for the future. I mean, we’ve got the whole damn internet available to fact check information and you want to rely on someone’s Tweet to make your case. That’s pretty damn scary.
Here’s but one example: Bloomberg News sent out a Tweet with a link to a story about the Vice President, stating: Pence tells U.S. food workers to “do your job” as some fall ill. Wow! What a cold-hearted bastard! Except when you go to the story and read that quote in context, it’s a whole other animal:
“You are vital,” he said during a press conference late Tuesday. “You are giving a great service to the people of the United States of America and we need you to continue, as a part of what we call critical infrastructure, to show up and do your job.” In return, Pence said, the government will “work tirelessly” to ensure their workplaces are safe.
Of course, people ran with the Tweet and that became the story. Truth doesn’t matter, it’s all about the narrative. Anyway, it made me write about politics and for that, I apologize. Let’s get back to the kind of stuff you come here for!
Like this:
Yesterday afternoon I was doing my usual thing at “Gomans” and this was my “interesting” view:
It may appear to be a pretty decent job of social distancing. In reality, it was a volleyball game being played without a net. Entertaining enough for a beer-drinking man like myself.
Oh yeah, I left out a part of the story from Wednesday’s hike waiting for Scott to post some pictures. As we were marching along, Scott pointed to a shack and said “Derek used to live here”. I don’t know Derek, but Scott told me he used to be a bar manager in Barretto and he has subsequently moved back to the States. As we rounded a corner on the trail I was struck by this view:
And no, I don’t mean Easter mountain.
Turns out, that’s Derek’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his two children. She told me her name is “Gam Gam”. Apparently, she has some other family staying with her up here on the mountain. Like most folks, they are struggling to get through this difficult time. Well, she said Derek still sends her 10,000 pesos ($200) a month so she is doing better than a lot of folks I guess. Plus, her house is paid for, such as it is.
Gam Gam and her half American kids. I sincerely hope Derek has done the right thing and secured their citizenship.
Maybe I was just feeling horny tired from the walk, but I enjoyed looking at chatting with her. I do admire these gals doing the best they can for their family and in our brief conversation, I gathered that was what she is all about. I was out of candy and cookies by this point in the hike, but I gave her 300 pesos which she seemed to appreciate. Maybe I’ll pass by again one of these days to check her out on how she is doing.
I honestly hope I don’t come across like this. I do like to help where and when I can, but I know I’m not changing the world. I’ve acknowledged my selfish motivations but perhaps every little bit does help.
I make my living off the evening news Just give me something Something I can use People love it when you lose They love dirty laundry
You don’t really need to find out What’s going on You don’t really want to know Just how far it’s gone Just leave well enough alone Eat your dirty laundry
Happy Maundy Thursday everyone! It’s Holy Week here in the Philippines, albeit a very reserved one this year what with the quarantine and travel ban. I recall my first ever trip to the Philippines was during Holy Week. I got to Cebu only to discover everything was closed! I asked what was going on and was told it’s Maundy Thursday. Had to look it up as I’d never even heard of it despite being raised a Christian. Of course, the next day was Good Friday and places remain closed. I was finally able to take a girl out of the bar on Saturday night. Early the next morning she told me she needed to leave in order to attend Easter services. Bless her heart. At least I got what I paid for. Ah, sweet memories indeed.
What else have I got for you today? How about some photos from yesterday? My hiking partner Scott posted these of our hike on his Facebook page:
We encountered more people than usual while we were up in the hills. Quite a few were harvesting bamboo for whatever pocket change that might provide them. That’s one of the things that feed my paranoia when I’m walking alone…hungry men with machetes. Yikes!Speaking of being robbed, these gals relieved me of some of the candy I carry when I hike. Actually, they were very friendly and even offered us some of the mangoes they had just picked.It’s a simple life……people work hard……but take the time to offer you a friendly smile and greeting as you walk by.Sadly, the Hash won’t be climbing Easter mountain this year. Heh, maybe that’s a good thing. It’s a tough one!
Speaking of walking, today I earned a new badge from my friends at Fitbit:
The “Pole to Pole” badge–given in recognition of having walked 20,003 kilometers with my Fitbit. That’s the equivalent of walking from the one pole to the other apparently. It took me from August 2016 to get there!
And then there is this:
A suspected Covid-19 male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. A young student female nurse appears and gives him a partial sponge bath.
“Nurse,”‘ he mumbles from behind the mask, “are my testicles black?” Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, “I don’t know, Sir. I’m only here to wash your upper body and feet.”
He struggles to ask again, “Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?”
Concerned that he might elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worrying about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers.
She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles gently in the other.
She looks very closely and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, Sir. They look fine.”
The man slowly pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly, “Thank you very much. That was wonderful. Now listen very, very, closely: “Are – my – test – results – back?”
Bada bing! And while we are on the subject of the Wuhan virus, I saw a mask that will surely keep everyone at a safe distance:
Best of all, I can make my own!
Time for those afternoon steps. Is it further around the equator than pole-to-pole?
UPDATE: Well, I’m nothing if not unoriginal. Or so it would appear. I’ve used “the last supper” title FIVE times over the years.
April 2018 when I said goodbye to my friends in Seoul for the last time before the move to the PI.
September 2014 when I made my semi-annual return to the USA. This was the first time Jee Yeun didn’t go with me. Said she needed to stay behind to take care of her sick mother. Little did I know that this was the beginning of the end. Ouch!
August 2013 I wrote about the Korean supper Jee Yeun had cooked for me the night before. Stop! You’re killing me with these memories!
January 2005 was the last supper before flying to Korea for the first time and irrevocably changing my life forever. Despite everything, I don’t regret that decision.
