And the wheel in the sky keeps on turning. Here’s a look back at yesterday.

The Saturday morning walk with Swan has evolved into another candy-giving excursion. That’s fine by me, but I’m hoping to avoid duplicating the Sunday format, where we walk the same route each week. I mean, it’s nice having the kids waiting for our arrival expectantly, but there is also the pressure of not disappointing them should we desire a change of scenery. So, when we do a Saturday candy walk, we’ll change the location week-to-week. Yesterday’s version took us through four nearby neighborhoods. I had a couple more in mind, but the candy ran out. We’ll try to carry more stock next week.

When we got back home, Swan prepared a delicious salad for my lunch.

My plan for the evening was to surprise Swan with a visit to the Kon-Tiki beach bar at the Samba Resort. As we headed out of the neighborhood, Swan asked where we were going. I said, “Where do you want to go? ” She thought a second, then said, “How about Kon-Tiki?” Sometimes, it feels like she can read my mind!

It was our first visit on a Saturday, and a couple of other customers were present. We usually have the place to ourselves. I chatted a bit with the other guy at the bar, a German named Elky. He lives in Castillejos but makes occasional visits out of town when he gets bored. He’s building a house in San Narciso, one of my favorite beach towns. So, perhaps one day we will meet again.

We ordered fajitas for dinner:

After dinner, we walked back to the highway in the dark, then caught a trike to Barretto, where we enjoyed our nightcap at Wet Spot.

I had good intentions to limit my beer intake to eight last night. Alas, Daddy Dave arrived and bought me a beer. How could I refuse? Later, the head waitress comped me another, and I didn’t want to be rude, so I drank it. Still, I can’t blame the beer for everything. It was that damn strawberry/blueberry smoothie at 320 calories I enjoyed when I got home that put me over the top.

Six years ago, I was hiking with my best Buddy:

And also six years ago, I was reading poetry again for some reason. I posted this one on Facebook. Sara Teasdale is still one of my favorites.

A diamond of a morning
Waked me an hour too soon;
Dawn had taken in the stars
And left the faint white moon.
O white moon, you are lonely,
It is the same with me,
But we have the world to roam over,
Only the lonely are free.
–Sara Teasdale

Today’s YouTube video vlogger is talking about slum life and some unique facets of being poor in the Philippines. I’ve been here going on seven years now, and I’ve grown accustomed to the poverty that surrounds me. Fortunately, it is not on the scale of those big-city neighborhoods he mentions. Never seen any gang activity or violent crime around my neck of the woods. I’m certainly more comfortable here than I would be in most American cities.

And now for some humor, such as it is:

And now it is Sunday—the first since John Kim’s death. Driving by his restaurant yesterday, it appeared to be open for business. My plan is to do the Hideaway feeding as usual and drop by John’s place to see what’s happening. I hope his widow can keep the place going, and I’ll continue to eat there as long as it helps. I will also inquire if she needs anything else for Wednesday’s funeral.

So, day one of the new lifestyle is in the books. Thanks to my readers here for the comments and feedback. I’ve walked the weight-loss road successfully in the past, and although my methods are an unorthodox mix of dieting techniques, the important thing is being able to stay with the plan for the long haul (my calorie-counting app says that at one pound a week, I’ll reach my goal in February 2026!). I hope to do better than that!

Just got to keep on keepin’ on.

No photos from the competition posted yet, maybe tomorrow.

Today this package from Lazada (the PI Amazon) arrived.

Okay, don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with endless posts about my dieting. Instead, I’ll bore you with pictures from my hikes. Like these from yesterday’s Friday group hike:

In the meantime, there are always memories:

Two years ago, I was vacationing in Cambodia (can you vacation from retirement?):

Good times. I’ve lost touch with my old friend Dennis who was living there and I fear the worst.

Whenever I hear “the science is settled,” I think of stuff like this:

Today’s YouTube is the first one I’ve seen from this vlogger. Honestly, not that impressed, but he is talking about crime against foreigners in Angeles City, a place I occasionally still visit. But yeah, you can’t let your guard down there.

Humor time:

Another Saturday night is on the horizon, and I asked that girl who lives in my house what she wanted to do. She doesn’t care as long as it involves a beach. So, I gave her some options to consider, and I’ll follow her lead. I’ll tell you how that works out tomorrow.

And so it begins—again. My post-title search revealed that I embarked on a similar course of action exactly four years ago. Obviously, I failed miserably, and things are a lot worse now than they were back then. I’m motivated to get it done right this time. And man, oh man, I have a long way to go.

This morning’s starting stats:

• Weight: 267.1 pounds
• Belly Circumference: 52 inches
• Waist: 44 inches

Shocking, I know. I haven’t been on the scale in months, but the last time I weighed in I was around 235. I really let myself go.

So, the plan is a simple one: eat smarter, reduce carbs and calories, and exercise more. That means no more sweet treats, better meal choices, and yes, a significant reduction in beer intake. At tonight’s SOB I’ll be doing the gin and soda water thing. Interestingly, a shot of gin has more calories than a bottle of Zero beer (75 versus 60), although the beer is carby. Still, if I drink fewer shots of gin than than bottles of beer, that’s progress. My style is to order a gin shot in a tall glass, and a can of soda water on the side. I refill the glass from the can three times before ordering another shot. I just need to do a better job pacing myself so as to avoid getting floored.

I’ll be doing the ab work once again as well. Sit-ups and leg lifts to start. This morning I stretched my walk to over 9K as I once again endeavor to achieve a daily goal of at least 20,000 steps.

I installed a calorie tracker app on my phone to help me manage the food intake.

A boiled egg and some apple and orange slices for breakfast. Swan served a banana too, but I rejected that high-calorie option. For lunch I had a salad and a burger patty.

The only way to go from here is down. Or so I hope. My goal is to once again break the 200 pound barrier. Wish me luck!

And so it ends. The last day of my month of tracking expenses looked like this:

• Alcohol: 1350 pesos
• Dinner: 800 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 985 pesos
• Fruits and Veggies: 1000 pesos
• Trike: 100 pesos
• Charity: 2000 pesos
• Tips: 200 pesos
• Total for October 31: 6435 pesos

Hey, it was Halloween, of course I went a little wild!

And here are the results from the month of logging where it all goes:

Monthly Expenses % of Income

• Groceries: 78,600 pesos (21%)
• Charity: 59,000 pesos (16%)
• Rent: 38,000 pesos (10%)
• Helper Salaries: 30,000 pesos (8%)
• Alcohol: 27,900 pesos (8%)
• Dining Out: 24,400 pesos (7%)
• Swan Allowance: 16,000 pesos (4%)
• Transportation: 15,700 pesos (4%)
• Entertainment: 14,000 pesos (4%)
• Utilities: 13,700 pesos (4%)
• Lady Drinks: 13,000 pesos (4%)
• Healthcare: 12,800 pesos (4%)
• Tips: 8700 pesos (2%)
• Hotels: 7800 pesos (2%)
• Visa Extension: 6200 pesos (2%)
• Snacks: 4200 pesos (1%)
• TOTAL EXPENSES FOR OCTOBER: 370,000 pesos (-5000 pesos)

So, my expenses exceeded my income by 5000 pesos. I can and will fix that going forward. I see several opportunities for being a tad more frugal that will more than make up for the deficit. And just for the record, the 365,000 pesos I call income has a 30,000 peso cushion that goes into savings, so I wasn’t really in the red. Still, my goal is to save at least 50,000 pesos a month, so I need to do better.

