It’s been a rough couple of days as I sought acceptance and tried to contemplate a future alone. And then this morning we talked again. It was a difficult conversation, but we’ve decided to stay together. Maybe I didn’t dodge the bullet completely, because I still feel wounded, but this is probably my best option going forward. One day at a time, and we’ll see where life takes us.
Last night I attended the annual RSL (Returned and Services League) reverse raffle at Queen Victoria Bar. The event is the big fundraiser for a group that does a lot of local charity projects. I had 3000 pesos in tickets and came away with zero prizes. Ah well, it was for a good cause, and there was plenty of beer to help drown my sorrows.
There was a full house and lots of money raised.
I did my nightcap at Snackbar and got to see another ex cuddling with her new squeeze. I am happy she found someone who suits her better than I did. I got a chuckle when a new waitress introduced herself, saying it was her fourth day on the job. I welcomed her with a lady drink, and she sat with me at my table. She asked me to guess how old she was; I shrugged and said, 23? Nope, I’m 18. I grinned and told her, “My granddaughter just turned 21.” I guess that surprised her, because she pulled out her phone and showed me a photo of her mother, who is 35. Yeah, I did the math. Oh, and the waitress also has a five-month-old baby at home. Welcome to the Philippines!
Then it was home for another fitful night’s sleep alone in my bed. Perhaps today will be better.
Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said: When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. • Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart. But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. • Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.” And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own under- standing of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; To return home at eventide with grati- tude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
--Kahlil Gibran
Wrapping up July 2020 in the LTG archives. I’d like to say the month went out with a bang, but that didn’t happen. I did fall in love, though. And there would be some banging in the future. Spoiler alert: It wound up being another failed relationship.
I posted a crap YouTube video about Barretto the other day, but this one is much better. The vloggers had a great time at the Alley Hideout dart bar, then went to Hot Zone for some hot dancers. They also noticed how empty the bars were and the overall lack of tourists. Supply exceeds demand, and that’s not a good recipe for success.
Don’t shoot the messenger! I post, you decide:
Pretty much the only thing that works.Good to know.Ah, as a former letter carrier, I can attest to the validity of this scenario.
And now on to another Hash Monday. I ain’t dead yet.
Been there, done that, got the memories. No need to go down that road again here in the final chapter of my life. In the meantime, I’ll keep filling the hours in my usual fashion, and that works just fine for me.
Here’s a peek in the rearview mirror at my yesterday, starting with a very nice riverside stroll with Swan.
That would be her.We crossed this bridge when we came to it.Over the river.As we were walking on the embankment, some guy came out of his yard and tossed this bag of trash into the river. I’ll never get used to seeing that kind of selfish ignorance.The bag floated downstream, heading for the bay and then later onto a beach. Bastard.Riverside dwellings.That green algae slime is encroaching on our path. One false step and you’d slide off the side.A nice tree amongst the graves.Living a simple life.Boats on the water.Leaving the river behind.Over a rickety bridge.Exploring a new path that led to a dead end.So, wade we must.Pond scum.The lola we occasionally help out is always happy to see us.That’s her shanty on the left, and she is with the deceased daughter’s kids she is raising.The way we went.
Our evening agenda took us to Baloy Beach. Kicked it off at Kokomo’s. They didn’t have red wine for Swan, so she ordered a rum and Coke. Finished half of it while I downed two beers.
The view from my stool.That girl by my side.
We decided to move on, and my tab was 300 pesos. I handed the bartender a 500-peso note, and she said she couldn’t make change. Seriously? Well, I was able to scrape together two hundreds and two fifties, but it depleted my wallet of small bills, including the trike fare I would need later. What kind of business doesn’t maintain a change drawer? Well, they’ve lost my business. It’s off my list of places to go.
Swan is enjoying her toes in the sand time.
We moved down the beach to Tropical Zone, the Hash On-Home venue from last week. They had both wine and change! Woo-hoo, we have found our replacement for Kokomo’s! After an enjoyable visit, we headed over to Treasure Island for some grub. After our meal, we triked it back home and called it a day.
Continuing the July 2020 LTG archives. I noticed I’d screwed up yesterday’s post and didn’t share the link about meeting Mary. Here it is. So, today that story continues, and it keeps getting weirder. Stay tuned; it’s gonna get weirder yet.
That girl I met six years ago, as she was walking on the highway while I was stumbling home from the bars.She told me she was looking for work, so I brought her home for an interview.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a video showing the street scene in Barretto. Today I have rectified that omission. Not all that impressive unless you are looking at hotel options, but it’s only eight minutes long. If I can sit through it, so can you!
You knew this was coming:
It’s harder to score when you are married unless you cheat.Sounds like checkmate for you, dude. Enjoy hell!But I’m left-handed…
Had enough? I don’t blame you. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Gonna keep it short and as sweet as it gets around here. I’m running a tad behind schedule, and I have a birthday party to attend later this afternoon. So, let’s get on with it.
It was a Tuesday yesterday, so I took care of the grocery shopping with visits to YBC and Royal. Had the driver drop me off at Dr. Jo’s on the way back for my weekly Ozempic injection. Down two pounds last week and nineteen overall. I’m getting there, slowly but surely.
I couldn’t be bothered to take my neighborhood walk. Swan went off to join some friends, so I was on my own for the afternoon. When beer o’clock arrived, I wandered into town and popped into Sloppy Joe’s. Swan and a friend joined me there an hour later.
Marilyn on the left, Grumpy in the middle, and Swan on the right.
Swan chastised my lack of smile, so I tried harder:
How’s that?
Perhaps Marilyn looks familiar to long-time readers. She’s the twin sister of my ex, Marissa. Nice to see you both again!
We shared a batch of fried chicken wings, then moved next door to the newest bar in town, The Jungle, the venue formerly known as the Green Room. The Jungle is a bar with dancers, whereas the Green Room billed itself as a sports bar. Last night, the difference hit me hard. I didn’t like the music, but I’m forgiving because the music is something for the girls to dance to, not for my enjoyment. I get that. But the vibe in the place just wasn’t the same for me. I’d rather be in Wet Spot or Alaska, which are both under the same roof. So, my future visits to The Jungle will likely be few and far between.
The company was fine, though.
When the witching hour arrived, Swan announced that she and Marilyn were going to resume the party with the girls, so I said goodnight and came home alone. And no, I don’t have any issues with Swan having a social life of her own. When I woke up at midnight, she was beside me as usual.
Moving on through the June 2020 LTG archives, I’m experiencing some Strange Days. Both with the ex I mentioned above and with my pursuit of a new relationship with Jessa. Things are heating up!
Today’s YouTube video talks about the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s. I can’t remember why that matters to me. I do recall the story about a friend whose wife was having issues, and after months of testing, the doctor advised that he had narrowed it down to two possible problems: AIDS or Alzheimer’s. My friend was shocked and said, “Oh my god, what should I do?” The doctor replied, “Well, if I were you, I’d drive her ten miles out of town, and if she comes home, don’t fuck her!” Yeah, my jokes are as bad as my cognitive abilities.
Maybe these are better humor than mine:
Well, I’ll be damned; I never considered that shit before.Not that I give a fuck.Hmm, let me think for a few minutes about starting from the bottom.When I was a clerk in a convenience store way back when, I got held up by a dyslexic robber. I remember him shouting, “Okay mothersticker, get your ass in the air, or I’ll blow your hands off!”
Yeah, thousands of comedians are out of work, and I’M trying to be funny. Sorry ’bout that!
