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.
I survived another Hash. I didn’t particularly enjoy this week’s edition though. We had a crazy steep, long, and hard climb up for one thing. One section of the trail was covered in garbage. You know, I have empathy for folks scratching out a living up in the hills where conveniences like trash collection don’t exist. But there has got to be a better way than creating your own dump site behind the house. At least dig a hole and bury it. Anyway, rant over.
The climb to the top was on a trail we seldom use (I didn’t remember most of it) and I expect the reason for that is that it is just too damn hard. One of the visiting Hashers, from Manila I think, gave up and turned back about halfway up. Once we were once again on mostly level ground the trail wasn’t bad. My group opted out of a second climb towards the end and walked the streets back to our On-Home at Baloy Beach. A little longer in distance but much flatter. That’s the way I roll these days.
The course of action as planned by the Hares, Demolition Derby and Blow My Pipe.The “sane” group of Hashers I roll with. We get a 30-minute headstart and shortcut when and where we want.And we are On-On!The first kilometer or so was on the streets of Barretto.Fun’s over, let the climbing begin!Black and Dick Her posing in front of the abodes of the hillside dwellers.Behind those houses, our path was paved in garbage.Get Your Rocks Off points out the error of their ways.I hope you get a sense of just how steep the climb was from this photo.What’s Up Doc taking a breather.“Let me get a shot of this”As seen from above.Taking a sit.Vienna Sausage, one of the first runners to catch up with and pass the sane group.That really gets my goat.Meandering down the trail.That’s as close as we got to Easter mountain.Not the life for me.Soon to be uling (charcoal) no doubt.This was one of the most bizarre things I saw on trail. As we began our descent we came upon this staircase. Solidly built out of stone with unusually high-quality craftsmanship. The steps went on and on and must have cost a small fortune to construct. And then they ended at a barbwire fence halfway down the mountain. No idea what purpose they were intended to serve, but by all appearances, it was someone’s broken dreams.On down.Almost there. Back on the mean streets of Barretto at last.On-Home at the Viking resort on Baloy.
Lots of beer drinking at the Hash and finished my night with some more beers at the Car Wash. Slept the peaceful sleep of the inebriated.
And so it goes. Until it doesn’t. All you can do is enjoy the ride as best you can. The adventure is seeing what’s around the next corner. Bring it on!
I don’t know what I’m feeling these days. Melancholy might be close. But I’ve been in darker places. Actually, I’m just doing what I used to do to fill in the time. It may not be all that exciting, but there is comfort in the familiarity. Here’s how my yesterday went down.
A very pleasant solo morning hike.Revisited a trail through the rice fields that is impassable most of the year.
Came back home and did my computer time, including writing yesterday’s blog entry. I got a kick out of the comments regarding my inartful, or should I say incorrect, articulation in the post title–One of these is different than the other; subsequently changed to the proper form of: One of these is different from the other. I never even gave it a thought because in my mind that’s how I would have said it. I stand corrected!
And if you think I talk bad, you should see my writing! Oh, if you are reading this I guess you have.
Anyway, life is for learning and I do appreciate the lesson.
I also finished Season Two of the Ricky Gervais Netflix series, After Life. It’s fair to call it a black comedy, although truth be told, it’s not all that funny. What I like about it are the pearls of wisdom in dealing with loss and depression that occasionally shine through. In the last episode, one of the characters referenced a Robert Frost quote: “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” Frost is one of my favorite poets and I was unfamiliar with the context, so I did a Google search and found this:
“In all your years and all your travels,” I asked, “what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?”
He paused a moment, then with the twinkle sparkling under those brambly eyebrows he replied: “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on. In all the confusions of today, with all our troubles . . . with politicians and people slinging the word fear around, all of us become discouraged . . . tempted to say this is the end, the finish. But life — it goes on. It always has. It always will. Don’t forget that.
Frost said that back in 1954, but damn, those words resonate in these troubled times as well. I wasn’t even born when he uttered those words but the fact that I found comfort in them long after his death says to me that indeed, life goes on.
Beer o’clock rolled around and as is my custom, I made my way into town.
One of the nice views here in my neighborhood. Honestly, it is hard to be depressed when you are surrounded by beauty.
I was undecided about where to go for my liquid refreshment. My old haunts just seem so unsatisfying these days. And I really wasn’t feeling up for the whole “buy me a drink” routine from the desperate bargirls. I was thinking I’d just spend the evening looking at the beach, so I headed over to Mango’s.