Ah well, I’ll chalk up this repeated title to old-timer’s disease…
“A man’s admiration of absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he feels for those around him.” –Tocqueville
I do my best to go along to get along. Compliance with the spirit, if not the letter, of the quarantine directives, seems appropriate. But I refuse to disengage my brain and blindly follow stupidity solely on the basis of “do it because I told you so”. Here’s an example of something that just pissed me off when I saw it:
Um, no. I don’t think so.
I comply with the curfew. I maintain social distancing to the extent possible and certainly more than most Filipinos I observe. I wear a mask, such as it is, when I’m on the street as required. But I’m going to walk my dogs. And if I choose to take a hike, how is that different than walking to the market place? I’d say it’s a damn sight safer for me alone on the mountain than in a crowded grocery store. And even when I’m at the Speakeasy, I keep a safe distance from the other guests. The point is, even when I’m technically in violation, I do it in such a way as to not endanger others.
I’ve had to bite my tongue (withhold my fingers?) on social media where the do-gooders and busybodies criticize people like me who don’t adopt their strict “stay at home” mantra. Sometimes the attacks are personal but I just ignore them and move on. Oh, I might do a Facebook post quoting Tocqueville or a status of preferring to not be a sheep. I don’t know if they make the connection or not and I guess I don’t really care. Well, I cared enough to post this rant, but that’s the extent of it.
So, today I had to go out for some essentials–specifically dog food. I chose a mountainous 8K route to the veterinarian’s office to make my purchase. There, see totally in accordance with the quarantine procedures.
And through some odd coincidence, I ran into Scott on the trail. Go figure.No sign of the Wuhan virus anywhere!
Anyway, just gotta keep on keepin’ on until this madness is over and done with.
Alright, here’s a post that I promise will be as boring as my life. And don’t give me that “what else is new” bullshit. This time I really, really mean it!
As expected, the President has extended the enhanced quarantine provisions for all of Luzon through April 30. So it’s going to be more of the same for me around here for a while yet. Unfortunately, more of the same is a whole different animal for the less fortunate. I got a frantic message from a bargirl acquaintance this afternoon lamenting about her inability to feed her daughter. I asked about whether the barangay was providing some provisions and she said yes–a little rice, some ramen, and three cans of sardines. She said her daughter started crying when she saw her cooking sardine pasta again. Well, this woman lives next door in the squatter village outside my subdivision so I told her I would meet her at the gate with some Spam and tuna. I also threw in some cookies and candy for the kid. I gave her 1000 pesos ($20) and told her to go buy food her daughter likes at Divimart. I’m always glad to help out when I can and who knows, maybe I’ll pay off some of that Karmic debt that keeps sabotaging my love life. Hey, it could happen!
This morning I took a long two-hour hike out to the old Navy base and back. Stuck to the highway and it was almost pleasant with the reduced amount of traffic.
Staring death in the face at the hillside cemetery I passed. Life is for the living and so are the views.
I am getting more cautious when I’m out walking alone, that’s why I stuck to the highway. I did get besieged by one man saying he was hungry and needed money. I shrugged and kept walking. I know better than to pull out my wallet on the street. Yesterday afternoon I decided to just stay within the confines of my subdivision for my walk. To make it a little more interesting I was determined to document all the points of access and egress. And here they are (hey, I warned you this would be boring!):
Alright, to begin, Alta Vista is a gated community. And this would be that gate. It’s the only road in and out by vehicle anyway. The subdivision is not fenced, however. And that means people on foot can pretty much come and go as they please.So, this was one of the ways I would occasionally enter or exit Alta Vista on my hikes. Not too often and apparently not anymore as someone has erected this makeshift barrier. I’m not sure who or why. I did look to see how easy it might be to bypass and it appears to be a no go.It may look like just a bunch of sticks, but damn, get a load of those thorns. I’d rather be stuck in barbed wire.This is probably the most used trail, both by me and the Hash. It leads down into the Marian Hills area.Since someone is building a house that blocks the path I used to use to get to the trail I call “My Bitch”, I explored this one as a potential alternative. Nope, it winds up in a difficult to traverse creek bed. It was one of those once and done trails for me.But no worries, I found this path that provides reasonably easy access to my favorite bitch of a trail.I’ve never gone this way on my own, but we’ve hashed it a couple of times. The gate is not locked.I did this trail once before someone blocked it off. It was a shitty way to go anyway.This way in and out goes through a yard with no trespassing signs. A couple of the Hares use it anyway.But this trail is only 20 yards away and it is easier to boot. Guess which one I use more often?Earlier in this post, I mentioned the squatter village right outside Alta Vista. This is the primary way to get there. This is very near my house, in fact, you can see my house from here.Another way up to squatter town……and one more. Yeah, I’m pretty sure the person who robbed my house came from that village. Easy access and escape.
Anyway, that’s what passes for excitement around here these days. But before you go let me share this Facebook memory from six years ago:
Yours truly trekking on Seoraksan in Seoul. I was carrying 30 extra kilos with me back in those days.
Wake up now. It’s time to go.
UPDATE: I was surprised to see I’ve used “ins and outs” as a post title before–back in 2014. That was a post about darts and it was only mildly more interesting than this one. Go figure.
I’m not drinking any less either. Just starting earlier so I can catch a buzz before curfew. *ahem*
No official word on when this madness might end, but all indications are at least an additional two weeks beyond the original date of April 19. My patience is being sorely tried. I mean, I get the good intentions behind the idiotic policies, but at some point, someone needs to stand up and admit that maybe these aren’t such good ideas after all. Fat chance of that happening.
Today was grocery shopping day. I can’t get on the old Navy base to shop at my usual supermarket, so I asked my driver to take me into Olongapo City. I had planned on bringing my helper along, but driver Donny said only one passenger is allowed in the vehicle. And I have to ride in the backseat! Jesus, what a bunch of bullshit. So, off we went to the new SM store. The line was out the door. I suggested we continue on to the supermarket I shopped at last week (the old SM) but when we arrived there they line was even longer. Argh! Well, since the new SM was on the way back home I had him take me back there.