And now, about last night. Swan and I dressed up and headed out to It Doesn’t Matter to celebrate Halloween.

Swan says IDM is her favorite hangout, and we spent most of our evening there last night. We had a brief nightcap at Wet Spot and ran into my neighbor Mike there. When it was time to go, I hooked up a free ride home with him. And you already saw the banana split I had at home.

Now for a look back at the past:

Someone new for today’s YouTube video: Joy of the Jungle. In just over two minutes, she tells us five things that will make your Filipina angry with you. Okay, if you say so. In my mind, I was comparing and contrasting with one of my favorites, the Filipina Pea. Well, the Pea is in a whole other category, the one where confidence and competence reside. It’s worth two minutes of your time to see for yourself. And Joy is cute enough, but she’s no Pea.

And now, the funny part:

Alright, some sit-ups to perform, then I’ll get ready for the SOB and hope the gin plan goes well. I’ll let you know about that tomorrow.

Today’s song was something I happened to come across randomly. I want to break free, too. But I can’t believe they express that sentiment in North Korea!

Power was restored briefly last evening, but it’s been out again since eight p.m. Rain is falling like crazy, and there are some heavy gusts of wind. The downed tree blocking our street has been cleared away, at least. Typhoon Kristine has proven to be a real bitch, and she doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. This doesn’t bode well for our drive to La Union later this morning. Hopefully, it is not still raining when tomorrow’s Hash commences. Nothing to be done but wait and see.

So, let’s find out how long my laptop battery lasts. Yesterday was pretty much a shelter-in-place kind of day. I did visit the cardiologist for my test results. The most surprising news is that I have a urinary tract infection. And now I have some antibiotics to take twice a day. I still need an ultrasound of my leg veins; I am just waiting for the scheduling. Otherwise, the heart is ticking and tocking and doing its job. The goal is to continue that trend as long as possible. I haven’t experienced any breathing issues lately, and I’m especially thankful for that.

After I got back home, the power went out, and I wasn’t looking forward to spending the night sitting in the dark. My neighbor invited us over to join them in the solar-lighted house for some food and beers, and that was a welcome offer. Davina’s shrimp fajitas are amazing:

We also killed an hour or so playing a board game, the name of which I can’t recall this morning. It involved drawing numbered tiles and playing them in sets. My old brain took some time to grasp the strategic imperatives required in choosing where and when to play the numbers, but I was never able to beat neighbor Jeff. Oh well, something different to fill the time. Ah, it was Rummikub.

After the power was restored, we said our goodnights and headed home. The joy of lights and fans didn’t last long, and we were once again cast into darkness. A fitful night’s sleep ensued, punctuated by noise from the howling winds and the drumbeat of rain against the windows. Then, I awoke to another wet morning in darkness.

Well, at least I didn’t spend much:

• Prescription Meds: 1300 pesos
• Doctor Visit: 700 pesos
• Trike: 200 pesos
• Total for October 24: 2200

It’s more fun to spend money than not. I reckon I’ll get the chance to make up for it some this weekend in La Union.

Some Facebook memories:

No battery power to preview a YouTube video for you this morning, so I’ll just share this one that looks interesting to this old man’s eyes. Things from the 1980s you can no longer do. Heh, don’t get me started!

Some humor while I can:

I’ll update y’all from La Union.

The wrath of typhoon Kristine is upon us. Not much rain, but lots of wind. And naturally, the power has been out for hours now. My mission is to finish today’s post before my laptop battery expires. Let’s do this!

Another lazy day yesterday, but at least I can blame the weather for my failure to exercise.

The rain didn’t stop me from donning an umbrella and heading for town with Swan by my side when beer o’clock rolled around.

I was surprised to see that my waitress friend, Jenn, from Whiskey Girl, is now employed at BarCelona. She says the pay is better, and there is less drama. It’s nice to have a familiar face here, even if I infrequently visit this bar.

The news from BarCelona is that the bar has finally changed hands. The new owner wasn’t around yesterday, but hopefully, he can find a way to attract more customers. For our first hour or so, we were groovin’ to the classic rock sounds being played on a quality sound system. And then, out of the blue, some crappy rap (but I repeat myself) began blaring. I told Swan if I had heard that noise when coming up the stairs, I would have turned around. Well, one rap song is one too many, but I can tolerate the discomfort. And then the next song was rap. And so was the one after that. I told Jenn it was time for us to go. While she was getting my bill, the only other customer in the bar (he’d actually been out on the rooftop deck) came in to pay and leave for the same reason. As we left, I told the cashier to consider who the customer base was when picking a playlist. She denied changing the music and claimed not to know how to resolve the issue. Whatever.

Wet Spot wasn’t open yet, so we made Green Room our next stop. Business as usual there, and we enjoyed drinking our drinks and watching the pool players.

We brought sandwiches from Sit-n-Bull home with us for our dinner.

Not much of a Wednesday, but we made the best of it.

• Part-time helper salary: 1000 pesos
• Trike: 100 pesos
• Dinner: 1200 pesos
• Tips: 340 pesos
• Alcohol: 800 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 680 pesos
• Total for October 23: 4220 pesos

The rare day of spending less than 5000 pesos!

Today’s memories don’t come from Facebook; instead, I found them in the dark archives here at Long Time Gone. This post from 2009 was a good reminder that there was a time when I occasionally wrote something of substance on the blog. I had recently signed up on Facebook and reconnected with a high school classmate who worked with me on the school newspaper. He was working as a journalist for a major paper in the Pacific Northwest and was lamenting the declining economics of the newspaper industry. I had been a fellow liberal brother-in-arms back in our youth but had outgrown that mindset. I pointed out some reasons why the left-wing reporting bias was hurting the news business. I guess he disagreed, and like many of my lefty acquaintances, he unfriended me. Oh well, at least his echo-chamber world view was preserved. Probably one of the better posts in the almost twenty-year history of LTG.

The other memory was a photo I posted on the blog from my days as a cross-country skier in the mountains of Northern Arizona circa 1982. That post contained just the photograph and one of my favorite Sara Teasdale poems:

Man oh man, a good reminder that we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone. I hadn’t thought about those long ago days in a very long time, and seeing that picture again brought back a flood of memories. Damn, I’d like to be a time traveler and whisper some wisdom in that guy’s ear. But knowing me, I probably wouldn’t have listened.