Things were in full swing on the beach when I arrived.Jetski rentals, banana boat rides, sand, and water. It was nice to see folks out and actually enjoying their lives. I played the part of the lonely old guy sitting by himself at the bar taking it all in. I’ve got lots of experience in that role!The beers were going down fast and easy and so was the sun.The sun went out in a blaze of glory. Meanwhile, I dined on the best grilled pork chops in town. Thick and juicy!
For any of you who might think beer is something I enjoy to excess, I have signed on for this upcoming event:
I can do this!
And then I went home.
I ordered up some coasters for my friend’s bars a while back and they arrived this morning:
Good job, Maria.
It’s another Hash Monday, so stay tuned for a full report on that event tomorrow.
The scary thing is I didn’t notice until I was halfway finished with my dog walk.
I’m feeling somewhat better today, not quite 100% yet, but making progress. Had some beers at the Car Wash last night and a good long chat with the ex. I have a better understanding and appreciation of her feelings and I can honestly say I wish her nothing but the best in her quest to fulfill her dreams. Some things are just not meant to be, but if you can salvage something positive out of a failed relationship, you have a net gain in the end. Doesn’t always feel that way but letting go of the emotion and embracing reality is a big step forward for me and my mental health.
The daily special board at It Doesn’t Matter bar.
There is always something good to eat in this town anyway. I’ll be alright.
The Friday morning group hike turned out to be the highlight of my day. I didn’t play in the dart tournament because one of my darts is still being repaired. That left the third aspect of my life–drinking beer. The problem with that is that I haven’t been able to reacclimate myself to enjoying the meaninglessness of the bar scene. Yeah, I know, give it time.
The truth of the matter is that I feel myself sliding into the black hole of depression. I’ve been there before and I’m confident I’ll be able to claw my way back out, but damn, losing at love again has just turned my world upside down. I don’t know what to do next, especially when the things I used to do have lost much of their appeal. Maybe that will change with time.
It probably doesn’t help that I’ve not been feeling well physically either. Stomach is not right and I’m just generally out of sorts. I tried to walk this morning and aborted the effort before I got out of the neighborhood. Just been lazing around the house ever since thinking about things that are better left unsaid. I hope I feel better soon.
Sorry for this downer of a post. But at least I have some pictures of the hike to share.
Our Friday group. I led the trail since no one else wanted to. One good climb on a seldom-used path, then we circled back to Barretto.It looked like this from a Google-eye perspective.Leaving Alta Vista…The old dirt road.Making our way up.A brief rest near the top…Mountain life with a view.Beauty lies where you find it.The second half of the hike begins.Through the grass.And through the woods.My neighbor Helen waits.Above Barretto.Coming down into town.
You can Relive the hike here if you want.
That’s it for today. It’s bound to be better soon.
The view as I left the neighborhood on my way into town. Hard to be depressed when I’m living in paradise.
I guess I could use this title for most of my posts here, but last night was special, at least in the sense that it was my first time bar hopping since my break-up. I started out at Cheap Charlies, one of my former regular haunts. Facebook had advised that my favorite there, Alma, was having a birthday so I thought I’d surprise her. That didn’t work out so well since Alma took the day off to celebrate her birthday. Oh well, the other gals were happy to see me back. One, in particular, Jade, was cracking me up with her witty comments–correctly surmising that I must be single again because I was there and the GF wasn’t. She also noted that my plans to celebrate Alma’s birthday had been fruitless, but suggested we party on without her. So, I bought drinks for the three gals surrounding me, and when I got hungry I ordered some extra food so everyone could partake.
The leftovers. Happy birthday, Alma!
My next stop was a new bar in town called Graceland. It’s owned by a Hasher named Dripping Pussy, but she goes by Grace in real life. It’s got to be the smallest bar in town, with inside seating for six. They do have a table out front as well.
Inside Graceland. The walls are covered in graffiti messages from friends and customers, presumably from some grand opening event I didn’t attend.An example of the proverbial writing on the wall.Naturally, I added my two cents.
Anyway, I wish them well. I’ll probably pop in again sometime but doubt I’ll become a regular.
A highlight of the evening was my visit to Alaska Club. Regular readers may recall that this was the first bar I visited in the Philippines back in the days when it was located in Angeles City. Lots of memories from those days, including my first-ever barfine.
Hello there, Sheryl.