That’s me in line to get a temp check before entering. There was another line inside to get into the store. Luckily, my driver had a senior citizen card and we were both able to get in without waiting.
I wasn’t impressed with the selection at SM, but I got what I could. After dropping off the groceries I had Donny carry me and the helper to the local Divimart so she could get what she needed for the household chores. When that was finished we exited the store, me carrying a 24 bottle case of water on my shoulder. We were directed to cross the highway and be screened again, even though our car was half a block away on this side of the street. Geez. And then they made us walk through the disinfectant they were spraying on the cars. C’mon, seriously? No idea what’s even in that shit, but glad I didn’t have an allergic reaction.
Is that enough bitching for one day? Alright, I’ll stop then.
It was three years ago that I met with the Ambassador to Korea as the USFK representative in a meeting with the Korean Employees Union. I guess I was the only natural lefty in attendance.
Ah, back when my life had some meaning and purpose. And no, I’m not bitching about my retirement. It’s just the current circumstances that are wearing me down.
Thanks for the reminder, Facebook. This is how I spent my day seven years ago:
Who knew “forever” would pass by so quickly?
And even though that old fat guy is dead and gone, the pain still lingers. What’s done is done and what’s gone is gone. Sometimes though I still have to tell my brain to shut the fuck up and let it go.
Facebook also provided this happier memory from five years ago:
A nice afternoon meetup at Shenanigans with a couple of my favorite authors, Kevin Kim and Young Chun. Cheers!
Today I crossed the river into the Subic municipality for my morning walk without incident. Didn’t even ask to see my quarantine pass, just took my temperature (36.3C). Well, they are spraying cars entering with some kind of disinfectant and I got squirted as I passed by. I’m pretty sure it was unintentional.
The subdivisions (Santa Monica and Sierra Hills) I normally walk through were closed to visitors (as is my own), so I just walked the highway. Lots less traffic than normal, so that was a plus. When I got to where I cut back over to get home I encountered this roadblock:
Isn’t that “interesting”? Not sure who erected the barrier or why. It was harder to get around than it looks, but I managed.
That makes about as much sense as a lot of the other bullshit being asked of us. And at least this would definitely go a long way to stop the spread of the Wuhan virus…
.Man, I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. And now my Fitbit is malfunctioning. I went online to see how to go about resolving the problem and saw quite a few folks had had a similar failure. Fitbit resolved the issue by sending them a new device. Obviously that’s not going to help me though. I also can’t order a new one because all the delivery services here have been shut down.
I feel like a canister of Morton salt.
Maybe I’m just depressed.
UPDATE: I see that I had another “seven year ache” post back in January 2018 as I marked the anniversary of my mother’s passing.
No news is good news! No sign of the virus in my little circle of life. I’m making the best of things despite the inconveniences and hurdles erected by the authorities for my own good. I’ve got my walks for daytime diversion and at least for now, “Gomans” and the Speakeasy to wet my whistle. Well, until the 6 p.m. curfew kicks in that is. And that’s just about all there is. It only sounds boring because, well hell, it is boring. But we’ll get through it together, right?
One of the new “rules” requires the wearing of a mask when on the street. I bought this homemade one for 40 pesos. Is it engineered and rated to keep the bad stuff out? No, of course not. Like almost all the restrictions imposed, this is pretty much meaningless.This sign now greets me as I enter my subdivision. Of course, I only use the front gate about half the time. There are several other unauthorized foot pathways to get in. So, if I ever find a gal I want to bring home, I’ll get inside her inside. *ahem*
Had a pleasant 8K walk this morning on and about “My Bitch”. We met on the mountain so as not to draw unwarranted attention. There were only three of us anyway, so it probably didn’t matter. Anyway, the hike went without incident or injury so I’d rate that a success!
Scott leading the way, me close behind, and Ilene bringing up the rear (and taking the photo). I lifted the pic off her Facebook, not sure what’s up with those margins…Ah, this is taking social distancing to the extreme. Nothing like mountaintop living with no neighbors. A view from the top. It really was a beautiful morning. Glad I could be out and about to enjoy it.
I’ll close with today’s “interesting” photograph:
The view I enjoy while laying in bed. Took this one after my nap this afternoon. But it is nice in the morning as well. Although most mornings it is still dark when I wake up. That’s what happens when you go to bed at eight fucking o’çlock.
I’m not one to complain though. Much.
Is that all there is, is that all there is If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing Let’s break out the booze and have a ball If that’s all there is
I certainly hope so. I’m also keeping in mind it could be a whole lot worse. And if I had to place a bet I’d say it will get worse before it gets better. Rumors are running strong that the “enhanced quarantine” will be extended at least another thirty days. If true, it’s going to get real ugly before it is all said and done. We shall see.
To my mind, statistics like these are meaningless. No one is being tested unless they become sick enough to go to a hospital. Who knows how many cases there really are?The big picture, but probably not big enough to read. In my province (Zambales) there have been a total of 4 reported cases.
Like everywhere else in the world, the major outbreaks are largely in the metropolitan areas, which makes sense. What doesn’t make sense to me is to literally starve people in order to “save” them from a virus that for 99% of humans is not fatal. Yeah, I get the whole “flattening of the bell curve” thing. But that doesn’t really apply in a 3rd world ass-backward country like the Philippines. They don’t have the ability to test for, monitor, or treat this virus. We are in the third week of lockdown, what more do they expect to accomplish?
In the meantime, nothing to do but make the best of whatever life brings. “Gomans” was still open yesterday, so there’s that.
I guess one silver lining is the ability to enjoy a quiet and litter-free beach scene whilst drinking my ice-cold San Mig Zero.