Now it’s time to shower up and get ready to party. Billy, the dart tourney coordinator at Alley Cats, is celebrating a birthday today.
I died and went to the Philippines. Is this heaven or hell?
I celebrated my Independence Day with a visit to the dentist for an overdue teeth cleaning. There is nothing much more uncomfortable than being reclined with your mouth wide open and various devices grinding the accumulated gunk off your choppers. Dr. Barrera said I need to come back to have a crown replaced and a small cavity filled. I normally wait until I’m in pain before getting that kind of work done, so we’ll see.
When it was time to head into town again for my daily dose of beer, I made my way to Red Bar. Swan joined me there when she was done with a family gathering. The highlight of the visit was gaining access to the music playlist and blasting patriotic songs like “America, Fuck Yeah” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” at high volume. I saw some cringe, but received no complaints.
My tablemates and drink recipients.A mirror selfie.
We ordered a pizza to share with the crew, then moved on for our nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Day becoming night on the National Highway.We only come here once a week, but always enjoy the unique ambiance of Jumpin’ Jacks.
I requested my patriotic songs again and rewarded those subjected to my music selections by purchasing lady drinks for all the girls.
In a surprising twist, Swan wanted to play pool.
In another surprising turn of events, she came from behind to beat her bargirl opponent.Then it was my turn. I played like shit, but still managed to pull out a victory.
And that was my American-style night on the town.
I’ve reached the end of May 2020 in the LTG archives, and I’m having dreams about the past. Heh, some things never change. Still, it all comes down to living in the moment and appreciating what you have, irrespective of what you may have lost along the way in this journey we call life. I’ve gotten better at that, I think. The day before, I posted “Voices from the past” where I mention hearing from my Korean wife and the Korean girlfriend that preceded her on the same day. That was weird. The former girlfriend was pissed because I had a photo of her on the blog that she wanted deleted. She didn’t ask nicely, so I didn’t delete it, although I did remove her name. Oh, and there’s a video clip from that wild party I shared yesterday. What a life, eh?
And now time for a commercial break. Today’s YouTube has some TV commercials from 50 years ago you might enjoy.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse:
And the professor replied, “On your knees, bitch!”
Man: Haven’t I seen you someplace before? Woman: Yes, that’s why I don’t go there anymore. Man: Is this seat empty? Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down. Man: Your place or mine? Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I’ll go to mine. Man: So, what do you do for a living? Woman: I’m a female impersonator. Man: Hey baby, what’s your sign? Woman: Do not enter. Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning? Woman: Unfertilized. Man: Your body is like a temple. Woman: Sorry, there are no services today. Man: I would go to the end of the world for you. Woman: But would you stay there? Man: If I could see you naked, I’d die happy. Woman: If I saw you naked, I’d probably die laughing.
So, recently, I’ve had some commenters calling me a racist. My calls to provide evidence to support that allegation have gone unanswered. Until yesterday. Well, commenter Todd didn’t have any examples of my racist nature to share, so he asked AI to analyze my blog posts, and here’s what the AI gods came up with:
Things about John McCrarey (from a critical outsider perspective)
Here’s a direct summary of elements that many (especially younger/Western progressive viewers) would find off-putting or “disgusting”:
Transactional/sex tourism-adjacent lifestyle: Deep immersion in Barretto’s bar girl (“GRO”) scene — buying lady drinks, flirting with much younger women, history of casual hookups with bargirls (he admits past “whore life” phases but claims it’s behind him with Swan). The crude sexualization of nearly all female interactions stands out.
Large age gap relationship with Swan: She’s ~29 years younger, his long-term partner (hash name “Cums Alone”). Portrayed affectionately, but the provider/paternal dynamic + economic disparity (Western pension vs. Filipino bar scene economics) reads as exploitative or “sugar daddy” to critics. He jokes about it openly.
Extreme crude vulgarity: Constant raunchy humor, objectifying language, and Hash culture excess (e.g., AI-rendered sexualized images of female hashers, endless penis/pussy puns). Can feel juvenile and gross coming from a 70+ man.
Paternalistic “benevolence” toward locals: Handing out candy to poor kids while living large on pension; financial support framed as generous but tied to his status as the rich foreigner.
Unapologetic hedonism in poverty context: Flaunting bar life, drinking, and casual indulgences while surrounded by economic hardship. Some see it as tone-deaf or predatory.
Thank you for your support! Not a single mention of racism. All those other “bad” things are self-acknowledged, and while I’m not necessarily proud of the things I’ve done in my sordid past, the only thing I’m guilty of is rejecting the liberal hive-mind and refusal to adhere to the rules of the ‘woke’. I actually found some of the AI criticisms to be ignorant and disrespectful of certain aspects of Filipino culture. Age-gap relationships are not unusual here, and a common saying amongst the women is that “age is just a number.” I identify as a 30-year-old, so don’t be an age bigot! The poverty here can be depressing, but people do what they have to do to get by. So, if working in the bar is the best option for earning money, there should be no shame in that. As I told one of the first bargirls I met as a tourist, a man carrying bricks on his back all day to earn a living is no different from a woman lying on her back to make money. I’ve seen NGOs try to shut down prostitution bars without a thought or care about what will happen to the gals once they are back on the street. But yeah, I’m the “predator.”
As for “paternalistic benevolence,” based on giving poor kids a bag of candy once a week, call it what you will, but I’m rewarded with happy faces, and the kids look forward to our visits. The AI didn’t notice some of the other charity projects I undertake, perhaps because I don’t write about them much. But I’m providing monthly food money to a widow with two kids from her deceased American husband. I’ve sponsored a boy beginning in elementary school, and he is now an honor student in high school. I’m also assisting a young woman with her college expenses. There is also a woman I’m supporting as she goes through cancer treatment in Manila. All told, 10% or so of my monthly budget is spent on charity. Heh, I’m tithing, and I’m not even a Christian!
Anyway, I’ve made my share of mistakes over the years, but racism has never been one of them. I’m proud that in my working life I maintained a diverse staff of highly-skilled and qualified professionals. Donna Cole, my Deputy in my final job as Director of Human Resources Management, was one of the most outstanding individuals I ever encountered in my 35 years of government service. We remain friends to this day. Oh, she is African-American, not that that ever mattered. I’m white, and I support the President. That’s all it takes to be racist these days, I suppose.
So, despite my aversion to interacting with AI, I was inspired to check in with ChatGPT for only the second time ever. I kicked things off by asking, “What can you tell me about the blog Long Time Gone at www.mccrarey.com?” Here is what it had to say:
The “Long Time Gone” blog at mccrarey.com is a long-running personal blog written by John McCrarey. It combines memoir, daily journal entries, retirement reflections, hiking stories, music, humor, and life as an American expatriate living in the Subic Bay/Olongapo area of the Philippines.
Main themes of the blog
Life in the Philippines
Everyday routines in Barretto and Subic.
Local restaurants, bars, beaches, and community life.
Photos from walks and outings.
Retirement and aging
Thoughts about growing older.
Reflections on past marriages, family, and life choices.
Gratitude and occasional discussions of loneliness, loss, and mortality.
Walking and Hash House Harriers
Frequent participation in hiking groups and the local Hash House Harriers.
Trail reports and photos.
Music and nostalgia
Almost every post includes classic rock or country songs.
References to memories from earlier decades.
Humor and observations
Memes, jokes, and commentary on daily experiences.
A conversational, diary-like style.
Scale of the blog
According to the site’s statistics page, the blog has:
More than 5,600 posts.