Speaking of fools, here are some updates on that guy I posted about who was kidnapped a few days ago. The more I learn about this young man, the worse it gets. A white guy’s body washed ashore in the region, but it has not been positively identified as being him yet. Anyway, either way it is doubtful he is still alive. You can read a news account here, and today’s YouTube videos have two different vloggers weighing in with the latest details of this guy’s final days. I found it both interesting and sad that he had converted to Islam and taken the name Muhammed. A lot of good it did him.

Time to cleanse the palate with some humor:

Well, the good news is I made it through this post on low batt. The bad news is the storm has just hit with full fury…heavy winds and rain. And now this just happened:

Oh well, nothing I can do about it. I’m leaving tomorrow morning to spend the weekend in La Union. It’s on the ocean so hopefully this storm has blown through by then. We shall see. I’ll update tomorrow if I have the power to do so.

But I grew up on this version:

The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers have been marching for thirty-one years now, and I’ve been honored to be involved in six of them. In a typical week, we have between thirty and forty participants. Yesterday, 133 Hashers, including a large contingent from Pattaya, Thailand, joined the fun. Thanks for sharing in the celebration!

There were three options yesterday: long, medium, and short trails. Long and medium hikers took Jeepneys to Olongapo City and started from there. The short trail (5.5K) involved a harder-than-I-remembered climb, but it wasn’t bad after that. And no, I did not shortcut, even though the thought crossed my mind. The gathering for the Hash circle at Subiza seemed to go well, so that was a relief. The party continued at It Doesn’t Matter following the Hash. There’s a reason we are known as a “drinking club with a running problem.” Good times!

It’s great to still be living the good life after all these years.

The day was not free, of course:

• Charity: 11,500 pesos (donation for cancer treatment)
• Prescription Meds: 1500 pesos
• Tips: 100 pesos
• Alcohol: 850 pesos
• Dinner: 750 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 400 pesos
• Trike: 200 pesos
• Hash Fees: 1300 pesos
• Snacks: 100 pesos
• Total for October 21: 16,700 pesos

Ten more days to go before I do my monthly reckoning.

You may have noticed an influx of spam comments. I turned off my blockers to see if that would improve access for those using VPNs. It might have helped some, but deleting all that spam was a chore, so the blockers are back in operation. Sorry for whatever inconvenience that may cause.

In other news, there’s a storm a-brewin’.

Today’s memory is from seven years ago when I made a four-hour roundtrip bike ride from Pyeongtaek to Asan and back.

Election day is approaching, and the voting shenanigans have already begun.

Today’s YouTube video might be my all-time favorite from The Filipina Pea. In it, she takes on a white woman who is critical of men moving to Asia for the women. Pea decimates her in a must-see takedown. The white gal is the perfect example of what Western men are running away from. Have a look and judge for yourself:

Ready for some humor?

I’m halfway through my Tuesday now and unsure what lies ahead. I’ll consult with Swan for her preferences, but I’m thinking Baloy might be a good option. Come back for more of my drivel tomorrow if you dare!

Life is what it is, and this is how it was yesterday: A Candy Walk, a feeding, a dinner, and some liquid refreshment along the way. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Later in the day, I made my way to Hideaway for the weekly feeding.

Next up was surviving a highway crossing and dining at John’s place.

We finished the day at Green Room, where we enjoyed watching some pool competitors in action. Lady drinks were dispensed, and beer was imbibed. I got a shoulder rub from Sally, but it didn’t get any lower than that.

So, I caught some flack in the comments about my criticism of the guy getting his crotch rubbed on Friday night. Let me try and clarify my objections. To begin with, whatever happens between a customer and a GRO is between them, and it is none of my business. I’ve seen worse than the Friday show. I don’t enjoy seeing guys grabbing tits or gals grabbing dick, but that’s between them. That said, Green Room touts itself as a “sports bar,” not a whore bar. I was there on Friday to watch a dance competition, and I had my girl with me. I saw what was happening at the next table and looked away. Swan got offended. I stand by my belief that it wasn’t the time or place for hands-on behavior, but I’ll concede it doesn’t make the guy a ghastly asshole. It’s a Barretto bar full of girls wanting to make money; I can always go elsewhere if I don’t like it. The fact that I was back at Green Room with my girl last night demonstrates that we are both over it.

Here’s what my Sunday cost me:

• Tips: 500 pesos
• Alcohol: 1190 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 1050 pesos
• Snacks: 200 pesos
• Dinner: 1290 pesos
• Trikes: 300 pesos
• Charity: 2150 pesos
• Trash Collection: 100 pesos
• Lunch: 550 pesos
• Total for October 20: 7282 pesos

Another Facebook memory from my Korea life:

I was looking at pictures from the Anniversary Hash in 2019 and had a chuckle over this one:

Today’s YouTube vlogger advises against opening a business for the family to operate. The examples given are pretty familiar. My direct experience was sponsoring the eatery Marissa wanted. That lasted all of six months. Still, when I thought about that beach bar in Bantay Bayan I wrote about yesterday, I knew it would have to be in Swan’s name, and I felt confident that it would do fine in her capable hands. I’m just not wanting to upend my life with the major changes that would be required. Still, I’m cognizant of the fact that she’ll outlive me, and I’d like to find a way for her to carry on without my support when the end of my days arrives.

I’ll take this as a sign that today’s humor will be punny indeed:

Speaking of the Hash, today is the 31st Anniversary of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. The long and medium trails involve transport to Olongapo City, then a climb up to Kalaklan Ridge and down the other side. Departure for those is at noon from VFW. The short trail leaves at one from the VFW and has a climb, but not a Kalaklan-level (steep?) ascent. You know which one I’ll be doing. On-Home is at Subiza Resort on Baloy. I’m a little worried if they are going to be able to accommodate the needs of an anticipated one hundred Hashers, but we are fixin’ to find out. I’ll share how it goes tomorrow.

But they were pretty small. Here’s where things stood on SATurday.

Swan joined me for the Saturday morning stroll. She thinks walking in Barretto is boring, so we took a Jeepney ride out of town and explored the backstreets of a small village called Bantay Bayan. I’ve walked through there on hikes before and always liked the place’s vibe. It’s an isolated community on the beach but still accessible via the National Highway. The highway doesn’t go through the town; it’s up above it on the hillside. Naturally, Swan handed out sweets to the kids we encountered during our walk.

On my previous walks through this village, I observed a place called “The Index,” but it was never open when I passed by. Yesterday, some construction was going on, and one of the workers said we could come in for a look-see.

As we were looking around, a Filipino man having coffee and a smoke at one of the tables greeted us. The first thing he said to me was, “Index is for sale.” I told him, “Not today,” but it gave me something to think about.

Of course, upon reflection, I realize the fantasy of owning a beach bar and the reality of actually running one are two different things. I’d have to move to Bantay Bayan for one thing. It’s only five kilometers from Barretto, but it would still be a pain in the ass without some major lifestyle changes. And the bar would cater to an almost exclusively local crowd, so I’m not sure how much fun that would be for me. I did see one other white guy on the walkabout, so there’s that.