Closer to home, as in right across the street, things were heating up:
I’ve given up on trying to understand the rationale of these seemingly senseless burns. This one got out of control and threatened a nearby house. When I returned from my afternoon walk a fire truck was on the scene.The aftermath. No property damage and I guess you could call it effective weed control. Oddly enough, I know the guy who owns this lot, Leech My Nuggets from the Hash. He’s in New Zealand right now and denies any culpability in the burning. Hmm.
Even without the fire, it was pretty damn hot yesterday. But today it is chili:
I remembered to put in some pineapple chunks this time and I’ve got to say, it added just a small dose of sweet and tangy. I liked it quite a lot actually. Speaking of sweet, I did the brown sugar and honey adds to my cornbread mix. My helper said it was too sweet, but better than the unsweetened version. Some folks are just hard to please I reckon. I liked it, which is really all that matters.
With people all over the world stuck at home I guess it was inevitable that boredom would result in all sorts of Facebook fun and games. I don’t normally participate, but I relented for the “long hair/short hair challenge”.
Me with long hair……and the short-haired version of myself.
Wasn’t that fun? Speaking of Facebook, the “memories” feature reminded me of happier times in Istanbul:
Miss you, baby!
Man oh man, all these photos of yours truly make me feel like I’m looking in a mirror.
I hate when that happens!
You gotta laugh in the face of adversity, right?
I know you feel these are the worst of times I do believe it’s true When people lock their doors and hide inside Rumor has it it’s the end of Paradise
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police and the military to shoot violators of the enhanced community quarantine if they are unruly and prove to be a threat to law enforcers’ lives.
Duterte’s statement came hours after residents of a Quezon City barangay staged a protest demanding food aid, which they said they have yet to receive. His statement also came as calls for his ouster flooded social networking site Twitter.
Duterte appealed to aid beneficiaries to be patient as he addressed “the Left,” telling them not to riot or he will have them jailed. “I will order you detained at bibitawan ko kayo pagkatapos na wala na itong COVID,” he said. “‘Pag kayo ang na-detain, bahala kayo sa pagkain ninyo.” [Translation: I will order you detained and I will release you after this COVID-19 crisis is over…If you are detained, you are on your own when it comes to food.]
Is this a great country or what?
Closer to home, it seems some of the locals don’t like seeing us foreigners out and about enjoying our privileged life.
This rant was apparently generated by seeing the Saturday group of hikers parading down the street.
With all due respect, let me just say this: Fuck you! Our being out and about, primarily up in the mountains creates no danger to you or your neighbors. We do maintain safe distances and have little to no interaction with the locals. Unless we are giving them food, treats, or money.
The owner of Baker’s Table restaurant has initiated a charity drive to provide food to our needy neighbors here in Barretto. Apparently, the Barangay officials are too busy erecting barriers and otherwise making a bad situation worse that they can’t be bothered doing something meaningful like feeding the hungry.
Putting together the first batch of care packages. Twenty or so of us are contributing 1000 pesos ($20) a week to buy food for those in need for the duration of this crisis.
You know, it does seem that sometimes no good deed goes unpunished. This guy (I’ll come him Africa) is doing all the heavy lifting, going out and gathering the supplies, bagging them up, and then working through the Barangay to identify appropriate recipients. When Africa announced this effort on one of the internet forums, he couched it in terms of “if our neighbors are going hungry, us “rich” foreigners are going to become targets of opportunity; so it behooves us to work together to keep folks fed. Woo Boy, he took some flak for his uncharitable motivations. Fuck that. I do some stuff on my own and I do it for admittedly selfish reasons. It’s hard to live large in a country where so many have so little. Helping out a few eases my conscience and assuages my guilt. Sue me. The people benefitting from my efforts sure as hell don’t care why I’m doing it.
Speaking of selfish motivations, when I dropped into Baker’s Table to make my contribution today, I picked up these hot out of the oven pies:
An apple and a pumpkin, 450 pesos ($9.) each. I can get used to this!
As promised, here are some photos from yesterday’s hike:
The trail we took. What I like about this map is that it shows my house as one of the starting points…I had a 2K walk (the green line) to reach the group meet-up.And what a group! Eleven brave souls all told. Actually, that many people together did draw a lot of attention. Not all of it good. More on that in a bit.The climb up the big mountain begins with these steps.Still climbing…The view from halfway up…This pyre is ready for a human sacrifice to appease the God of the Wuhan virus…“Yeah, I started way the fuck down there in Alta Vista. Ain’t I special?How the boys pose on a mountaintop…Filipina-style…It is not perfect by a long shot, but why do some people insist on looking down on Barretto?“Walk towards the shade, Jim!”Horsin’ around on trail.We had planned a lunch stop at a little resort but it was closed and they wouldn’t let us in. Well, they let one person come in and buy drinks. Dave, Jim, and Jay had a Red Horse beer. I don’t mix drinking and hiking, so had a Sprite instead.Heading back down the mountain where a surprise awaits…No, not this head high barbed wire. We remembered that!
Our surprise was getting almost to the bottom and encountering an officious old hag who sternly advised us our path was closed to non-residents. We tried to argue we were on a charity mission (we had in fact handed out food and money to a destitute family up top), but she wouldn’t budge. She stood between us and the way back home so we didn’t have much choice but to ignore her. She threatened to “take our picture” and we just shrugged her off. She told us she would report us to the barangay, and we kept walking. Then she threatened to call the police. Oh well, do what you have to do. Before we reached the bottom Ed, Helen, and I veered off to take an overland route back to Alta Visa (Ed and Helen are my neighbors). I figured if the cops were really laying in wait, I’d rather go a different way. Turns out there were no problems getting home for any of us, which was a relief.