Over 20,000 comments.
A single author: John McCrarey.
Writing style
The tone is informal and personal. Posts often begin with a quotation, song lyric, or humorous image, followed by a recap of the author’s day. Readers who enjoy travel memoirs, expatriate life, retirement stories, and slice-of-life writing tend to find it appealing.
One recurring idea throughout the blog is making the most of ordinary days and appreciating what the author often calls his “paradise” in the Philippines.
If you’re interested, I can also summarize how the blog evolved over the years—it originally contained much more political commentary before gradually shifting toward personal life and retirement in the Philippines.
The evolution of Long Time Gone is almost a biography told in real time. Reading older posts and comparing them with recent ones reveals several distinct phases.
1. Early years: politics and debate
In its earlier period, the blog contained much more:
U.S. politics and ideological commentary.
Current events and opinion pieces.
Arguments and discussions with readers in the comment section.
Reflections on American life and work.
John often wrote from a strongly conservative perspective, and politics was a major driver of reader engagement.
2. Transition after retirement and personal losses
As major life changes accumulated—retirement, divorce, widowhood, and leaving the United States—the focus gradually shifted away from public issues and toward personal experience.
Posts became more about:
Memories of former relationships.
Grief and rebuilding life.
Questions about purpose and aging.
Looking back on different chapters of life.
A recurring theme became what he sometimes calls “one lifetime, many lives”—the idea that a person can reinvent himself several times.
3. Moving to Asia
Before settling in the Philippines, John spent years in South Korea. Eventually he chose the Philippines for retirement, an experience he frequently revisits in archive posts.
During this phase the blog became:
Less political.
More travel-oriented.
More focused on expatriate living and cultural adjustment.
4. Building a life in Barretto/Subic
Over time, everyday life itself became the subject.
The blog increasingly documented:
Neighborhood walks.
Local bars and restaurants.
The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.
Charitable projects.
Friends coming and going.
Daily photographs.
Instead of reporting “big events,” the blog celebrates ordinary routines.
5. Present-day “day in paradise”
Current posts are highly diary-like. Typical entries include:
Morning walk or hike.
Photos from around Barretto.
Evening visits with Swan and friends.
Memories from older posts.
A YouTube video or song.
Humor and memes.
Recent entries frequently revisit older archives from 2019 and compare past feelings with present contentment.
Themes that have grown stronger over time
Aging
Acceptance of physical decline.
Thoughts about mortality.
Gratitude
Appreciation for simple routines.
Satisfaction with “another day in paradise.”
Nostalgia
Facebook memories.
Old photographs.
Stories from earlier careers and marriages.
Companionship
Relationships matter more than achievements.
Swan and close friends occupy much of the narrative.
Overall
The blog has evolved from commentary about the world into commentary about one man’s life within his small corner of the world.
In a sense, Long Time Gone has changed from:
“Here’s what I think about what’s happening out there”
to:
“Here’s how I spent today, and why I’m grateful I got to live it.”
That change may explain why many long-time readers say the blog feels less like a traditional blog and more like reading a friend’s daily letter. *****
Well, it sounds like ChatGPT has me pegged. I can’t really argue with the conclusions rendered. So, let’s get down to the heart of the matter with this follow-up question: “Is there anything to indicate that the writer of Long Time Gone (www.mccrarey.com) is racist?”
Based on the broad themes and publicly visible material you’ve asked about, I don’t see evidence that would justify labeling the author of Long Time Gone as racist.
A few observations:
Earlier political posts reportedly expressed strong conservative opinions, and some readers may disagree with those views. Holding conservative positions by itself is not evidence of racism.
The blog documents many years of life in South Korea and the Philippines, including close relationships, friendships, and participation in local communities. Those experiences generally suggest comfort living among people from different cultures.
Much of the recent writing emphasizes companionship, gratitude, and everyday interactions rather than racial or ethnic issues.
Whether someone is “racist” is a serious judgment that usually depends on a consistent pattern of statements or behavior showing prejudice or belief in racial superiority. From the overall character of the blog as previously described, I am not aware of such a pattern.
That said, people can interpret individual posts differently. Some readers might find certain jokes, political comments, or cultural observations insensitive or objectionable, while others may not. Disagreement over politics or style should be distinguished from racism.
So the most accurate answer I can give is:
I do not see clear evidence from the blog as a whole that supports calling the author racist, although individual readers may disagree with some opinions expressed there.
If there are specific posts or passages you’re concerned about, I can help examine those and discuss them in context rather than making a broad judgment about the author. *****
And there you have it, AI has rendered a verdict of “not guilty” to the charge of racism.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
It is Independence Day here in the Philippines. Ironically, they are celebrating Filipino liberation from Spain. As an American, let me just say, you’re welcome!
One of my major gripes about living here in the PI is the litter culture. Thinking about all those playing cards we left tied to trees and bushes on Monday’s Hash made me feel a bit like a hypocrite. So, for our hike yesterday morning, we decided to clean the Bitch. Yeah, it is a little boring redoing a trail, but there was work to be done, and we did it, by golly.
Snip, snip.Keeping it clean!
We noticed that some of the branches had the ribbon dangling, but no card. I figured someone had collected a souvenir.
Or maybe they just didn’t appreciate our improper form of littering. Who knows?What we reaped on our sojourn.
At beer o’clock, we kicked things off at Cheap Charlies.
That Cheap Charlies view that helps the beer go down so smoothly.
At the top of that yellow building is the recently closed BarCelona. Word on the street is that another sucker has bought the business, and it is reopening today. We shall see. The bar always had so much potential, but couldn’t ever pull it together. I stopped going under the first owner because of bad service. I stopped going under the second owner because of the crap music being played way too loud. We’ll see if owner #3 can retain my business. I plan to visit today and see what I think. The help wanted banner out front is seeking a mamasan with crew, so I’m thinking it’s going the girly bar route. Not sure that will entice the old expats to climb three flights of stairs, but who knows.
Dinner for the girls at Cheap Charlies. I stopped buying lady drinks here when they raised the price for a single to 250 pesos (I pay around 180-200 everywhere else). So, now I do a feeding for the price of two lady drinks. I’m not a cheap Charlie, but I won’t be a sucker, either.
Then it was off to Wet Spot for our nightcap.
We brought takeout from Foodies for our regular Wet Spot crew as well.
The old Green Room bar is supposed to be opening under its new name, Jungle, tonight. No one I talked to last night believes it is going to be ready, but I’ll find out after my BarCelona visit.
Then I dragged my drunk but not racist ass home and called it a day. Life remains good.
Back to the November 2019 LTG archives. This post is the typical Hash after-action report, but it is the last paragraph that makes the post worth saving for my memories. In it, I talk about a meeting I attended with the USFK Commander, a four-star General. He made the decision to furlough the Korean workforce because of a funding issue. All the other officers in attendance nodded their heads in agreement. I told him what the consequences would be, and he wasn’t pleased. There was a time when my life had substance and meaning. But now I’m retired.
For today’s YouTube video, let’s hear what Smart Girl Philippines has to say about the top ten lies Filipinas are prone to tell. Some things you just have to learn the hard way, but now you can’t say you weren’t warned.
And I’ve got time for some funny business before I go:
Talk about arrested development.Be careful what you wish for, but I guess the husband is doing well now.Are you glad this long-ass post is finally finished?
Me too!
Found this golden oldie in the LTG archives today:
I’m going to keep on keeping on as long as I can, that’s for sure.
Not a lot to say about my Wednesday, so let’s get it over and done with, shall we?