I did a post about some of those AC memories here if you want to get a sense of what I’m talking about. Anyway, like all the bars in Barretto, Alaska has been suffering without the free-spending tourists who used to frequent the place. I dropped in every couple of months or so, but I was almost always the only customer. And really, without the dancers to offer entertainment, there isn’t a lot of reasons to go there. To make things even worse, the owner, Jerry, had been stuck in the USA for the last twenty months. He kept the bar open solely to provide some income and housing for the loyal employees he left behind. That was an amazing act of charity in my opinion.
Anyway, when I entered the bar I saw right away that I was once again the only customer. But then I saw Jerry coming up to welcome me–he finally made it back to the Philippines. We had a great chat for over an hour and the beer was flowing. He’s really an interesting guy (a retired airline pilot who hails from Alaska) with lots of stories to tell. I shared with him some of my memories of those early days back in AC and asked if he remembered Sheryl. He didn’t recognize the photo I showed him but called over his mamasan who has been in his employ for 16 years to have a look. She recognized Sheryl immediately and confirmed that she is married and living in Australia, where she works as a nurse. That last detail was a surprise–I had sponsored Sheryl’s caregiver certification, she must have continued her education in her new life. Good for her! And welcome back, Jerry. Your presence in the bar will be enough to bring some customers like me in and the tourists are on their way! Better days are coming for us all.
Drinking my blues away was the objective and as far as I can remember it was a successful endeavor. Started out in the early afternoon at Harley’s on Baloy where I participated with my Lagoon teammates in 10-3 thrashing in dart league action.
My teammates after our successful afternoon of dart play.One of the views we enjoyed from Harley’s.This odd-looking device was on the bar…no idea what it is used for…
I had achieved a pretty nice buzz by the end of the dart match, but I was just getting started. I needed to get one of my darts repaired so I walked further down Baloy Beach road to the Viking resort. Cristy, one of the dart players there, has the equipment needed to fix my broken dart, so I left it with her. Viking had just finished putting a whipping on Johan’s, and a couple of the gals from Johan’s I know were still there, so naturally, I greeted them. They left before I concluded my business with Cristy.
Since I was already in the middle of Baloy I decided to continue my drinking at a nice little beach bar nearby called McCoy’s. As I walked up I was surprised to see the two gals from Johan’s there as well. Turns out one of them was having a birthday, so I bought a round of drinks in her honor. Now, the one thing I don’t like about McCoy’s is they have a karaoke machine, and it is apparently always set at full volume. Some young woman was wailing away when I arrived. Normally, I just move on to somewhere else, but since the birthday girl wanted a drink, I stuck around. She eventually decided she wanted a turn on the videoke machine, so she deposited the requisite coins and grabbed the mike. I don’t remember what she sang, but it sounded alright.
And then she insisted that I take a turn. Play the video below at your own peril. You’ve been warned!
It always sounds so much better in my head. Ah well. Even bad singing doesn’t impact the view from McCoy’s:
After a couple of beers, I decided to head on back to Barretto. As I passed by my ex’s place, I thought, fuck it, I’m going in. Dick didn’t seem happy to see me but the ex joined me at my table for a glass of wine. I’m glad we are still on friendly terms.
After a few more beers and a chicken burger the ex ordered for me, I decided to visit It Doesn’t Matter. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in any of my old haunts, and I was given a warm welcome back by the staff. I also got to have a nice chat with my favorite there, Roan. It was after 10 p.m. now and I’d been drinking for over 8 hours. I was at my limit. I don’t even remember paying my tab, I’ll check on that tonight. Caught a trike on home and my drunken Wednesday came to a close.
Here are some photos from the Wednesday Walkers hike for those of you who enjoy the scenery.
We caught a Jeepney out to the Waltermart in Subic town and then walked the 9K on backroads to Barretto. Mostly paved and flat.The turnoff for Naugsal.Tending to the crops.Tending to the weeds.Mountain views.Moon views.Speaking of backsides, here’s a view of Easter mountain that I rarely see.It was smokin’ hot…Drying rice in the road…Watch out for those female drivers!We crossed this bridge when we came to it. I’m not big on suspension bridges, especially the way they sway and bounce as you walk. This one was pretty solid though. Still got a little queasy in the middle, but I lived to blog about it.Chris crossing.Back on trail on the other side of the river.Riverside dwellers.Julie is such a poser!And that’s pretty much all there is to see from this walk.This week’s edition of the Wednesday Walers.This post is outstanding in its field.