We’ve decided that in the future we will stay on the My Bitch mountain to avoid power-mad old ladies. We will also meet up on the mountain so as to not make a spectacle of ourselves walking the quarantined streets.
The things we do to keep the peace in our little town.
Well, rather than repeat myself, let me just share what I posted on Facebook this morning:
Got stopped by the police last night for being out after curfew. They asked where I’d been and where I was going. I went all American on them, yelling about me being a free man who can come and go as I please.
They arrested me and I just now got released from a holding cell. I have been advised that deportation hearings will be initiated as soon as possible. It looks like my time in the Philippines is coming to an end.
There should be a day on the calendar dedicated to fools like me.
What can I say? Those who play must pay. Speaking of paying, here’s the latest from one of the biggest bar owners in town:
Hello all. I’ll be assisting Moe in managing a new business venture which will be available to all at our soft opening this Wednesday at 6 PM in the Paradise Hotel. Now before you go thinking too much into this please let me explain how it works.
Due to the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions and most of our staff returning to the provinces, we are offering the opportunity to spend two hours with a top of the line, ultra realistic sex doll. You’ve heard how realistic they look and feel. Totally lifelike size (about 5’1) lifelike weight (about 90 lbs). Absolutely state of the art silicone silky life-like skin, real hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, pussy hair and totally realistic feeling vagina, ass, and mouth. She can bend into any position you desire and each doll comes wearing a removable sexy see-through babydoll and panties. We have 5 brand new, never used dolls. 3 are Filipina’s with brown skin and long silky black hair, 1 is a Caucasian blonde and 1 is a red head ladyboy for those customers who would like to take a walk on the wild side.
How it works: You can contact Lyn, our receptionist at the Paradise front desk and ask for a doll room. You will also be able to call ahead and make a room reservation with your favorite doll at: 0929710800.
Upon arrival, you will be given a menu card to choose which type of doll you prefer and she will be ready for you in your room. Payment is made at the reception desk and is P1000 for a 2 hour visit. Lubrication is provided along with an instruction dvd set up in your room, just press play on your remote to watch. All orifices are naturally silky smooth and feel just like the real thing. Use a little lube and you’re off to the races. This will change the way the adult entertainment industry operates here in Brgy Barretto.
When you’re finished just leave everything and the doll is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized inside and out. There is no violation of law, social distancing, or worrying about a runner, stolen wallet, or STD. She won’t argue over price or get upset if you fart in bed. The best thing is she never says “NO!”
As I mentioned before, the soft opening is this Wednesday at 6 PM and if everything goes well we will consider expansion by July. Piatnight membership cards honored. 10% discount to First Responders & medical personnel.
With the absence of the real thing, these dolls are an absolute God send. Please feel free to stop in for a glass of champagne during our soft opening, we will have all 5 dolls on display and an instructional video playing. Come on in and have a drink and check things out. We are very excited to offer an alternative form of entertainment to you and believe this will be the start of a growing industry.
I hope to see you there.
Would I be a fool to attend this event?
Meanwhile, back in the real world:
The latest from the geniuses who have quarantined Barretto. Let’s block off all the side streets in town. It won’t do anything to stop the spread of the Wuhan virus, but it will make life more difficult for everyone, so why not?
I guess the quarantine has exempted fire starters from the lockdown:
Burn baby burn! That was the view from my street as I walked out yesterday…
Yesterday’s special at “Gomans”:
I’ll take one to go too, please…
I had another long hike with some fellow walkaholics this morning. I’ll post about that adventure (with photos) tomorrow. This damn curfew has turned my world, well, my biological clock anyway, upside down. Having to be home at 6 p.m. has me all out of sorts. I was in bed before 8 last night, how f’d up is that? Ah well, hopefully, this will be over in a couple of more weeks. Or I’ll adapt. One of those.
Another change with everything closed is that I’m eating breakfast at home every morning. Here’s how I fueled up for today’s 11K hike.
It’s April Fool’s Day. Hope no one made a fool of you!
So, here’s a funny Buddy story. For whatever reason, Buddy likes to join me in the bathroom when I’m, um, taking care of business. What’s weird to me is that wherever he might be in the house he hears and recognizes the sound of the toilet seat being dropped. I sit down and he comes running. I’m not sure what the attraction is–getting his head rubbed or the smell. Anyway, I’m never lonely when I purge the poop.
A few days ago Buddy wasn’t feeling well. I discovered this when I noticed that one of the rugs in my bathroom was all askew. When I straightened it out I saw that Buddy had left a pile of diarrhea on the rug, then apparently tried to cover it up. He did the same thing in my helper’s bathroom. It was hard to get mad about it, I mean, when you gotta go you gotta go, especially if you have the runs. I was actually kind of impressed that he knew that the bathroom was the place to do this kind of business. He’s a smart dog! Now if I can just teach him how to use the toilet.
Sorry for the crappy post. That’s all I have today.
I am guilty of cowardice and I’m not afraid to admit it.
In an odd turn of events, I heard from Jessa last night. Well, I guess technically when you are doing a messenger chat you aren’t “hearing” anything. But you know what I mean. And it was probably the best chat we ever had–either before, during, or after our aborted romance. I guess she had picked up from my Facebook posts that I’ve experienced a relationship failure. “Again?” she inquired, not entirely without sympathy. Then she wanted to know if I really meant it this time and if I was really going to finally let go of this one for good. I assured her that was my intention. She wished me good luck but admitted she didn’t completely believe me.
Then we talked about her and what she’s been doing (recently returned from Saudi Arabia) and about us, or more specifically, our failed attempt at beginning a relationship. And the quote I used at the top of this post came to mind. But the past is the past and until I can make my fantasy of time travel a reality, the past cannot be changed. But I was honest in telling Jessa that looking back I would have done things differently. She didn’t seem particularly impressed with my newly discovered insights but did offer me some much-needed encouragement as I plod forward into an unknown future. And I did appreciate that. I asked her if she was seeing anyone and she responded that she is “talking” to a guy. I took that to mean one of those overseas/long-distance romances that are so prevalent here. I also took it to mean that my future would not be including her. Ah well.