I was the only one to show up for the Wednesday Walkers group hike, so I decided to keep it simple with a solo street walk through Barretto. Yeah, it’s such a boring walk, I didn’t take a single photograph. I did have my earbuds to keep me company, and I enjoyed singing along with some of my favorite golden oldies. Right up until the moment I almost got hit by a taxi cab that I didn’t hear approaching from behind me. Damn, when it is my time to go, I hope I don’t go in a stupid fashion like that.
I survived the 7K journey and finished at Sit-n-Bull, where I got myself a Maui chicken burger (with ham and a pineapple ring) for lunch.
When beer o’clock rolled around, Swan advised that she was taking a “me day,” so I was once again on my own. I wound up going to Cheap Charlies and just stayed there until it was time to head back home. I just couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be, so why bother looking?
I watched the sun go down from my barstool perch.Foodies, the restaurant downstairs, delivered me an order of the best chicken quesadillas in town. I ate half and shared the leftovers with the waitresses.
And then the day came to an end. I’m happy to report that I awoke to a new day this morning.
Courtesy of Facebook memories, here’s a photo of Walter Lee and Bonnie Rose before they became my mom and dad.
I reckon that’s around 1950 or so.
Moving on in the June 2019 archives, I write about some special goodbyes in Anjeong-ri and then the final goodbyes as I left Seoul for the last time. Will I ever go back? I don’t know, as much as I love it there, the things I loved the most are gone now. Never say never, but I doubt it. On that last night in Seoul, I visited the famous country dive bar, Grand Ole Opry. It’s long gone now, but the post from my first visit in 2005 brought back some happy memories. And now they are all part of The Story of My Life.
I also had a farewell lunch with the esteemed Mr. Kevin Kim and my nephew. Kevin wrote about it here.
In my internet wanderings, I came across this chart of the least expensive cities to spend your retirement years.
Nope, no city in the Philippines made the cut.
Which is a nice lead-in to today’s YouTube video about countries other than Thailand and the Philippines that are cheap retirement options. I’ve only been to two of them, Cambodia and Vietnam, and both are worthy of consideration. But I made my choice, and I’m going to stick with it. (Yeah, the title, “Don’t Miss This Places,” would make Kevin Kim’s head explode.)
Let’s see if there is any funny business going on:
And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.Maybe you should just sit down and shut up, Data.Damn, that brings back memories of TVs when they had tubes. It doesn’t work so much with circuits, but I do occasionally have to reboot my laptop.
Another day, another post. How long can it last? I hope to stick around and find out.
Thanks for the photo enhancement, Scott. Almost makes me look young again.
I’m diggin’ the vibe here in Bohol a lot. Almost makes me feel like I could live here. Yeah, it is touristy, with most of the tourists being scuba divers, apparently. A bartender told me that the biggest group of foreign visitors is Korean. That’s manifested in all the signage I see in Hanguel. Almost like being back in my former “home.” The other tourists seem to be the typical Westerners. One difference from Barretto is seeing so many couples, including elderly folks. Anyway, it all feels pretty laid back and easy goin’, which I like.
In keeping with our traditions, we started the morning yesterday with a hike. Since we didn’t know where we were going and had never walked here, it had an exploratory adventure feel to it. I like that, too. Our ultimate goal was to find a beach nearer our resort. The challenge was finding public beach access. Most of the roads and paths had signs posted saying non-resort guests were not permitted. But we braved taking trails just to see where they went, and eventually found our way. Yeah, there were some dead ends and retreats involved, but it was still a good time.
I wonder where this goes? Only one way to find out…Y I B, lookee here. We found us some ocean.Now let’s find a sandy beach…Better luck next time.We’d had enough horsin’ around and made our back to the hotel.I’m no Magellan, but it was a pleasant walk of discovery.
And we weren’t done. We headed out for another walk at lunchtime.
I guess you could say the writing was on the wall.Just one example of the ubiquitous Korean signage.A trike stand right up the road from our hotel. I guess they are still technically trikes since they have three wheels. I’ve always called this type a tuk-tuk.Across the street from that trike stand was an interesting-looking restaurant called Mist.Mist has kind of a treehouse feel about it.Swan can be such a poser!
We’d walked up an appetite, so we ventured inside Mist and were seated at a table on the second floor.
The cage in which we dined.An inside view of Mist.An outside view from Mist.Swan got caught in this spider web, but I was able to help her escape.One of my more unique dining experiences. I enjoyed it.Lunch is served. Crab, pulled pork, beef, and shrimp tacos. They were okay and filled the void.
Back to the room for a nap, blogging, and a shower. When it was time to head out, we started at the bar nearest our room…here at Nora’s Place. Owner Chris was there with a friend, and we exchanged greetings but had no real conversation. I had a couple of cold beers, then we headed for that beach called Alona.
That beach of which I speak.Swan enjoying her toes in the sand time.We passed by this bar called Birdwatchers that had some customers inside, so we joined the crowd.Judging by the accents and signage, this is an Aussie hangout. Of course, we were welcome too.Funnily, we arrived right about the time displayed on this clock. Only later did I notice that it was not working. Oh well, it is always five o’clock somewhere.
Neither of us was particularly hungry, but having some drinking ahead of us (I was supposed to meet someone at another bar on Alona at 7), we decided to share our usual snack: a chicken quesadilla. It was served without a dipping sauce, like salsa or sour cream, and neither was available when I asked. I guess that’s just the Aussie way of making Mexican food. Go figure.
And I’ll be damned if I have seen corn in a quesadilla before. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It was different, but still tasty enough to serve its purpose.
This being a tourist beach, there were several sand castles about waiting to be photographed. For a price, of course.
Several shots like this one (using my phone camera) for “only” 100 pesos. Memories come with a price tag.
Then it was on to the bar a friend had suggested for a meet-up with another tourist from Barretto that he apparently had introduced me to, an event I have no recollection of. That’s not surprising, of course. And I had no issue with trying another new bar and getting reacquainted. But at the appointed hour of the meeting, my friend messaged that the acquaintance was under the weather and would be a no-show. Oh well, I already had my seat and was liking everything about it.
My new favorite bar in Panglao is called “Escape.” It’s really Great! (see what I did there?)Swan even got the happy hour price on her wine, something unheard of in Barretto.A very nice ambiance as well.But what I loved most was the view from on high (second floor).I’m all about drinking a cold beer whilst looking down on people!
Alas, the time came for us to escape from Escape and catch a tuk-tuk back to our hotel. But I’ll be back! Maybe even tonight.
From the March 2019 LTG archives is a post sharing some of my work as a poet. And you thought the blog was bad! Actually, most of them were written in my late teens and reflect those unique feelings that come with life’s hard lessons. Yeah, I was a loser at love back then, too.
I also found today’s YouTube video in the LTG archives. It’s a clip from the animated movie, Team America: World Police, that describes the three types of people you encounter in life: dicks, pussies, and assholes. I need to put this movie on my list to watch again, it’s one of my favorites.
And I beg your forgiveness in advance for these:
That might come in handy, unless it was like the Minnow. (yeah, that’s a 60s television reference from Gilligan’s Island. Sue me, I’m old!)I see what you did there.Back in the day, I was known for being a tor-mentor.
And now it is time to get back to having a blast. Tomorrow morning, we are doing a day tour that will include a visit to the Chocolate Hills. It’s an all-day outing, so if I miss posting tomorrow, I’ll catch you up when I can.