I promised Swan dinner at Jewel, and we stopped at It Doesn’t Matter for some pre-meal liquid refreshments on our way there. Ran into my pals Scott and Jim, and before we left a couple more bar hoppers arrived. I never get invited to join in those excursions; I guess I have the reputation of being a lightweight. Oh well, I had a date anyway.

There was a large and loud Filipino group at Jewel Cafe when we arrived, but they left shortly thereafter. Before we’d finished our meal, an even bigger group came in, including a passel of kids. Another large group was seated in the outside area. I like Jewel and was happy to see them doing so well with the Saturday dinner crowd.

Swan had been hankering for the Jewel steak dinner–a filet mignon for 499 pesos. I ordered one as well.

We hadn’t been to Alaska Club for a while, and owner Jerry is back in town, so that was our next stop. We were the day’s first customers for them, but the music was good, and the girls were dancing (which is rare in other bars). As is my custom, I rewarded the dance crew with fifty pesos each for their effort (there were ten of them). Our waitress enjoyed two lady drinks and a nice tip for her service. We did our nightcap at Wet Spot and spent recklessly there as well. Aine joined us again, along with waitress Irene and boss lady Beth, and they all quenched their thirst on my tab. Hey, that’s just the way I roll. And nobody rubbed my crotch!

With eight o’clock approaching and my drinking capacity maxed out, we called for our trike and headed home.

A sweet ending to the day, indeed!

Easy come, easy go:

• Lady Drinks: 800 pesos
• Alcohol: 1500 pesos
• Dinner: 1000 pesos
• Charity: 50 pesos
• Tips: 850 pesos
• Jeepney: 100 pesos
• Trike: 200 pesos
• Total for October 19: 4500 pesos

Memories of Seoul from seven years ago when I did a trek to the summit of Namsan.

Damn, I do miss those days.

So, I posted the video yesterday about that poor smuck who was kidnapped in Zamboanga. Turns out he was a vlogger and had posted videos acknowledging that his life was in danger living there.

This news article provides additional information on the sad story of Elliot Eastman.

Good luck to him where ever he may be. He’s going to need it.

Alright, hard to transition from that story to the humor, but here goes anyway:

So, another Sunday feeding at Hideaway is on tap, followed by my dinner with Swan at John’s place. No complaints, even if it does have a “Groundhog Day” feel about it. Kind of like reading this blog, I suppose.

Arrived an hour ago, set up the laptop, and now I’m going to dash off a post for my few and faithful readers. It was Hash day yesterday, so that’s mostly what this post will be about. In pictures.

The after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter was more party-like than usual. Swan was hanging out with the Gash group, and they were having a good time. I enjoyed chatting with some of the visiting Hashers, including one from Saigon.

The damage done:

• Dinner: 700 pesos
• Alcohol: 1600 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 200 pesos
• Tips: 200 pesos
• Trike: 200 pesos
• Charity: 100 pesos
• Propane: 850 pesos
• Hash Fees: 600 pesos
• Total for October 14: 4250 pesos

In the memory department, coincidentally, one year ago, Swan and I were spending time away from home in Pundaquit, a few miles up the road from our current hangout in San Narciso.

Ten years ago, I posted a pathetic account of a day in my USA life. That was the year Jee Yeun decided not to return from Korea with me. I didn’t know then that this was the beginning of the end.

I haven’t yet watched today’s YouTube video about the cost of living in the Philippines, but since I’m tracking mine this month, it should be interesting to get another perspective. I could obviously live much cheaper than I do, but since I don’t have to, why should I?

And now for your daily dose of humor:

So, our hike buddy Michael is supposed to meet us here this afternoon, and we are going to visit a new (to me) expat-owned restaurant. And tomorrow, the Wednesday Walkers will be coming to San Narciso for a jaunt. I’m looking forward to that adventure!

I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

So, the plan for the Wednesday Walkers was to go up and over Kalaklan Ridge, then down into Olongapo City for a street walk before catching a Jeepney back to Barretto. It didn’t work out that way. The climb up was more than a little challenging, and then, about three-quarters of the way up, we encountered a carabao tied to a tree and blocking our path. We give those creatures a wide berth these days after learning about the damage one did to some Hashers in Angeles City. Anyway, as our frontrunners looked for a way around the mad cow, Scott and I were looking at the trail ahead. It appeared to be a lot steeper than I remembered it, and it was very much overgrown in the tall grasses that dominate the hillsides at this time of year. Ultimately, we decided it wasn’t worth the effort, so we retreated and took a different way back down. As fate would have it, the path we chose to descend was one of the more difficult downs we’ve ever taken from Kalaklan. Oh well, I made it to the bottom by the skin of my knees.

When beer o’clock arrived, I made my way to BarCelona. Swan was visiting a friend in Olongapo and joined me there later.

And then a scene played out in front of me that was unexpected.

Well, there are a couple of homeless folks living on the sidewalk. One of them is a tall, bearded guy who looks a bit like Jesus. I see this guy all over town, picking up recyclables from the trash to sell at the junk shops. He never begs, though.

So, the guy in the wheelchair has his gal roll him up to the homeless man. Then he holds out a one hundred peso bill for the homeless fella to take. And the homeless Jesus waved him off! I’ve never seen that before. He rejected more cash than he made collecting trash and walking around all day. Maybe pride does goeth before a fall. But what impressed the most was that cripple I was feeling sorry for going out of his way to help someone he viewed as less fortunate. Good for him!

Swan arrived shortly after the abovementioned event and enjoyed a glass of wine. I, of course, didn’t make her drink alone.

When we left BarCelona, I was ready for some dinner, and Myleen’s was practically right across the street. So, off we went.

We did our nightcap at Green Room—wine, beer, lady drinks, and watching some pretty good pool players. Oh, and I brought Choco Pies to share with the girls. Also, some lollipops so they’d have something to suck on. Home again by 7:30 for the second night in a row. I must be slowing down in my old age.

Finally, a day under 5000 pesos!

• Prescription Meds: 1400 pesos
• Alcohol: 1070 pesos
• Dinner: 720 pesos
• Lady Drinks: 370 pesos
• Tips: 320 pesos
• Trike: 200 pesos
• Total for October 9: 4080 pesos

Ah, those Facebook memories. Twelve years ago, my wife Jee Yeun and I had a visit with Dr. Yoo at his Soonchunhwang Hospital clinic, and this happened:

Jee Yeun and I had our doctor appointment with Dr. Yoo today. Jee Yeun’s doing great and I’m still fat. And we also got our flu shots.

Anyway, after Dr. Yoo finished checking Jee Yeun I said “Doctor, Jee Yeun’s always complaining about being bored. Can you prescribe something for that”? Without missing a beat he said “Viagra”.

Everyone’s a comedian these days.