Anyway, time for me to get on with my Thursday drinking. Gonna hit Cheap Charlies to start and get reacquainted with my favorites there. Also, a couple of new bars have opened since my barhopping days were interrupted in the pursuit of love. Now that it is just me again, I have no one else to disappoint. Life has its compensations I suppose.
The girlfriend packed her things this morning and left me. The fact that this ending was inevitable doesn’t make it any less painful. I love her but sometimes love just isn’t enough. And I had promised that when this day came I would support her decision. You can’t love someone and not do whatever it takes for her to be happy, even at the cost of your own happiness. We parted with a hug and a promise to hold on to the memory of the love we shared. That is a much better ending than the “fuck off” it could have been. I’m thankful for that.
And that is how this first day of the rest of my life began. I did a long hike with the Wednesday Walkers group this morning. That did help me clear my head a little. Next up is darts league. And after that, I expect I’ll find a comfortable place to sit and drink my pain away. Yep, time to embrace the meaninglessness and emptiness of my life without love once again. The best part of that is that no one can hurt me there.
VD fell on Hash Monday this year. That apparently caused a conflict of interest. The number of attendees was way down from normal, anyway. My girl wasn’t particularly pleased with my decision to Hash instead of romance, but as I explained to her, I could do both. I also noted that she could always join me at the Hash which seemed to end the debate. Anyway, I did the trail but skipped the Hash circle rituals. Yesterday was my 119th consecutive week of Hashing so I didn’t want to break my streak. Once I paid my fee, my record was intact so I could safely leave early and treat my gal to dinner at her favorite restaurant. So, win-win, right?
The trail as laid. I shortcut the second climb though.Only 5 of us “sane” Hashers yesterday, the smallest turnout in recent memory.Leaving Alta Vista. Yeah, I took a very similar shot of Easter mountain on my Sunday walk. Just in case this one looks familiar.Making our way through Marian Hills. The portion of the trail we did was all pretty familiar terrain. The Hares did a crappy job marking the trail though, which was pretty irritating.One up, one down, and the rest was flat.The climb wasn’t that bad either.Nosey Bastard lurking about at the top…Marks we could actually see were few and far between.12 Kilo Ass heading on down.ISD bringing up the rear.Maybe you can see the arrow on this post, but it’s a strain to do so. No powder at all on one of the major turns leading to the second up. I had no interest in making that climb and the poorly marked trail didn’t make me regret the decision not to do so.I got my rocks off making my own way back to the On-Home.
As I mentioned above, just a couple of beers at Blue Butterfly then I went to meet my dinner date. Other than her, the best part of the meal was the view. My dinner was served almost cold. Service was slow. I’m not sure why Papagayo is her favorite place but I’m reluctant to go back after my experience last night.
The view was good but not much else.
Finished the night at the GF’s new place, called The Snack Bar. More drama courtesy of the Dick, but I’m pretty much at the point where I just shrug it off. It must suck to be a loser like him and I can be thankful that I’m the better, and luckier, man.
There you have a snapshot from another day in the life and times of your humble correspondent. Stay tuned for more installments.
Well, I’ll be damned. I made it to Valentine’s Day with some semblance of a relationship still intact. It may not be all I wanted or expected it to be, but its survival, in and of itself, defies all odds. No idea what will happen next but I’ll worry about that tomorrow.
I started my VD eve at the Palm Tree hotel for beers and dinner.
But first I had to get there.My new preferred path to exit the neighborhood. A little steep and rocky in the beginning, but it is the fastest way out.Watching the sun go down from my perch at the Palm Tree…Dinner is served. I went with the Thai sweet and sour pork offering.
After dinner, I spent a couple of more hours hanging out at the GF’s resto-bar while she took care of business. A little boring sometimes but the beer is cold. Beats drinking alone, that’s for sure.
I’ve also begun watching a series on Netflix produced by and starring Ricky Gervais, After Life. It’s a dark, comedic take on the life of the protagonist (Gervais) after the tragic passing of his beloved wife. I’m only halfway through the first season, but so far, so good. The third and final season debuted last month. Only six 30-minute episodes per season, so I don’t have to invest a large portion of my precious time to get through it. Give it a watch if you are so inclined.
And those Facebook memories strike again! Nine years ago I crafted this parody poem when I fancied myself to be a semi-pro darter who went by the handle of “Walrus”.