A relatively uneventful trip getting here. As mentioned, I had my driver pick me up at 7 am instead of 8, because I’d been warned that I was cutting it too close for my 1 pm flight. So, we arrived at the Manila airport at 10, and had three hours to kill. Oh, well.
No traffic jams made getting to Manila quicker than expected.
As I checked my bag, I asked the attendant about changing our seat assignments (Swan and I both had middle seats; she was one row behind me). Alas, the flight was fully booked, so it was not to be. We left on time, and the flight was just a little over an hour long, so it wasn’t so bad. I dozed for most of it. Landed at the small but efficient airport in Panglao and called for a Grab pickup to the hotel—only 75 pesos for the 3K ride.
Where we be staying.
Our lodging was not quite what I was expecting. The Facebook page says it is two minutes from the beach. Maybe so if you are driving fast. We did walk to Alona Beach later in the evening, and it was at least 2K. I also had it in mind that Nora’s Place was an expat hangout, but there wasn’t anyone around yesterday or so far today.
The whole place to ourselves it seems.A nice pool I likely won’t be using.
The room is clean and comfortable as well. This is a “Filipino-style” resort, meaning outside food and drink are permitted, the rooms are family-sized, and for the first time in my experience, it has a fully-equipped kitchen.
Our kitchen.And the bunk beds we will only be using for storage.
So, we had a couple of drinks at the hotel bar, but got bored pretty quickly and decided to make our way to wherever the beach might be.
The sun was still up, but we encountered this full moon.Ah yeah, that’s where we want to be!Bohol is to diving what Siargao is to surfing. Those boats are almost all for divers.A very pleasant stroll down a nice beachfront lined with bars, restaurants, and resorts. What is different is that there is no road along the beach, so no traffic. I like that vibe VERY much.
I saw two or three places that I want to go back and try during this trip, but last evening we plopped down at one that looked cozy and had a friendly waitress beckoning us to have a seat.
She even took our picture.I asked Swan if she could tell me about the menu, please. She told me the men she pleases are none of my business.Joke, lang.“Okyanus” is a weird name for a beach bar, but otherwise, I had no complaint.A view from our perch.And another.
That was enough for our first day in Bohol, so we caught a tuk-tuk back to our lodging and called it a night. We’ll be going back for more Alona Beach fun this evening.
Today’s YouTube video talks about the cost of living for regular Filipinos and the harsh realities of not being able to afford things most of us take for granted.
Some moments of lightness.
Do what you are told. Always.Punctuation can be brutal.Do as I say, not as I do.
Alright, time to get back to what I came here for, some new sights and sounds. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Damn, I enjoyed the video almost as much as the song.
Some of the reasons why the Philippines has never escaped its self-inflicted poverty.
What did I do with my Wednesday? What I always do: a Wednesday Walkers group hike and then some quality time on Baloy Beach. Why not?
My hiking companions: Scott, Swan, and Steve.Steve kindly drove us out to the wilds outside Mangan-Vaca, and we hit the trail from there.How now, brown cow?We chose to hike here hoping it would be shady. Not so much.Fire on the mountain. We could hear the “snap, crackle, pop” before we saw the flames.Swan found a mango tree with some low-hanging fruit and filled my backpack. She loves mangos almost as much as birria tacos.Feeling a little horse.The day’s first water crossing was a snap.Finally found some of that shade we’d been craving.Up the creek.Over the creek.In the creek.Livin’ small.Swan took a rest in the shade on this friendly local’s bench.We didn’t speak, see, or hear any evil.I was feeling a little insecure.Right around the 3.5K mark in our journey, we ran into Myleen, an old friend of Scott’s. Turns out Swan knew her too.Myleen and her American husband are building a small house on their 3-hectare lot way out here in the middle of nowhere. No electricity, but they are installing solar panels. Swan availed herself of one of Myleen’s hammocks.That’s the house under construction in the background.Then it was time to make our way back through the banana-tree forest.Goats enjoying the shade.The view from here.A cookie delivery.Follow me!Getting it done.The final water crossing of the day.Swan took the high road.Steve’s car was waiting where we left it.There and back again was 6K. Not bad for a hot day.
And now for the Baloy portion of the day.
Sunny beaches.You’ve heard of sand castles. Well, here’s the water version.Riding a parasail is definitely NOT on my bucket list.The sun at 5:30.No big spenders to treat the gals this time.On with the show!Bye-bye.Until next time.
“Dinner” at Treasure Island was once again a shared chicken quesadilla. I seem to have lost my evening appetite thanks to Ozempic. We wound up going home early and just chillin’ at home until bedtime. I partied a lot harder my first time through the 70s.
Back home in Barretto again, and before I get on with my routines here let me tell you about my yesterday in barangay La Paz, San Narciso.
Scott and Steve drove out to join us for the Wednesday Walkers excursion.And off we go on the beach road.We popped in to check out D’ Resort which is operated by a golf friend of Scott and Steve. The owner wasn’t there at the time though.Steve paused to have a gander at that old Ferrari.And then this guy came chasing us down the street. That’s Chris, the owner of D’s Resort. He was sorry he had missed us and invited us back for a visit after our hike.I fantasized about what life might be like living in this beachfront house. I’m pretty sure I’d like it!The pavement came to an end and we became beachwalkers.I don’t like walking in soft sand much……so I walked on the firmer sand at the water’s edge.Scott decided the low road was better, too.Enjoy the sandy soil!Approaching the riverside.Luckily, it was more of a stream than a river this time. Last year, fellow hiker Gary almost got washed out to sea.Taking the plunge.Like last year, a local informed us we were trespassing. Unlike last year, he told us our path was blocked. Luckily, Swan convinced him her hike mates were too old to turn around and go back.So, he reluctantly unlocked the gate and let us pass.On the side of the big Santo Tomas River. Those ships come here to harvest the lahar that still washes down through the riverbed over thirty years after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.There was also some big-ass excavation project going on in the riverbed as well. Must have been over fifty of those dump trucks moving the soil.I’m not sure how you restore a river, but you better hurry, rainy season is coming.But they were definitely hard at it.Leaving the big river behind and passing through a small village.And sweetening the day of some local kiddies.Then we were walking the banks of a smaller river (probably the same one we’d waded through earlier).It was a pleasant enough stroll.Enjoying the wide-open spaces view.That’s a nice view too.A tree that caught my eye.And a carabao trying to stay cool on a very hot day.The riverside route led us back to the highway, and this little food stand looked like a nice place for a rest and a drink.Some shade and Mountain Dew hit the spot.Then it was time to push on down the road.What’s a hike without a cemetery?At least you made it to 90, Donato. Well done!Heading back to the beach.And then arriving back at where we started, Mope Resort.A nice place to stay and hang out.And an after-hike lunch and a beer went down well.That’s a 10K trek you’re looking at, not bad for a hot-ass day.
After lunch, Steve and Scott stopped by to visit their friend Chris at D’s Resort. I went back to the room for a much-needed nap. Woke up, blogged, showered, and then it was our time to enjoy the beachside Sunset Bar at D’s. I’d actually seen the place the day before and didn’t realize it was part of D’s.
The beach bar is small, but nice.Looking back towards the main resort building at D’s.Owner Chris came out to adjust the Filipino flag, then joined us at the bar for some liquid refreshment and chat.The sun was fixin’ to do its thing.While Chris and I held court, Swan hit the beach with the camera.That’s my girl!Doggone. At least one of his legs is.No mas!