Eight years ago, I was exploring Bangkok:

Today’s YouTube video from Reekay attempts to explain why so many of us baby boomers are choosing to retire in the Philippines. When I moved here, my homeland wasn’t the total fucked up mess it is today. I never intend to live there again. There are options other than the Philippines, of course. I like Asia, so my alternatives include Cambodia and Vietnam. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about the Dominican Republic, but at this stage of my life, that’s just a bridge too far.

Things I find kinda sorta funny:

Today, I’ll visit both the pulmonary doctor and the cardiologist (one after the other). I’m hopeful the news will be mostly good. And I’m overdue for spending some time at The Rite Spot, so I’ll be coming home after the docs are done with me and staying here for a change. I’ll share what I find out here tomorrow.

Mortality sucks, and I was especially saddened to learn that Kris Kristofferson has now exited this world of ours. I’ve been a big fan of his music through the years. He had a long and well-lived life, and here’s to hoping he’s in a better place.

I’m still among the living and trying to make the best of it. Part of that effort was a trip to Angeles City yesterday for a heart check-up.

So, the only test performed was another echocardiogram. I’m not sure what’s up with that. I got the impression my cardiologist didn’t trust the results of my first test. This one did seem to take longer to perform, so perhaps it was more thorough. I was expecting a stress test but was told, “Not yet.” Hmm. The results will be emailed to me in three days. I hope they will be worth the trip.

Since we were in town anyway, I had my driver take us across town for some shopping at S&R, a membership store similar to Costco. My membership will expire later this month, so I wanted to cash in one last time.

I was actually pretty disappointed with the S&R experience. I was hoping to find some long-sought-after items I can’t buy at Royal. Alas, even the things I could get at Royal weren’t available here, so I had to stop at Royal on the way home to fill in the gaps.

In a surprise coincidence, we bumped into Ron (the owner of Sit-n-Bull) while loading up our groceries. I’m used to chance meetings in my little town, but it was unexpected out in the wilds of Angeles.

After the Royal detour, I arrived home a little after two p.m. in a downpour. The Hash had started by then, so I decided to wait an hour and then walk to the On-Home gathering at Hasher Tung N’ Gruve’s place on the beach across town. The rain had ended when I did my own Hash trail.

A couple more after-Hash beers at It Doesn’t Matter, some pumpkin pie from Myleen’s, then into the trike for the ride home. And so ended another day.

And now, here we are in October. I’ve decided to track my expenses this month to get a handle on where it all goes. As a public service to my readers, I’ll document my daily spending here on LTG. Stay tuned.

A Facebook group about Westminster, California, the town I grew up in, included this photo today:

The vlogger in today’s YouTube video characterizes his move to the Philippines as “escaping the Matrix.” I hadn’t heard it phrased like that before, but it does kinda make sense. I know I’m glad not to be living a vanilla lifestyle and dealing with bullshit politics on an up close and personal basis. This guy made the move in his 40s, younger than most expats I encounter. In my do-over afterlife fantasy, I’d retire from the military at 40 and come to paradise. Of course, I’d be rich from the tech IPO stocks I’d purchased. God has not as yet confirmed my idea of Heaven, so I’ll be holding onto this life for the time being.

To the comic section, we go:

Since I did the shopping yesterday, I was homebound this morning—just as well since it was raining again. I haven’t decided yet if it will be a stay-at-home all day and night thing or not. My landlord came up from Manila, and I’ve signed a new one-year lease. I fed her and her crew and then paid the rent. Exciting shit, eh? Well, come back for more of this crap tomorrow!

In honor of Kris Kristofferson’s memory, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite songs he wrote. Here’s hoping he’s still beating the devil.

"If you waste your time a-talkin' to the people who don't listen,
"To the things that you are sayin', who do you think's gonna hear?
"And if you should die explainin' how the things that they complain about,
"Are things they could be changin', who do you think's gonna care?"

There were other lonely singers in a world turned deaf and blind,
Who were crucified for what they tried to show.
And their voices have been scattered by the swirling winds of time.
'Cos the truth remains that no-one wants to know.

Well, not much sun, but we didn’t let that stop the fun. Kicked things off with the weekly Candy Walk.

But the fun was just beginning!

After the feeding, I triked back home to get ready for dinner with the neighbors. Jeff and Divina were the hosts, and I met a couple of new folks at the party as well. Beer was cold and plentiful, and the food was amazing.

A nice ending to a fun day.

One year ago, I moved into my new place.

Lucky didn’t want to come with us and let me know in his unique way:

The landlord is coming up from Manila tomorrow to renew my lease and collect the rent (I pay one year in advance).

When someone shows you who they are, believe them!

Today’s YouTube video is pictures of Olongapo back in the US Navy days. Enjoy the memories!

The daily dose of humor:

By golly, I made it through a rushed post, so the LTG addicts out there won’t have to suffer. Now, I need to shower up and get ready for my journey to Angeles City to have my heart looked at.

Thanks for dropping by. Keep it fun!

It sometimes feels as if I’m living that old soap opera saying: Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives. One aspect of growing older is that you never know just how much sand you have left. I guess no one ever knows when the time will run out; older folks just think about it more often. At least I do. The other side of that coin is wondering if I’m wasting the days that remain. Yeah, my life revolves around routines, and as regular readers of LTG are painfully aware, there isn’t much new or exciting going on in the final chapters of the story of my life. But it occurs to me that’s okay. As I sat with Swan yesterday, enjoying cold beverages, good food, and bay views, I had a feeling of tranquility and contentment with this path I’ve chosen. You never know what the future brings, and everything can change in the blink of an eye. But for now, a nothing day like yesterday was oddly fulfilling.

So, my Tuesdays begin with a journey to the Royal supermarket on SBMA. As I entered the building, I was reminded that the “ber months” are definitely upon us.

Sometimes, shopping involves resisting temptation. Some temptations are easier to resist than others.

When lunch time rolled around, I was reminded that these are my salad days.

I wasn’t sure what to do with our Tuesday evening. I know Swan always craves a beach view, but Baloy or Barretto? Hmm. I decided on Barretto, but on the side of town we rarely visit these days.

The RSL (Returned Services League, the Australian veteran’s organization) was having their post-meeting bar crawl in the indoor bar, and some members came out for a smoke. A friend of Swan’s came by to say hello, and we had a nice chat. And he bought me a beer!

We walked up the beach to Mango’s when it was time for dinner.

The next stop was Whiskey Girl bar, a venue we hadn’t visited for several months.

We had our nightcap at Queen Victoria, another seldom-visited bar. Swan surprised me by ordering a Mai Tai cocktail instead of wine. I sensed this wasn’t going to end well when I saw the size of the drink she was served.

I’ve been floored before, so I’m not one to talk. And she wasn’t down there long. It is a rare occurrence when Swan over-indulges, but it didn’t ruin an otherwise fine day full of the pleasures that come with nothingness.

I do sometimes plan ahead for some adventure and excitement. Yesterday, I reserved spots for Swan and me to participate in the La Union Hash anniversary run in October and the Haggis Bash Hash (also in La Union) in early December. So, now I have even more to live for!