The Walrus at the Oche
The outlook was looking bleak that night as 501 did play
His opponent sat on a double 16--an out he could hit any day
While the Walrus was faced with a hefty sixty and a ton
A possible out for sure--but one he'd never done
It would have been much closer but he was throwing like a dope
So there didn't seem to be much cause for having any hope
A victory seemed unlikely, but then you never know
And win or lose you still got to make the throw
The Walrus swigged his beer then stepped up to the line
It could have been that he was drunk or just really feeling fine
When Jee Yeun shouted "fighting baby" he let go with a small fart
There wasn't any question it was The Walrus with the dart
There was ease in his manner as The Walrus took his stance
He took a breath, shook his head, and wiped his hands upon his pants
He gazed upon his target and then let his Widow fly
When the chalker called out "triple" The Walrus heaved a sigh
"He always was a lucky fuck" someone muttered in the crowd
"Come on! let's see another one!" shouted others right out loud
It hadn't seemed that hot before but The Walrus did perspire
And then he threw another dart--a triple, just inside the wire
And now what seemed impossible was just a 40 out
The Walrus was feeling confident, there wasn't any doubt
He owned the double 20, or so he liked to think
He'd throw this dart, win the match, and buy the house a drink
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout
But there is no joy in Itaewon--The Walrus has bounced out.
(with apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer)
And no, I didn’t quit my day job–that was during my first go at retirement.
This pretty much captures how I looked most of the time back then.Might be hard to believe, but I was actually pretty contented with that life. Little did I know it would all come crashing down. And here I am all these years later once again standing on the precipice.
Such is life. I’m older but not much wiser. At least I don’t smoke and there’s a lot less of me these days. Let’s see what happens next.
It occurs to me that love is not an all-or-nothing proposition. A relationship might not always develop in ways that you had hoped for but the underlying foundation of love ought to be strong enough to keep the bond alive. You can lose someone but not lose the love if that makes any sense. Anyway, I’m glad that there has not been a crash and burn ending. Instead, a different but deeper understanding of what is important and an openness to whatever may lay ahead has been developing. I’m happy for that.
Yesterday was pretty much a lazy day, didn’t even bother to get off my ass and take a hike. Of course, when beer o’clock rolled around I found the motivation to head into town for some liquid refreshment. I plopped myself down at the outdoor poolside bar at Outback and drank alone for a couple of hours.
I had this view to keep me company, and it sufficed.About the time the sun was going down, the GF joined me.
We moved up the beach to Mango’s and enjoyed the grilled pork chop dinner together. Then it was back to her new place, The Snack Bar. I had some more beers while she took care of some business. I was a little snockered when I finally got home but still managed to blend up a batch of smoothies and watch an episode of Cobra Kai.
On the morning dog walk, I was surprised and saddened to see that this stand of big-ass pines had been felled. I can only assume in preparation for some new construction. That’s my place in the background (the white one).
I also did a 6.5K stroll this morning.
This tree in the neighborhood is in full blossom. I need to find out what it is called.Delonix regia I think.A path not taken. This time.I did go this way though.Almost like a bridal path…The skeleton of a dream.Down in the valley.As close as I got to Easter mountain. We’ll be climbing it come Easter Monday.A river runs through it.Homeward bound.
You can Relive the hike here if you want:
That’s about it from here. It’s always good to remind yourself it could be worse.
And it probably will be worse as long as this empty suit is in office.
The Friday hiking group changed things up a bit yesterday. We took the Hashmobile out to the end of the road near Tibag, then set up camp before proceeding on our hike. We got to see some new terrain which is always nice. When we were done with the walk, we fired up the grills and roasted some sausages. Oh yeah, we drank us some beers too.
Disembarking upon arrival.Setting up camp creekside.I’m getting tired of all the litter though…Charles came along to keep an eye on things at the camp while we did our hike. He’s living my nightmare–took a fall while out hiking alone and broke his leg. Fortunately, he was able to endure the pain long enough to make his way back to civilization.And we are off!A fixer-upper.A few of our crazy members went out in search of a way up to the ridgeline. They were unsuccessful in that endeavor, but props for trying. Us “sane” hikers had some minor ups and downs, but nothing to take our breath away.A lovely old tree.In the wilderness.One nice aspect of this hike was that for most of the trail we didn’t encounter any houses or people. It helped create that outdoorsy feel.There were several stream crossings. Some you could just hop across on stones.Others required getting wet feet.Onward we trudge.Most of the locals are friendly, but this guy just ignored my greeting. What’s he scared of?Speaking of being scared, this rickety suspension bridge got my heart racing……especially when I could hear the bamboo cracking under my feet.Back at our campsite at last!A new grill I purchased specifically for yesterday’s outing.Let there be sausage!A good time was had by all!