Had a great time getting to know Chris and look forward to seeing him again one day. Chris’ wife gave Swan a tour of some of the rooms, and as much as I like Mope, I think we will be staying at D’ Resort the next time we visit.
We went back to Mope for our nightcap (I skipped dinner again) and then I dragged my sorry, tired ass back to the room for some much-needed sleep.
Swan and I talked about the different vibes between our other beach town favorite, Pundaquit, and La Paz. La Paz feels more laid-back and quieter, with far fewer foreigners. Including Chris, I encountered only five other expats during my visit. I also appreciated that the places I like to visit, yeah, bars, are all within easy walking distance in La Paz. That’s not the case in Pundaquit. Anyway, when I asked Swan where she’d rather live, she said “both.” Of course, I have no intention of moving away from Barretto, but it is nice to have options should I ever desire to do so.
Here’s an old memory from February 2005: my first Itaewon bar hangout, Sweet Caroline’s.
And the sisters who ran the place. That’s Misoon on the left, who was to become my first Korean girlfriend.
From the December 2018 LTG archives, I talk about a couple of girls I met at the Hash who wound up working as dancers at the bar Coco Lips. I had a crush on Josie until she fucked me over (and not in the good way). Last time I saw her, she was living in a squatter shack with a new baby. A bullet dodged with that one. Sad in a way, but some gals make bad choices and live with the consequences. Hmm, that sounds a bit like that guy in the mirror.
For today’s YouTube video, when was the last time you ever even thought about Amelia Earhart? Well, this sounds pretty convincing that they found her remains three years after the crash, but didn’t know it. She was definitely ahead of her time.
And let’s see if these are worth your time:
Maybe the boss will give her a part-time job.I wonder if he is still alive.I hadn’t considered that, Joe.
Alright, they say that home is where the heart is, and as far as I can tell, mine is still beating. So, time to get on with the living thing.
Not a bad Hash yesterday, although perhaps a little boring. Of course, had I done the trail the Hares laid, I’d likely have been a lot worse than bored. In addition to a couple of crazy climbs, one of the hilltops was on fire. Literally. That’s not the fault of the Hares; someone decided to do a burn up there after the trail was laid. Glad I missed it!
Call us lame or cripples, but the like-minded Hashers met up in Alta Vista and went about things our way.We took a flat and mostly paved route.But we did walk a good portion of Trail #1702—the portion without the big hills.See that fire up there? That’s near the Hash trail we didn’t take.Here’s a shot taken by one of the Hashers who did go that way. I’m told the flames had already burned out by the time the Hashers passed, but the embers were still smoldering.Looking back at Alta Vista from here.We did have some uphill work.What goes up, must come down.Those are the steps I have to climb on the Sunday Sweets Stroll. I like them much better going down.This residence right on the National Highway caught my eye for some reason.We arrived on the bay.And headed for the river.Strolling past the beached boats.Kids hanging out on the roof.Our vehicle for the river crossing awaits.Not as comfortable as it looks.Disembarking wasn’t much fun either.Back on the beach and headed On-Home.The shady-looking entrance to our On-Home venue, Kim’s Place.Hashers doing what Hashers do after the hike.One of the Hashers treated me to an American Miller Lite beer. It was damn good.On the beach for the Hash Circle.Hares on the ice. L-R, Fuck Buddy, Anal Intruder, Derby’s Bitch, and My Mouth Is Shut.At the Circle. You can see the Kokomo’s Floating Bar in the background.Time is passing.And another Hash Monday draws to a close.
The usual after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter, then we were homeward bound.
Continuing with the journey through the October 2018 LTG archives, where I’m actively engaged in the dating game. These old posts remind me of events I’d have otherwise forgotten. Like my date with Cherry, a woman I met on a dating website. We had a great first date, and I was really excited about getting to know her better. We met up for lunch the next day, and Cherry came home with me for an afternoon of passion. We parted with a plan for her to join me at the Hash the following day. I’m thinking, maybe I’ve met the one. I hadn’t. You can read what happened here.
Damn, girl. You don’t know what you missed. Or maybe you do.
Today’s YouTube video features a warning from Rod Serling for us all. Sorta like George Orwell told us about in 1984. I was a big Twilight Zone fan growing up, but I’m sure I missed the messages like this one.
Let’s take a timeout for smiles:
Don’t worry, Sloppy Joe’s is open 24 hours.I feel sorry for the 18-year-olds.Checkmate.
And so it went, and so it goes. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Sometimes it is the little things that feel like a ray of hope. Yesterday morning, I managed to navigate my way through an online registration process and then pay for the event via a wire transfer service. Trust me, in my state of diminished mental capacity, that’s quite the accomplishment!
And talk about optimistic, I’m making plans for 2027! Hopefully, I’ll still be around to enjoy it.
I also managed to log in to my credit union website and unlock my credit card for my grocery shopping excursion. And then I locked it again when I got back home. Fuck you, scammers!
There was an incident at the YBC grocery store that left me feeling a bit crushed. I was picking up a case of 16-ounce plastic bottles of Diet Coke, and somehow the stack of quart bottles toppled over onto me, briefly pinning my neck and shoulders to where the Diet Cokes had been. I was able to squirm out from underneath, but damn, that could have been a whole LOT worse. The looks from the nearby store employees seemed to indicate they thought it was my fault somehow. No one even said sorry.
After shopping, I paid a visit to Dr. Jo for my final low-dose injection of Ozempic. Next week, I’ll start the medium-dose routine. I’m thinking that if that works out, I might not go with the high-dose phase, but we shall see. In the meantime, my appetite has been diminished, I’m mostly avoiding the sweet stuff, and my weight continues to trend downward.
According to my scale, on March 17, when I received my first injection, I weighed 262.1 pounds. Yesterday morning, my reading was 254.6, down 7.5 pounds in just under a month. I can live with that.
I was once again on the fence about playing darts in the Tuesday tournament at Alley Hideout, but I chucked a few at home and threw surprisingly well. Alas, that didn’t carry over to the tourney, and once again, it was one win, two losses, and out. I haven’t managed to recapture any passion for the game whatsoever, so I’m totally unmotivated to practice and improve. Last night I was thinking, why do I even bother. But then, the folks at Alley Hideout are like old friends, Swan also knows some of the gals that visit and enjoys the chit-chat with them. I reckon going once a week just for the change of scenery is good enough. I don’t care if I win or lose anymore.
I was hungry after my elimination and decided to visit the fish-and-chips shop across the highway. Swan and I shared one medium order.
I took a photo from our stool (it’s an open-air venue) but neglected to get a shot of the food. Oh well, it satisficed.
Queen Victoria bar is directly across the highway, and that’s where we went for our nightcap.
Queen Vic on a Tuesday evening.
It’s hard to see, but this guy rolled into the bar in a wheelchair. I was both sad and impressed. Sad to see him crippled at a relatively young age, but impressed that he is out doing what he enjoys regardless.
You can kinda see in the cropped version of the photo that he has one of the dancers enjoying a lady drink with him.
Swan assured me that she would be there to push me around town whenever I wanted, should I become wheelchair-bound. I’d prefer to just take her word for it.
To her credit, Swan does seem to enjoy my farts.
Finished our drinks at Queen Vic, and as we headed out, I suggested we cross the highway once again and stop by the fruit and vegetable stand there. I was in a smoothie mood, but we had no bananas. As a long-term expat, I know how the game is played, so I fell behind and let Swan negotiate the price without the skin tax. We walked away with a kilo for 100 pesos. The smoothie was excellent, if I do say so myself. And that’s the sweet ending to another day in paradise.