Tomorrow morning, I’ll be visiting the cardiologist and hoping for some positive outcomes. I’ve been feeling well and breathing better, so I want to make sure I can keep it that way.

No memories or politics to share today, sorry about that!

The YouTube video for today is the opposite of yesterday. This guy talks about why he left the USA. Obviously, I can’t say that I blame him. If you live on a limited income from Social Security, you can definitely live better here. It’s still not ideal, and I don’t recommend it, but to each his own.

To the humor then:

Speaking of wieners…

And so concludes another post about the days gone by. Here’s hoping there are many more to come!

When it rains, it pours, but life goes on. Sometimes, you tweak things up a bit.

But it being Friday and all, there was the group hike to attend to. Flat street walks around Barretto are getting a tad boring in a “been there, done that” multiple times kind of way. But our newest group member, Michael, has a nice roomy car and lives out on the far side of Subic town. So, we took a Jeepney to meet him in his neck of the woods, and he drove us to San Antonio. We hadn’t hiked out there in almost a year. We parked at the FRA (Fleet Reserve Association) and plotted a course from there. Given the weather, we stuck to the pavement for the most part, but everything had a fresh new feel about it anyway.

And that was how our rainy-day hike in San Antonio went down. Got home later than normal, so I decided to just hang out at home for my Friday night.

So, let me throw this out there. Spain ruled the Philippines for five hundred years. My Filipina prepared my meal. I say that makes burritos Filipino food. I mean, Spain brought them to Mexico, and everyone says they are Mexican food, so what’s the difference? See, I do eat the local food!

I fired up Netflix and decided to watch a Filipino movie with my Filipino dinner. Here’s the trailer:

In other news, John Kim posted this on Facebook today:

Glad to hear it! Keep fighting, John! And see you tomorrow for dinner.

Today’s YouTube video has Reekay expounding on the bar scene. I’m pretty much a “regular bar” guy these days, but Wet Spot is technically a dancer bar, Although they just stand around on stage waiting for lady drinks. Anyway, the stuff Reekay warns about are, for the most part, rookie mistakes. Even when I was single, I wasn’t really into the bar fine scene. I mean, I paid for sex in different ways (remember my friends with benefits program?), but I probably only took a girl from a bar once or twice a year. Some guys prefer taking bar girls home. As one whore monger told me, I don’t pay the girls for sex, I pay them to leave in the morning. Whatever floats your boat. But the lady drink thing was a lesson I learned the hard way during my first weekend in Seoul. When it was time to go, my tab was $300. Oops!

Alright, to the humor then. Such as it is.

Alright, I’m running late to get started on my Saturday evening out. Back with more of adventures tomorrow!

I always enjoy these “first-time hearing” song videos. Here’s what they said about this one:

So, on this stormy Wednesday morning, I woke up in my own bed instead of at the Wild Orchid Hotel in Angeles City. But at least the power is on. I still long for a change of scenery, so on a whim, I messaged my driver to see if he was available for a road trip today. He is, so Swan and I will be heading to Pundaquit in San Antonio for an overnight stay.

And just now, this alert popped up on my phone, and the clouds opened up once again.

Maybe I didn’t think this trip through properly, but what the hell? The rain at the beach can’t be any worse than the rain is here. I’m ready for some new perspectives! We saw a place on the beach last trip we want to try, but neither Swan nor I can remember the name. I doubt they will be full on a rainy Wednesday, so we are going to take our chances and go without a reservation. It’s all part of the adventure!

Instead of hanging out in AC yesterday, I was back to my normal routines, starting with a trip to Royal for my grocery shopping. One of my Tuesday traditions is baking morning muffins. This week, they were cranberry-orange. I share them with my helpers and driver, of course. “Mama,” the homeless umbrella lady I’ve been helping a bit since before I moved here knows my schedule and is usually waiting outside Alta Vista as we drive by. Yesterday was no exception.

It poured rain all day, and I was beginning to think there would be no night on the town in my immediate future. But Jesus loves me, and when it was beer o’clock, the rain became a light sprinkle, and we made a dash for Barretto.

Our next and last stop was the Green Room. As usual, we shared drinks with waitress Chu and enjoyed watching a pool tournament in progress. Swan was talking with a GRO (Guest Relations Officer) that I didn’t recognize. Turns out she is the sister of the woman I mentioned in another post. That woman, also a GRO, helped her daughter get hired at the bar when she turned eighteen. That freaked me out, not understanding how a mom could countenance seeing her child doing what GROs do (basically catering to the whims of male desire, including take-out). Swan knew them from when she lived in their neighborhood and did give the mom some shit about her actions. We hadn’t seen either in the bar recently, and the sister informed Swan that the daughter (her niece) has an enlarged heart, and the doctors say nothing can be done for her. So, the plan is to make her as comfortable as possible at home until she passes. Damn.

I wound up adding the sad sister to my lady drink recipients and also had a pizza delivered from Sit-n-Bull for the girls to share (Hawaiian with pineapple, of course). Swan sipped her wine, and I had my fair share of beers. During the course of the evening, Swan snapped a photo of me in full party mode:

We brought us home some Sit-n-Bull goodness for dinner (roast beef dip for Swan, pulled pork for me) and had pecan pie for dessert. It was a pretty good time for a Tuesday!

And now for the memories:

Four years ago, I was mocking the COVID Nazis:

In today’s YouTube video, the Filipina Pea interviews an OFW (Offshore Filipino Worker). These workers are probably the largest export from the Philippines, and the money they send back is a significant portion of the economy, not to mention essential to the support of the families left behind. I met many OFWs when I lived in Korea, and I know several of them here now. And yes, I’ve heard the horror stories of exploitation that occurs, especially in Middle Eastern countries. I have two friends now looking for OFW work, and I will share this video with them as a heads-up.

And now to soothe your funny bone:

Alright, time for me to pack my bags and get the hell out of town. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!

Loved this song back in the day. As an added bonus, here is one of those “hearing it for the first time” videos:

There was a huge storm that washed hundreds of starfish onto the beach. A little boy was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean one by one. An old man approached and said, “Little boy, you can’t save all these starfish.” “Maybe not,” the lad replied as he picked up another and threw it in the water, “but I saved that one.”

I’ve mentioned that we had a chance encounter with a youngster named Jason during a candy walk who wanted to attend school but didn’t have the means to do so. Swan talked to the mother and offered her assistance. Since the mother doesn’t have a phone, Swan interacted directly with the teacher to determine what Jason required.

We did the handoff during yesterday’s Candy Walk.

According to the mother, the next hurdle is securing a birth certificate. Apparently, one wasn’t issued at birth, so there is government bureaucracy and paperwork to be dealt with, which involves money, of course. We are standing by to help if we can.

As alluded to above, we kicked off our Sunday with the weekly Candy Walk through the streets of San Isidro.

A couple of hours later when we were safe at home, we experienced one of the hardest downpours I’ve seen this year.