Last night didn’t go so well. I was rude and got told to go fuck myself. I was able to patch things up later, but damn, I’ve got to be a better man than that.
Perhaps it’s my destiny to be alone. Or karma.
Whenever I need to leave it all behind Or feel the need to get away I find a quiet place, far from the human race Out in the country
Before the breathin’ air is gone Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime Out where the rivers like to run I stand alone and take back somethin’ worth rememberin’
Sorry for yesterday’s cryptic post. I was having a bad day. Today is a new day and maybe that rotation of the earth provided some much-needed perspective. At least now I am resolved to accept the bad that comes with the good and not let my emotions overwhelm me when things aren’t going right. I’m still not sure what the long-range will bring but I do feel a bit more in control of my destiny. I’m confident I’ll figure out an acceptable way forward.
There were some positive aspects to the day. The Wednesday Walkers hike was a nice distraction. We inadvertently took a path that led us to one of the hardest climbs I’ve attempted in quite some time. It was a steep motherfucker and covered in loose leaves and soft dirt. Trying to get a grip to avoid sliding backward after each step was a real challenge. We eventually made it to the top unscathed after what we all agreed would be a once-in-a-lifetime event–never going that way again! I still came away with a sense of accomplishment, so there’s that. Pictures from the hike are at the bottom of this post.
My Lagoon dart league team pulled off a 12-1 victory over our opponents from Queen Victoria bar. It was closer than the score indicates–we won the games but didn’t dominate. That kind of challenge makes darts more fun.
A former teammate of ours lives at Lagoon in one of their monthly studio apartments. He’s been hospitalized at a public hospital in Olongapo for the past week. That particular hospital has a reputation amongst the expats as “the place where you go to die”. We had been working on making arrangements to have him transferred to a much better facility in Angeles City. In the process of getting him released, we were advised he had tested positive for COVID. That precluded sending him to Angeles City. We were all gobsmacked to learn that he was still being released but would have to undergo home quarantine for seven days. So, he was transported by ambulance back to a resort hotel where presumably he’ll be confined to his room. Crazy times, but wishing him the best.
To those hike photos then:
A short but challenging trail.Our group for the day.We did the first kilometer or so on the highway…These are the steps you want me to climb? Fine, let’s get on with it then!And so it begins.Friendly locals.Onward and upward.Damn, no end in sight.Finally made it to the end of the stairs.A nice bay view.And another. That’s the Hanjin shipyard, rumored to be re-opening soon under Aussie and American ownership.No more concrete steps, but the climb wasn’t over.Trudging on.And on.And then we had to make our own way up.This photo fails to capture the steepness and challenge of getting to the top.The stronger lent a hand, well, a stick, to get the stragglers to the top. Having a way to pull yourself up and to avoid slipping backward made a big difference.Finally made it to the summit.Scott taking some much-needed R & R.Back on the downside.Through the woods.A little spooky looking if you ask me.I hope this post wasn’t too much of a downer.
Last night might have been my worst since moving to the Philippines. It’s a special kind of pain when you are honestly doing your best but your best just isn’t good enough. How do you fix that?
It’s another whacked Wednesday. Did my morning hike with the Walkers group. Now I need to shower up and get ready for dart league. I really hate feeling rushed and not having time for my nap. Oh well.
Speaking of darts, I went undefeated through the winner’s bracket, then dropped out of the tournament last night. My mind was somewhere else altogether and I just wasn’t feeling it.
Yeah, I’m falling apart. I need to figure out how to get my shit together and get back to being content with my life. So much for my illusions of being in control of my emotions.
And man, am I getting dizzy. Not sure if it’s the spins or the ups and downs, but it has been quite a ride lately. I’m slowly adapting to my new lifestyle and might actually make this work despite the efforts of those determined to see me fail. If failure is to ultimately be my fate, it will be a choice, not something imposed upon me. Yeah, brave words I know. But my eyes are wide-open and I’m willing to make the effort as long as it seems worthwhile. Now, if only I could make all the drama feel entertaining. Oh well, that’s unlikely, so I’ll just have to deal with it all as best as I am able.