Continuing the journey through the September 2018 LTG archives, and I encounter a cesspool of drama: in darts, with the GF, and with someone who chose to no longer be friends. It was sad to remember that Greg, cause of the dart drama, died a few months later. Meanwhile, I’ve developed a near-zero tolerance for drama these days.
I mentioned the skin tax bullshit, which is pretty prevalent here in the Philippines. Today’s YouTube video talks about that scam, and like me, he sends his girlfriend in alone when a purchase is to be made.
Time to smile:
Maybe they mix them with whiskey…Maybe you should step it up instead. My goal is 15,000 per day.You think that’s bad? I just had to look up the meaning of both. If I ever knew, it is one more thing I’ve forgotten.
I guess that’s why I take comfort in my routines; they help remind me of what day it is. And today is the day I visit Baloy. Time to get on with it.
Since it is tax day back home in the USA, let me share this classic from Remy:
That’s a photo from the LTG archives. As true now as ever. Especially when I’m the stupid one.
It wasn’t much of a Hash yesterday; there were only 24 Hashers in attendance, even fewer on the trail. I was one of the naysayers, of course, and did 5.5K my way. Swan shared in the fun, so I didn’t have to do it alone.
Stared out a portion of the My Bitch trail. Does that qualify as a double entendre?It was laundry day down by the creek bed. Swan says loose rocks under your feet are the worst. She may be right about that.Getting tired going down.A rustic dwelling.Retired.Dispensing lollipops along the way.As you can see, there was a retreat involved—still, no regrets about avoiding the trail I didn’t take.At the Circle, we honored Husky Fucker, the Miss Fralicscontestant, with the Hashshit.Cums Alone was recognized for her 77th run with the SBH3.And we made Dripping Pussy a birthday cake.
It was run number #1701 for the Subic Bay Hash, and as promised, I stood up and made the following announcement:
Since the On-Home was at It Doesn’t Matter, there wasn’t far to go to get to the after-Hash gathering. I don’t know if it is Ozempic-related, but I’ve mastered the art of making a twelve-ounce bottle of San Miguel Light last me for thirty minutes. That reduces my consumption rate by three or four bottles over the course of a Hash. Progress!
In other news, Swan prepared her second batch of homemade birria tacos.
This batch of dipping sauce was much more to both our liking. The shells were a tad crispier this time, though.
And now I’ve moved on to the September 2018 LTG archives, and sure enough, I’m still posting about loves past and doubting my future prospects with Marissa. But at least I’ve come to acknowledge that just maybe I’m the problem.
Today’s YouTube video offers a rare positive take on tourism and expat life in the Philippines. He says tourism numbers are actually up, at least in the trendy hot spots. Barretto isn’t among those, of course, but the vibe here is that things are in decline. We’ll see what the future brings.
Here’s your daily dose of humor:
Maybe a different kind of hell awaits.Whatever you say, dear.You’ve got to be an old fuck like me to get this one. I STILL dream of Jeanie!
And with that, this post is over and done with. Roger that, Tony?
Shit, I forgot what I was going to blog about today…
Oh yeah, yesterday’s Hash. All in all, it was a good one. Two of our best Hares, Leech My Nuggets and Anal Receptive, laid the trail. There were two versions, hard and easy, both right around 6K. The hard trail went up, over, and down both Easter Mountain and the Black Rock ridgeline. The easy trail went around both of those obstacles. The trails came back together for a climb at the end, but me being me, I did my own bypass of that one, too. It was hot motherfucker yesterday, and there wasn’t a lot of shade along the way, so I was pretty whupped by the time I finished. The On-Home was at a Hasher named Sully’s place in Calapandayan, nicely situated on the bay. Here are some photos from the journey:
The Hashers gathered at the VFW.The cutie-pie contingent.Then we loaded up in these two Jeepneys for the ride out to the starting point of the Hash: Bridge #4 in Naugsol.Hare Leech My Nuggets was there to greet us.Last-minute guidance before we hit the trail.And we are On-On!A nice aspect of the Easy trail was traversing through territory I had not seen before. At least, not that I remember.Heading down to the riverside.Through some tall grass.And then into the riverbed. I was pleasantly surprised to find it devoid of water.Exiting the riverbed required climbing up onto this rickety bridge.Between the walls.That mountain I didn’t climb. Maybe next year.The Hard and Easy trails rejoined briefly.The down after the only up I did.The Black Rock ridge, I didn’t do either.Another rickety bridge that held me.Just passin’ through.Almost On-Home.Sully’s place.The view from Sully’s place.Anal Receptive setting up the ice.Hash Gash hanging out.Old fuckers chillin’ out.Joining the Hares on the ice because we liked their trail.It’s nice on ice!And the sun goes down on another Hash Monday.Yellow: Hard. Green: Easy. Purple: Shortcutters.
Took a trike back to Barretto and joined the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.
Life is good.
And that’s the tale of the Easter Monday Hash Run #1700.
And by golly, the Philippines leads the world in this catergory:
The journey continues through the July 2018 LTG archives. In this post, I share some of the devastation I experienced during my first rainy season here. And I also reveal that I’ve decided to give Marissa another chance. One mistake leads to another, I suppose.
Why, yes. Yes, I am!
Today’s YouTube video shares the success story of living a simple life in the province on a social security income of $1,400 per month. It can be done, but that’s not the life for me. I spend that much in a week.
You can laugh if you want to:
Oh shit, she’s already seen the movie! Now what?I’m pretty sure it was the one where he learned to say “aloha.”And now it is time to say goodbye.
I reckon I’m gonna chuck some arrows today. We’ll see how the lack of practice pays off.
It shouldn’t matter if you’re telling them, but please don’t write it wrong.
Welcome to Easter Sunday. As an answer to your prayers, I’m going to keep today’s post about yesterday as short and sweet as possible. It is a day for miracles, after all.
As is our custom for Saturday morning, we kicked things off with our Decay Dance through the streets of San Isidro.
Doing our part to promote tooth decay.And lo and behold, we walked part of tomorrow’s “easy” Hash trail in reverse.
We started our evening of fun at Myleen’s, where, you guessed it, we dined on birria tacos. Then we moseyed up the highway to Red Bar.
One of the local expats, formerly a regular at It Doesn’t Matter, has switched his allegiance to Red Bar.As you can see, he’s a big spender, treating ALL the gals to at least two lady drinks. We departed Red Bar at sundown and made our way to Jumpin’ Jacks for a nightcap.Welcome to Jumpin’ Jacks!
I played some pool, winning one game and losing the other. My pool game is every bit as good as my darts, it seems. As usual, we enjoyed the ambiance and music during our visit. I was very surprised when Swan requested a second glass of wine before we departed. That’s almost unprecedented and a good indicator of how pleasant our Jumpin’ Jacks visit was last night.
We still made it home before 8:30 (hey, I’m elderly, you know), where I enjoyed a bowl of sugar-free pudding before laying my weary head down on the pillow and entering dreamland.
A couple of Facebook memories from this day in history:
Thirteen years ago, I got married in Las Vegas. It didn’t end well.Eleven years ago, I was hanging out at Shenanigans in Itaewon with two of my favorite writers, Kevin Kim and Young Chun. Young had just published his book, “The Accidental Citizen-Soldier,” and signed my copy.
From the July 2018 LTG archives, I share my perspectives on happiness after two months in the Philippines. There are always ups and downs wherever you wake up in life. How you deal with them is on you. I’m still learning life’s lessons.