Luckily, the rain let up some and I could do an umbrella walk to Hideaway without getting too wet.

I opted not to visit John’s place this week. Swan wanted the Mango’s pork chops for dinner anyway, and I was still disappointed about last week’s lack of red wine. I’ll give John another shot next week.

When I arrived at Mango’s, I was surprised to see neighbors Jeff and Divina sitting with Swan. When Swan left the house to meet me, Jeff and the wife were looking to escape the continuing power outage. Swan got a ride into town and company while awaiting my arrival. The neighbors left before our food came, but we agreed to meet up again after dinner next door at Thumbstar.

After our meal, we went to Thumbstar as promised for the meet-up. I don’t go to Thumbstar for personal reasons, but it is a nice enough venue. We had one drink there, then moved to the more familiar and friendlier Green Room to finish our evening out.

Not a bad Sunday. And now it is Hash Monday and things aren’t looking good.

I saw part of today’s Hash trail on the Candy Walk yesterday. It’s not a bad rainy-day walk, except for the muddy roads. Right now, I’m on the fence about doing the trail or just making my way to the On-Home venue at Smokes and Bottles. We shall see if things let up in the next hour or so.

Ah, the memories:

Funny story about that photo. We spent the first night in Angeles City. We went into this bar after midnight and were the only customers. I guess the girls had never seen a Korean female before, and they all came down off the stage for a closer look. They treated Eun Oke like a movie star, and she told me, “Buy them all a drink!” I told her the way it works is you pick your favorite and buy her a drink, but she insisted on getting one for each of them. The next morning, she asked me how much we had spent, and I told her it was 5000 pesos. Then she asked how much do we spend for just the two of us in Seoul? I grinned and admitted it was about the same.

There was a little controversy in the comments yesterday over the political memes I’ve been posting. No apologies, but I also realize it is a waste of time. Nothing I post here is going to change any minds.

Today’s YouTube video from the Filipina Pea addresses women who don’t want their man to act like a man. I’m joking, of course, and I don’t condone cheating on your significant other. That said, couples need to have shared values. I know of guys in open relationships, and both sides enjoy the variety. Pick your partner wisely!

Let me leave you with these:

Still raining out there, so it’s looking like a wet Hash. I also think there is a Hash birthday cake in my near future. Good times! I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Some cuntry boys from Barretto ventured out to the city called Olongapo yesterday for a walkabout. Once we had enough of that squalor-town, we moved onto the old Navy base (aka SBMA) for some comparatively wide-open spaces. Getting a taste of both made for a pleasant hike.

I sprang for a taxi ride back to Barretto, got some R&R at home, then prepared for our dinner outing with the neighbors at Hops and Brews.

So, Maksil bought a round of tequila shots, and later, Matt bought a round of tequila rose shots. I was polite enough to drink them, but it’s not my norm. They seemed to have hit the women-folk the hardest, and I’m told that over the course of the evening, each of them did a little vomiting (outside or in toilets, thankfully). It was also decided that with the upcoming power outage on Wednesday, our group would take a trip to Angeles City on Tuesday and return Wednesday night when the lights are back on. Davina made reservations at the Wild Orchid Resort for everyone from the table. I used to stay there back in my tourist days fifteen years ago.

After dinner, we ventured over to the Green Room for some more liquid refreshments. When the group said they were going to Red Bar next, Swan and I said our goodnights and wished them well. I do know when to say when. I saw Jeff this morning, and he told me we’d take the drinking much slower during our upcoming Angeles visit. Yep, I know I will.

And that’s the way I lived my Friday.

From the Facebook memories files:

Life goes on until it doesn’t.

How about some political viewpoints:

Today’s YouTube video is from Rose Hall, and she discusses red flags to look out for with Filipinas. Jealousy was always my number one bugaboo. The last thing I want in my life is the drama that comes from a jealous girlfriend. Thankfully, Swan has not demonstrated any such trait (nor have I given her reason to do so). Anyway, Rose always has nice background scenery in her videos, so it is worth the watch for that alone.

Humor time:

And that’s all I’ve got for now. We’ll see what lies ahead and I’ll report back here tomorrow.

Well, I guess I’m not so little, but Swan and I took a morning walk to the marketplace in Subic town. We purchased some school supplies for Jason, the little boy Swan met on one of the Candy Walks, and also restocked our chocolate cache for this coming Sunday’s mission.

The walk itself was mostly on the National Highway, which is never that pleasant. In Calapandayan, we came upon the scene of an accident that occurred minutes before our arrival.

Some more pleasant photos from our trek:

Next on our agenda was a trip to the beauty salon for a foot spa.

With our feet scraped and nails clipped, we crossed the highway and visited Papagayo for some beachside dining.

Needless to say, Papagayo will not be a regular stop on our dining itinerary. Oh, and Swan didn’t get wine because she thought 300 pesos a glass was too pricey. Which means this venue won’t work for a beach bar alternative either.

As we were finishing our meal, Swan got a message from our neighbor Davina asking where we were so they could meet us for a drink. We got together at Green Room.

After a couple of drinks at Green Room, we had a comfortable ride home in Jeff’s car. We’ll be getting together again this afternoon for the dinner meetup at Hops and Brews along with Matt and his wife.

And I’m thinking an out-of-town trip is coming in my near future.

So, I’m sure you’ve read Zuckerberg’s admission that Facebook censored content at the government’s request during COVID and the 2020 elections. Today’s surprise was seeing this cover on a friend’s post:

I shared this on my feed and told folks to see for themselves how fucked up our world has become.

But, thanks for the memories, Facebook:

Today’s YouTube is from a channel I wasn’t subscribed to, but I gave it a watch. For the past two years, this Yank has lived in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a very upscale area in Metro Manila. He thinks things are changing (for the worse), citing inflation and women’s attitudes, among others. Well, I’ve bitched about higher prices, but there’s no escaping that. I think his real problem is living in Manila. Things are as good here in my neck of the woods as they ever were.

The daily dose of humor:

Today began for me with this beauty:

Well, our group hike took us to Olongapo City, so I couldn’t go collect the gold. Maybe next time. Now it is time to get ready for the Hops and Brews gathering. See you here tomorrow to tell you all about it.

Didn’t do shit yesterday, but the nice thing about dementia is that I won’t remember doing nothing for long. Now, what was I saying? Oh yeah, the day I sat on my ass until beer o’clock. My next-door neighbor, Jeff, messaged that he was meeting Matt and his wife at Hops and Brew at 5:00 p.m., and we were welcome to join in. Jeff said there was room in his car, which was an extra bonus, given the ongoing rain. When five rolled around, I was waiting on the porch for Jeff to come out, and he never did. It is not like a retired Marine Colonel to be late. I sent a message to see what was up and then re-read his original message. The dinner meet-up is for FRIDAY. Damn, I didn’t have reading comprehension on my next-to-go Bingo card.