The other thoughts I have had involve why this latest failure bothers me so much. It really shouldn’t because I had not invested much emotion into the relationship. Yeah, my routines are out of kilter now and Lucky is especially bummed out, but that will pass. It occurs to me that what is going on is tantamount to having the old scabs and scar tissue torn away from the wounds of the past. The ones that actually did cut deep and were life-changing. A reminder that some things break and can never be completely repaired.
I’ll figure it out. In the meantime, here’s today’s “interesting” photograph:
I have no interest in ever seeing inside, however.
I don’t write much about my female relationships here, such as they are. I guess in part because I keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. That gets embarrassing after a while. So, I’ve been seeing this gal off and on for more than a year. I guess I enjoy her company, at least to the extent that I found her better than being alone. Dogs love her like crazy, so there’s that.
Anyway, I never let myself get too close and kept my guard up so as to avoid the whole falling in love thing. It was what it was and that was good enough. For me, anyway. I took care of her, at least materially and I thought she would appreciate the comfort I provided her. I gave her whatever she needed and all I asked for in return was a little respect and some appreciation. At the end that proved to be too much, I guess.
So, another failure. I don’t have a broken heart because I never put my heart at risk. But I’ll admit to being very disappointed and somewhat hurt. I had settled into a comfortable routine with her and now I feel out of sorts and floundering a bit. And I’ll be fine, I know. Under the current circumstances, this truly is her loss. No job and now no allowance from the generous foreigner. Oh well, life goes on.
Maybe if I develop feelings for COVID-19 it will leave
Here’s the “interesting” photo from yesterday’s hike. Like a message from the love Gods:
A heart of stone.
So, about yesterday’s walk. It was a long one. Over 10K from where we started, and I had a 4K hike to get to and from the starting point. We climbed the “big mountain”, then walked the ridgeline almost all the way to Tralala. I’ll tell the story through the photos:
My fellow hikers: Scott, Jim, and Anne.The climb to the top begins……and goes on and on. The stairs maybe took us 1/4 of the way to the top. The rest was a pretty steep trail. There ain’t no easy way up that mountain, but there are harder ways than the one we chose. Ask Günter.It was a hot day and later on, I’d be chastising myself for coming so unprepared for such a long hike. I opted not to bring my backpack which meant I was only carrying two bottles of water. Despite my rationing and bumming some of Jim’s, I ran out before we were back in town.Taking a breather after the climb.Met this family group as we walked the ridgeline. Kept a safe social distance of course.The road gave out and our path took a turn for the worse.I guess these lasses were stealing harvesting some things to eat. And still, onward we marched.As black as my ex-girlfriend’s heart. That’s definitely the biggest burn I’ve seen yet. I have to believe it went out of control.Amazing views from the top though.“See that ridge over there? That’s where we are going.” Are you fucking serious? He was.Our destination is under those trees.Now we are at the spot Jim was pointing to earlier. Quite a hike, but I made it!And this is what we found under those trees on top of the mountain. I never cease to be amazed at how people can live in such isolation. They are a good hard walk from any civilization and anything they bring in, they carry on their backs. Beautiful views from there, but no way I could live like that.Scott had met the patriarch of the family the last time he hiked this trail–seven years ago! And the old man remembered him too.Both the old man and the wife are in their seventies. That is quite a bit beyond life expectancy in this country of hard lives. Must be the mountain air…After a brief rest, we said our goodbyes and headed back home.It was a hard days hike, but this made it (almost) worth it…It’s been a LONG time since I broke the 30,000 step barrier. The total includes my dog walking and going into town for beer steps too.
Today I went to the DiviMart store and picked up some supplies:
A bag of rice, some canned sardines and tuna, noodles, cookies, crackers, and candy.Stuffed them into my backpack (it was f’n heavy!) and carried them up to the top of My Bitch.
I knew the mountain folk who call me by name now were probably hurting for food. I also know there is no way the barangay is bringing supplies all the way up here. It was good to help out some friends in need!
Oh, and commenter Kevin Kim asked me how the pork chops with pineapple came out:
Not bad. Not bad at all. Actually, you could hardly taste the pineapple (unless you got a chunk in your bite). Just a slight sweetness to the overall flavor. Would I try it again? Probably not, it’s just as good without pineapple.
And that’s it for today. I’ve got a walk to get in yet, then I’ll go drown my sorrows at the Speakeasy.
I’d been adapting as well as could be expected to the enhanced quarantine’s curfew hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Hell, even before the Wuhan virus came to town I was normally home around nine or shortly thereafter. With the quarantine limitations, I’d been going out a little bit earlier than I used to, so things were pretty much in balance.
And now with a stroke of his pen, the mayor of Olongapo (which includes Barretto) has enhanced the enhanced quarantine restrictions and expanded the curfew from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. Damn, that doesn’t leave me much time to get my groove on. And yes, I’ve been playing a little fast and loose with the quarantine rules, but I have abided by the curfew and I intend to continue doing so. I can make up some cock and bull story about why I’m going out of the house for beer (hey, it’s essential medication after all) but being on the streets past curfew is not going to get me anywhere but jailed or deported. Or both. Not worth it.
So, adjustments will have to be made. Fortunately, the manager of my Speakeasy sent me a message telling me he will adjust the hours of his establishment to accommodate customers like me. I don’t like drinking before 5 p.m., but in these desperate times, we’ve all got to make sacrifices!
Dinner at “Goman’s” last night was chicken fingers and coleslaw.And the dessert of course!The view was nice too!