In the meantime, there are many positives to embrace. My gal and I continue to make progress, even if it is sometimes in a two-step forward, one step back, mode. We have good times and good experiences. We are getting better at communicating our thoughts and feelings with one another. And we share certain compatibilities that make it all seem worthwhile.
My lunch yesterday at her favorite restaurant, Papagayo. And the view from our table.
It was also Hash Monday, and in the afternoon I enjoyed a relatively easy 5K trail. Only one climb with a couple of dicey spots, and most of the rest was on familiar turf. Well, there was one section behind the squatter village adjacent to Alta Vista that is apparently a makeshift trash dump for the locals. We were literally walking through shitty diapers and other disgusting garbage for a bit. I know I won’t ever be going back that way.
Photos from our hike:
Up the hill behind Alta Vista, down Baloy Beach, over the river, and On-Home at Smokes and Bottles.Waiting to get started at the VFW.Last-minute guidance from the Hare.And we are On-On!Our climb began with some stairs.Lots and lots of stairs.That will get your heart pumping.The stairs ran out but the climbing continued.Not as fun as it looks!But we eventually got it done.Pretty much smooth sailing after that.A nice day to hike–cloudy skies but no rain.The Easter mountain photo you’ve been waiting for.We came back down into my Alta Vista neighborhood.An Alta Vista vista.Then we walked the beach at Baloy...And enjoyed a beer stop at Da’ Kudos…Preparing to cross the Matain river by banka boat.A river view.Finishing our journey on the back streets of Matain.Destination achieved, On-Home at Smokes and Bottles.
And that’s the way things have been rolling around here. Thanks for checking in!
For better or worse. I do need to do a post about the dramedy that is my life these past few days. But in the meantime, I’m doing okay overall. Take last night, for example. I was made to feel unwelcome in my venue of choice, so me and my gal hit the roof. The rooftop of the Central Park Reef hotel, that is. It turned out to be a very pleasant alternative.
The cafe is done up in a 1950s motif, including this authentic 1953 Chevy Corvette.And the rooftop infinity pool is one of the nicest I’ve seen.With 6 stories, Central Park is the tallest building in Barretto, towering over the surrounding neighborhood.The rooftop vantage point provides some of the best bay views around.Here’s a shot of the National highway heading towards Subic town.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable place to quaff some cold beers (the GF had mango juice), some snacks (calamari rings and blueberry cheesecake), take in the views, and forget about the recent bullshit for a bit. Just to be clear, the relationship is going fine despite the efforts of some to tear us apart. The fools don’t understand that their baseless attacks only make us stronger. Rock on!
After departing Central Park, we were planning on dropping in for a visit to the poolside bar at the Outback hotel. Outback is almost next door to the Car Wash, so the GF wanted to stop by for a quick check on how things were going. We wound up staying, which was fine by me. I knew a couple of the guys there and we chatted a bit. Other than some Dick walking by and calling me an asshole (takes one to know one!), it was a mostly pleasant evening.
One of the waitresses posing in front of some Valentine’s Day decorations.
Yesterday morning, the GF caught a cab home to Subic and I rode along for a drop-off way up on the Govic highway so I could have a change of scenery for my morning walk.
I commenced walking on the long road to Naugsol.And what would a hike be without a new perspective on Easter mountain?A river crossing on Bridge #4…And later a bamboo crossing.Why did the ducks cross the road?My fantasy life–a secluded hut in the middle of nowhere.
A short hike at just under 6K, but nice to be on some less-traveled paths.
The girlfriend rejoined me later in the afternoon and she picked a movie called 365 Days to watch on Netflix. It was one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. More like poorly made soft porn than a movie. No real storyline to follow and I despised all of the characters. I would have never made it to the end without a pretty young thing sitting next to me as motivation. I checked the Rotten Tomatoes site and saw that I wasn’t alone in my thinking. 0% of the critics liked the movies and only 29% of the audience scored it favorably. Don’t waste your time on this one. Incredibly, a sequel is apparently now in production. Yikes!
Bob Dylan wrote a song called “Love is just a four-letter word”.
I do love my beer!And I have the belly to prove it!
The doctor says I need to go see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. I did get a prescription for an antihistamine and a nose inhaler. We’ll see how that works out.
A solid night of darts and no controversy or yelling.
Another first!
After the tourney, I invited all the Alley Cats girls to join me at the Car Wash for some grub. I did encounter an issue there and left before the food was served. I paid of course. Hopefully, I’ve managed to resolve the problem now.