Well, Swan and I were all dressed up and had nowhere to go, so I made the command decision to spend the rainy evening on Baloy. We walked under umbrellas to the highway, then grabbed a trike to take us to the beach. We hadn’t been to DaKudos for a while, so we started there. It turns out that my old friend Jessa no longer works there. That new owner keeps finding new ways to diminish his business. We had one drink and left. I gave Swan the option of Lagoon Resort or Treasure Island for dinner, and she chose TI because it has bay views. That girl sure does love the water. We plopped down at the bar (the only place with a roof over our heads) and watched the raindrops fall while waiting for our dinner to be served.

When we finished eating, we grabbed a trike for home. And so ended a pretty much empty day, but I have no complaints. I’m still driving the body vehicle on the road of life, and if I occasionally want to spend it at a rest stop, so be it.

Speaking of life and its alternatives, Swan’s dog Snickers died today. He barked his way through eleven years here on Earth (that’s 88 in people years), and I hope I can live a similarly long life. The vet said it was a liver problem (as far as I know, Snickers never tasted alcohol), and he died peacefully here at home.

Facebook shared this memory with me today:

Today’s YouTube video features Reekay providing three reasons expats wind up broke in the Philippines. They all seem to have stupidity in common. I live on a federal pension, so my financial security is every bit as solid as the US government. Oh shit! I’ve got some savings as a safety net, so that’s as strong as the US dollar. Fuck! Well, my fallback plan is that I’m an old geezer who won’t live forever anyway. Dying in a Chinese air strike is rising on my list of ways I might go, but it is still behind crossing the National Highway in Barretto.

Things that pass for humor in my weary brain:

The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, ‘Well, I’m off now. The man should be here soon.’

Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.

‘Good morning, he said, “I’ve come to…”

“Oh, no need to explain,” Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, “I’ve been expecting you.”

‘Have you really?” Said the photographer. “Well, that’s good. Did you know babies are my specialty?”

“Well that’s what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat.”

After a moment she asked, blushing, “Well, where do we start?”

“Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.”

“Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn’t work out for Harry and me!”

“Well, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results.”

“My, that’s a lot!” Gasped Mrs. Smith.

“In my line of work a man has to take his time. I’d love to be In and out in five minutes, but I’m sure you’d be disappointed with that.”

“Don’t I know it,” said Mrs. Smith quietly.

The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. “This was done on the top of a bus,” he said.

“Oh, my God!” Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.

“And these twins turned out exceptionally well, when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.”

“She was difficult?” Asked Mrs. Smith.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look.”

“Four and five deep?” Said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.

“Yes”, the photographer replied, “And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.”

Mrs. Smith leaned forward. “Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh .. . . .equipment?”

“It’s true, yes. Well, if you’re ready, I’ll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.”

“Tripod?”

“Oh yes, I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It’s much too big to be held in the hand for very long.”

Mrs. Smith fainted.

Swan and I took a walk to the Subic marketplace this morning, and we’ll be going for a foot spa later this afternoon. If the weather cooperates, I’ll treat her to some beachside dining at Papagayo this evening. Yep, we’re getting back to normal—or as normal as it gets around here anyway.

Things weren’t quite right yesterday. Not horrible or tragic, but moments of disappointment cropped up. Didn’t let them ruin the day, though. When things are a little off, you appreciate when it all comes together that much more.

Another Sunday, another Candy Walk. We altered our course to avoid grumpy old men, but we found ample new faces for chocolate-induced smiles to replace the ones we disappointed with our absence. Swan is also making arrangements with the mother of one of our “regulars” to facilitate the child attending school this year. It’s difficult for people living hand-to-mouth to find money for school uniforms and supplies, and that’s something we are willing to help with. Swan wants to buy the necessities directly, as she fears handing over a lump sum of cash may not result in the desired outcome. What was “off” about the walk? My bladder. I felt like I constantly had to pee, even when there wasn’t much liquid to expel. And I had little to no capacity to hold it in until I found a place to relieve myself. Made for some uncomfortable moments during the walk. It seems somewhat better today. I’m doing a prostate screening in the morning.

Next up on the Sunday agenda was the Hideaway feeding. Everything was going as it usually does, although there were a few more customers than I’ve seen in a while. I baked blueberry muffins for the girls this week for a change of pace. Things got a little off when I bought Joy a lady drink. She doesn’t do alcohol, and that’s fine by me. When Joy reached for a bottle of Coke, the cashier told her to use the bottle of Sprite that had already been opened. Joy did as she was told, but it really pissed me off. I’m paying 150 pesos for a soft drink; by God, the girl can drink whatever she wants. I’m the fucking customer. Joy kept telling me to calm down; she didn’t care. But that’s not the point. So, I ordered a lady drink for one of the other girls (something I rarely do) and loudly proclaimed, “But only if it’s a Coke.” I guess the cashier got the message because when the food arrived, she didn’t come to my side of the bar to have any. Like I give a shit either way.

I was happy when it was time to cross the highway and meet Swan at John’s place for our Sunday dinner.

Sadly, things were a bit off at John’s, too. Swan ordered her usual glass of red wine, and the waitress returned and advised that red wine was not available. WTF? How does one of the nicest restaurants in town not have wine in stock? It just doesn’t make any sense, and it was disappointing. We make a special effort to eat here each week because it’s good and also to support John’s business. The lack of concern for the customer left me shaking my head.

At least the food was good.

The rain let up some, so we marched on up the highway in search of our nightcap destination. I offered up IDM or Green Room, and Swan chose Green Room so she could share here leftovers with her waitress friend Chu. But something was off here too–the music was blasting so loud, I got up as soon as I sat down and headed for the door. That is so unlike Green Room. We did Alaska instead, and it was fine overall. They have a pool tourney on Sunday so there was a pretty good crowd. Owner Jerry usually keeps up with the music, but for some reason AC/DC songs were playing one after the other. I’m not a big fan, but I can handle their music in small doses. The music videos with that creepy guitar player in a schoolboy uniform was as irritating as the songs. So, I finished the free beer owner Jerry provided, then moved next door to Wet Spot.

Wet Spot also had a good crowd, including a “two-week millionaire” buying multiple lady drinks for the multitude of gals at his table and ringing the bell to provide shots for the rest of the staff. He spent more money in the thirty minutes I was there than I do in a month. Guys like that keep the bars in business, I suppose. Aine is still ignoring Swan, but there is nothing off about that–it’s our preference!

And that was how my Sunday went down.

Ah, the memories.

Today’s YouTube video features the SOB dance team from La Oficina. They are one of my favorites.

Even my humor is off a little more than usual:

I’ve had another lazy day today. And I’ve decided not to Hash either. Once again, the trail begins and ends at the end of Rizal Extension. Vienna Sausage is the Hare and his trails generally don’t suit me. And I don’t feel like wearing a Hash cake this week. I’m thinking I might walk the My Bitch trail, stop by the Hash On-Home, the leave before the circle begins. Or maybe I won’t bother at all. I’ve got about thirty minutes to make up my mind.