I guess my big news for the day is that I found a new bakery/restaurant. Take out only for now, but I did pick up some things to make my home life a little more comfortable.
A fresh-baked loaf of bread and a couple of chocolate chip cookies……a baguette……and the reason I made the trip to the Baker’s Table–pumpkin pie! First time I’ve seen this in the Philippines. Even the supermarket didn’t have pumpkin pie in the frozen section.This morning’s breakfast. I’m not used to fresh bread I guess, it seemed a little doughy. It was good though. I couldn’t resist a bite before I took this photo.
I’ve only had a taste of the pie. It was still hot out of the oven when I brought it home. For dessert tonight I’ll have some pie a la mode.
Tonight’s dinner is currently cooking in the crockpot. Those are pork chops with ranch dressing and cream of mushroom soup. I threw in a can of pineapple chunks just for the hell of it…
Speaking of social distancing, one year ago Buddy and Lucky were being kept apart.
For them, it was the mange that had to be avoided…
And that’s about all from here. I’m going to do my afternoon walk down Baloy Beach, then hit up the 7-11 store for some vanilla ice cream. Also the fruit stand for some bananas (I hope). The struggle continues!
Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool Got the twelve o’clock news blues And I’ve given up hope for the afternoon soaps And a bottle of cold brew Is it any wonder I’m not crazy? Is it any wonder I’m sane at all
Well I’m so tired of losing- I got nothing to do and all day to do it I go out cruisin’ but I’ve no place to go and all night to get there Is it any wonder I’m not a criminal? Is it any wonder I’m not in jail? Is it any wonder I’ve got
Too much time on my hands? It’s ticking away with my sanity I’ve got too much time on my hands It’s hard to believe such a calamity I’ve got too much time on my hands And it’s ticking away, ticking away from me
I guess I’m settling into the new normal around here and trying to make the best of it.
For my dinner last night at “Goman’s” I kept it simple–seafood chowder and Shanghai lumpia…
After dinner and beers, I visited my Speakeasy for a couple more brews before curfew. It’s weird getting home before 8:00. Now I’m in bed by 9:00 every night. I’m starting to feel like an old man.
Speaking of how I feel, I guess I’m fine. Just getting a little paranoid perhaps. Part of the issue is that I have a respiratory condition that frequently results in nasal congestion, sneezing, and sometimes coughing; usually at night after I’m in bed. So I had a coughing jag last night and got to thinking: “Oh shit, what if this isn’t my COPD?” I actually got up and took my temperature (35.6c) just to ease my mind. No coughing today so I reckon I’m good to go.
At least I’m still achieving my 20,000+ steps per day goal. And if this article is to be believed, hell, I might just live forever!
Assuming I don’t trip and fall off a cliff or something.
My other big news is that I managed to finagle a Barretto quarantine pass. Common sense would have dictated providing one from the beginning; luckily I was able to have someone intervene on my behalf to get it done. Anyway, it gives me some peace of mind when I’m outside the confines of my subdivision. It also has a Baloy address so I can venture down that way when the mood strikes me. Freedom is a beautiful thing!
Now I’ll just sit back and wait for the next big thing! Hopefully not the virus.
Ay Corona!
You gotta laugh!
UPDATE: Well, I’ve used the “More of the same” title three times previously. Back in April 2018, I was winding things down in Korea, but my life there seems eerily familiar to my current circumstances. Then, in May 2009 I was bitching about some work issues, but otherwise enjoying my Itaewon nightlife. And the first time I was experiencing more of the same here on the blog was in March 2006, year two of my Korea life. Miss those days!
The fun times continue! Such as they are. Well, you’ve got to go with the flow and make the best of an unfortunate situation I suppose. You never know what’s going to happen next. But I do know what happened since I last posted here and I’m happy to report that info to you, my faithful readers.
I did an afternoon walk down Baloy Beach way and it was deserted and kinda spooky. Almost all the resorts are closed now, and the couple that remain open are for take-out food only. Honestly, I would not want to walk that road alone in the dark.
I wore a face mask for the first time since the Wuhan crisis began. I had no choice, I couldn’t get into the grocery store without it.
Once I’d donned my mask, had my temperature checked (36.5C), and lathered my hands in the required alcohol solution, I stepped inside my local DiviMart to see what was available. I was actually pretty surprised that there were only a handful of customers inside the store. I was hoping to score a loaf of bread but there was none available. The meat section was pretty much wiped out as well. I grabbed some off the shelf milk, some cookies, and some candy (to hand out on my hikes) and headed for the checkout. Three cashiers, no one in line. I picked the cute one, paid and headed on home.
On the way home I ran into my Filipina neighbor, Joy. She jokingly asked if I left anything for her and I warned her about the bread situation. I saw her again later in the afternoon and she was pissed. It seems the Barangay folks wouldn’t let her go to the store, telling her she had to go during specified hours. She pointed out to them that a foreigner (me) had been allowed to shop and the official just shrugged and said: “we aren’t stopping foreigners.” That REALLY got her goat (she is married to one by the way).
Anyway, that’s the kind of bullshit that makes an already difficult situation worse. The store was practically empty while I was there, why deny a person entry? Ignorance abounds.
Last night found me back at my new old favorite hangout, “Gomans”.
Enjoyed me a fish and chips dinner. And beer. Lots of beer!
The same handful of customers from the previous night were also in attendance. I kept my distance, both to avoid the virus and to not have to engage in their political discussions. I did learn from one of those present that she had run into a waitress from the [nearby place] on her way to work. I was surprised because I’d heard they were closed. This called for more investigation, so I left Gomans at 7:00, well in advance of the 8 p.m. curfew, and headed on over to [nearby place].