And that leaves the Friday morning walk.
A pretty easy 8K jaunt.Our group for the day.We spent most of the hike on the Subic side of the river…A brief encounter with the Govic HighwayThen through an alley neighborhood.Beginning our first climb of the day…A rest at the top.A valley viewCookie time!Half the group did Black Rock. You can see them up top if you look hard enough.The rest of us went down to the valley the easy way. We met up with the others there.Our trail led through this cemetery…Then we headed up…And back down again.Walk softly and carry a big stick, right, Martin?Almost done…The end of the trail.
You can Relive the hike here:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOd5nBD146
I apologize for the lack of substance here lately. I’m always pressed for time these days and yet I don’t seem to have much to say about why. A paradox indeed! I’ll figure it out. Stay with me.
Turns out maybe I am an asshole. Or at least I occasionally act like one. For the second week in a row I lost my temper during our dart league match. I felt especially bad because it happened at Alley Cats and in front of people I’ve known for years. What triggered me was an allegation that my foot was over the throw line when I tossed my darts. The accusation came while I was playing which was more than a little distracting. And it was a false assertion to boot.
Alley Cats has mats on the floor in front of the boards. I recall when they were installed that they were the standard distance from the board to the throw line–7 feet, 9 1/4 inches, to be precise. So, it has been my habit to “toe up” against the edge of the mat. My accuser claimed the throw line was at the far edges of the tape holding the mat down. I told her that was wrong–loudly. She responded “don’t yell at me”, and I, of course, was triggered and yelled even louder. I wanted a measurement done then and there, but eventually I calmed down enough to continue playing from behind the newly imposed throw line.
After the match, a measurement was done and I was vindicated–the proper throw line is the edge of the mat. Doesn’t change the fact that I was an obnoxious asshole though. I bought my victim a drink and apologized when we had finished playing. We hugged and made up, but that doesn’t excuse or change the way I acted. Ah well, I will definitely strive to be a better person in the future.
We did win the match 12-1 though, so there’s that.
A nice hike with the Wednesday Walkers in the morning hours. Here are some photos of that event:
Our route took us most of the way up Kalaklan, then we circled back on My Bitch.This week’s iteration of the Wednesday Walkers.And we are off!The long climb begins.Through the ‘hood.A pause to make a cookie delivery.Onward and upward.A handy handrail.Not as easy as it appears.But we’ll get there. Eventually.A little hot out to boot.Oh yeah, much nicer in the shade!The mountain life.These kids always seem to know when I’m in the vicinity.See you next time.The long and winding road.An elevated view.Max taking a pause to ponder the mystery of what the hell are we doing climbing mountains in this heat. I just found out Max is a reader of my humble blog. Welcome aboard!A welcome opening in the fence.A safe passage over the bamboo bridge.Beauty and the beasts.Nearing the end of the trail.I didn’t forget you Easter mountain fans…Finishing up on the My Bitch trail.A big post today!
Another damned whacked Wednesday, so I’m going to need to keep it short and sweet today. Well, short anyway.
Yesterday was my “lazy” day–grocery shopping instead of hiking. I also intended to renew my visa, but the immigration office had a lazy day too–closed for the Lunar New Year. No issues getting into Royal without a vax card, so that’s something to be thankful for I suppose.
Played in the dart tournament last night. Played just well enough to win, but I reckon that’s all you need to do. I honestly don’t even care that much about winning or losing. In fact, if I reach the finals I always offer my opponent a “tie” and just split the pot 50-50. We played doubles last night and reached the finals from the loser’s bracket. Our opponent did not offer the tie option, so we played it out. That motivated me to play hard for the victory and I threw my best darts of the night.
Sweet victory!
There was a time when I was a much better darts player. Facebook reminded me that it was only seven years ago that I threw my best game of 501 ever.
A 15 dart out is professional-level quality throwing. I’ve never replicated that performance, but it’s good to remember what I’m capable of.
A few of my fellow players joined me at the Car Wash resto-bar for food and beers after the tourney. A nice way to end the evening.
Had breakfast with the GF at Sit-n-Bull this morning, then I did the Wednesday Walkers group hike. I’ll post some photos of that tomorrow.
Dart league this afternoon. In fact, I need to hit the shower now and get my ass ready to play.
Today is also my younger brother Greg’s birthday.
He’s 65 now. Of course, I’m still the handsome one.