Upon arriving I saw a large sign saying closed and that the front door was blocked by a security guard. As I approached he said “Closed sir”. I asked if the manager, Sean, was working. The guard nodded and I asked him if he would tell Sean that John was outside. The guard left and a few minutes later Sean appeared, nodded, and gestured for me to come inside. He escorted me into the indoor bar (not poolside like in the past). There were half a dozen customers inside enjoying alcoholic beverages. Woo Hoo! Now I have another option for those lonely quarantined nights. I had a quick couple of beers and laughed with Sean about it feeling like a prohibition-era speakeasy joint. Left in time to make it home prior to curfew. No need to push my luck!
This morning I met up with Scott, Dave, and Joh (Dave’s wife) for a very pleasant 8K hike.
I thought this colorful pineapple was “interesting”.The best view of the day.“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…” Well, in this case, I came to her. A shrine of faith in the middle of nowhere always trips me out.
And now it is time to once again go peruse the menu at Gomans. Let it be.
Still just rolling along hoping to avoid snake eyes here in paradise. Yeah, you’ve got to work hard to come up with something that convoluted. What else is there to do?
I got accosted stopped on the street for the first time last evening. It wasn’t a law enforcement officer, rather it was a Barangay official stationed on the corner where the street from my subdivision intersects with the National Highway. It went down like this:
“Good evening. Where are you going?” I’m going to get something to eat. “Where?” Sit-n-Bull. “Do you have a quarantine pass?” Yes, I do. As I started to reach for my wallet, he said: “Or an identification card?” I breathed a sigh of relief and showed him my Alien Certificate of Registration card. That document shows my address as Barretto. The pass puts me in San Isidro and technically doesn’t permit me to be in Barretto. Even though it is not possible to leave Alta Vista by road without entering Barretto. Anyway, he looked at my ID, said thank you, and sent me on my way.
It felt a little like this. HEIL DUTERTE!
I didn’t go to Sit-n-Bull, I went to the restaurant that still allows sit down dining, I’ll call it Gomans for now. Had me a plate of fried chicken this time.
It was pretty damn good too. Threw the bones to a stray dog on the beach, so it was a win-win kinda night.
I posted the above photo on Facebook and one of the commenters somehow managed to identify the location. I promptly deleted the post, but I fear he may be the kind of wanker who would report the place to the authorities. I hope not. Because I’ve been getting my fill of beer there both before and after dinner as well. And I do enjoy enjoying beer.
Kind of like that.
We’ll see what happens with the next roll of the dice I reckon.
Living in a plague is just an intensified way of living. It merely unveils the radical uncertainty of life that is already here, and puts it into far sharper focus. We will all die one day, and we will almost all get sick at some point in our lives; none of this makes sense on its own (especially the dying part). The trick, as the great religions teach us, is counterintuitive: not to seize control, but to gain some balance and even serenity in absorbing what you can’t.”
Well, I’m just rolling with it all one day at a time. Yesterday I found an open restaurant that is still permitting sit down dining.
I enjoyed the grilled pork chops, my favorite dish at this place that will remain unnamed for now. Actually, the photo was from a dinner there in happier times. Forgot to take one last night. Looked pretty much the same though.
And yes, of course, they were also serving beer. I had several in fact. A couple other of expat diners as well and we enjoyed some chat with our brews. One guy just moved here a couple of weeks ago (talk about bad timing!) and it turns out he is a Hasher as well. Of course, he won’t get to do a Subic Hash until the quarantine is lifted, but he’s looking forward to it.
A very nice late afternoon view from my beachside dining/drinking vantage point:
Without all the tourists around, the sand was free of litter…The water in the bay was also very clear and calm…Okay, here’s a shot of the beach and bay without that annoying distraction in the photo…
It was a pretty pleasant evening all and all, and I left in plenty of time to make it home prior to the 8 p.m. curfew. In fact, I plan to go back again this evening. It only seems fair and right to support a business that has elected to stay open during these troubling times. And in case you are wondering, all of us patrons were in fact keeping the recommended distance from one another. I’m not putting myself or others at risk.
Another day without any symptoms indicating the Wuhan virus has invaded my body. I’ve incorporated taking a morning temperature check along with my other stats. 35.6 C today. BP a little higher than normal at 137/94, but a good resting heart rate of 61 bpm. So far, so good.
Today is the one year anniversary of my adoption of Lucky.
Lucky’s first meal at his new home.He was skinny and ravished with Sarcoptic Mange at the time.Lucky was a little shy at first, but he really enjoyed his dog house.
I kept Lucky outside until the meds cleared up the mange which the vet told me was highly contagious. Once he was healthy I moved him inside with his stepbrother and best buddy, Buddy.
Here they are last night doing their duty and guarding the house against intruders. Good boys!
No Hash today, but Scott (Pubic Head) joined me for a pleasant 7K hike this morning. Scott’s been Hashing here for going on 15 years now, so he pretty much knows all the trails. It is always nice to have him guide me on a new path.
I had breakfast at the unnamed restaurant, then headed out to meet Scott at our rendevous point in Marian Hills.
Steppin’ up… Alta Vista.Leaving the neighborhood……and arriving at Marian Hills.Scott says “let’s roll!”A cabin in the woods. Such as it is.A tree fall blocked our path at one point. I thought we’d have to turn around and go back, but Scott suggested we climb over the obstacle. And that is just what we did!At the top of our climb.I overcame my bridge phobia. This one was quite sturdy and no problem for me.Scott followed suit and we both completed the hike unharmed.
For today’s “interesting” photo I’ll offer up something that reminds of a quaint and simpler time, long before the nightmare of the current pandemic.
Yes, hard as it may be to believe, at one time people actually worried about rabies. Ah, to return to those carefree days!
Here’s a shot of a guy that is technically in violation of the quarantine restrictions, but he has good intentions and takes appropriate steps to avoid contracting or spreading the dreaded virus from China.
A free man will not be chained! Possibly deported, but hopefully not.