Today’s YouTube video has some scenes from one of my favorite shows as a kid, “Lost in Space.” I was too young to note the slide towards comedy, or I didn’t care, but I remember being sad when the series ended. A curse and a joy of old age is all the acquired memories.
Just some jokes before I go:
You know, the misspelling of penis kinda ruins the joke. Eso sí que es gracioso!The joke’s on you!
Okay, a promise is a promise. I’ll stop now. Count your blessings!
Old age comes with its aches and pains, but it also provides a lifetime of memories to look back on. In many ways, this blog has become the story of my life. As I’ve been journeying through the archives, I often come upon a post that reminds me of events I’d otherwise have forgotten. One of these days, I hope to gather the best of these stories in a book on the off-chance that someday, somewhere, someone will ask, “Who was that guy?” Hey, it could happen, even if it is in the form of don’t be like that guy. We shall see.
The story of yesterday isn’t that special, but I was still glad to live it. We kicked it off as usual with the Decay Dance, but since we still had candy left at the end of our regular route, we extended the journey another couple of kilometers.
Swan is the godmother of that toddler in front.The requisite Easter Mountain shot.Our longer trail included the seldom-crossed Bridge #2.A rare Mary Poppins sighting.
So, the big news for our Saturday night was an invitation for Swan to join in a “’70s night” event at the Palm Tree Resort. There is some history involved that makes the story a little more interesting. Swan used to be the hotel receptionist, and her now-deceased former boyfriend, Allan, managed the upstairs bar/restaurant. That’s where I met them both, as I was a semi-regular (weekly) visitor at Palm Tree. I don’t know the circumstances, and I’m not passing judgment, but when Allan died, Swan did not receive the compensation she felt entitled to. After I began my relationship with Swan, she was boycotting Palm Tree, so I haven’t visited there for a couple of years now. I was a bit surprised when Swan accepted the invite and asked me to attend with her. I guess it was more about reconnecting with her former co-workers. So, I got to revisit one of my old favorite haunts last night.
Swan’s outfit for the night. She would have fit right into the ’70s as I remember them. Well, bell-bottoms would have worked too, but where are you gonna find a pair of those?
The Palm Tree gathering was scheduled to commence at 7:30, which is close to when I usually finish my night out. What to do? Well, we started a little later, and I paced myself. We decided we’d arrive at 6 and eat, then take it from there. On our way to Palm Tree, I suggested we take a break from the walk in the air-conditioned Gold Bar.
We had Gold Bar to ourselves, so I had Swan pose on the dance stage.
Then we crossed the highway, hit the ATM, and climbed the stairs to the bar/restaurant at Palm Tree.
As was my custom back in the good ol’ days, I grabbed a table on the patio.I love the views from there.The restaurant was quiet inside when we arrived, but as the evening progressed, they had a fair number of diners.And surprise, surprise, Palm Tree had San Mig Zero. Three of them. And now they have zero Zero.I enjoyed a bowl of seafood chowder for my dinner.And then Swan’s lady friends arrived to celebrate the glory days that I lived through, but they could only imagine.
I moved to the bar and let the gals enjoy their reunion. There was a DJ, and he was playing the classic rock tunes suitable for the occasion. And then some dancing broke out.
Keep on rockin’ me, baby!
Palm Tree has long been noted for its fresh-baked breads. From the bar, I had a clear view of the kitchen and saw the work in progress.
No one was loafing.Swan and her friend Mercy came to check on me at the bar, and I was still doing alright. But all good things must end, so I suggested we pay our tab and depart.It’s kind of sad, but these days this is a late night for me. Then again, my early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule seems to work to my advantage.
So, that extra hour last night didn’t faze me, though I did have some leg pain this morning. I think that just comes with being elderly.
With gas prices continuing to rise, trike drivers are looking for cheaper solutions:
So, Lucky can’t talk, but he’s already told me this in his own way several times:
Fifteen years ago, I’d just moved into the house I bought in South Carolina.
The house featured my own personal dart bar setup. Gone but not forgotten.
From the May 2018 LTG archives, I’m one week into my new life in the Philippines. Throwing some awesome darts, meeting new women, and discovering the joys and pitfalls of small-town living. And I wouldn’t have remembered meeting MJ but for this post. I don’t know why or what happened, but we never connected and then one day she just disappeared from Barretto. Maybe she met that “rich” foreigner she’d been looking for. John and Mango wound up getting married. Sadly, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and it progressed to the point of being totally disabling. I understand he moved to Mango’s province and she and her family are taking care of him there. And life goes on, until it doesn’t.
What could have been and never was.
I don’t even think about it anymore, but you don’t flush toilet paper in the Philippines. My housekeeper empties the bathroom trash bin daily, so it’s not as gross as it could be. Anyway, today’s YouTube video explains why toilets work (or don’t) the way they do here.
Now, for some shitty humor:
That’s no joke, but I lost the link to the story that accompanied the photo. I still find it worthy of a smile. The breast dentist ever!Love, American-style.Sorry if you heard that one before. Still funny though.
A few days ago, Kevin Kim wrote a post called “The Basic Human Sin.” If you missed it, go ahead and give it a read. I’ll wait. So, I’ve often mentioned my fantasy about living a “do-over” life when the one I’m currently living comes to an end. Kevin, bless his heart, has always pointed out in the comments how unrealistic and unworkable a do-over life would be. Basically, once you correct one fuck-up, your future life would be unrecognizable, so you’d no longer be doing a do-over; you’d have a blank sheet for new mistakes. Kevin also pointed out the inherent selfishness of the do-over scheme— trying to fix your life would inevitably change the lives of innocent bystanders, and not always for the better. In my defense, the do-over fantasy was just my way of calming my brain at night to help me get to sleep. Knowing that it would not work the way I imagine takes away a goodly portion of the comfort I seek.
So, I woke up around 3 a.m. this morning and was having trouble getting back to sleep. For whatever reason, I started thinking about traveling back in time and reliving my life from that point forward, knowing what I know now. I don’t have a time machine, of course, but I imagined a psychic power capable of transporting you by viewing an old photograph of a moment in time. Yeah, none of it makes sense, but it was three in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. I thought of the picture I posted here a few days ago:
It’s 1976. I’m 21 years old, a married father of one daughter, and live in Westminster, California.
So, I started thinking about reliving my life from there. It’s great to be young again with the whole future ahead of you. But then I started to think about the ramifications of changing things that Kevin warned me about. My son was born two years later, and we moved to Prescott, Arizona. It was there that my spouse told me she no longer wanted to be a wife and mother, and left me to raise two kids (aged five and three) on my own. Could I have done more to save the marriage and the life we had shared? If I had, she would have missed out on the love of her life, with whom she’s been married for over forty years. I could have avoided the heartbreak that came with losing my next love, but, as I wrote in a post about her, “The Road Not Taken,” everything that flowed from meeting KaraLynne would never have happened. And almost all of that was good. Like meeting my soulmate and angel on earth, Linda Ketner. Needless to say, sleep eluded me, but it turns out Kevin was right about what he wrote. I’m glad I lived it and didn’t miss it, pain and all.
Okay, back to the real world. After grocery shopping yesterday, I visited Dr. Jo for my first Ozempic injection. She is starting me out on a low dosage for the first four weeks, which will give my body the chance to acclimate to the drug. Dr. Jo says the incidents of bad side effects like stomach paralysis usually occur when people begin the regimen at too high a dose level. Nothing negative to report so far, and as this article makes clear, healthy habits and lifestyle choices remain important when using Ozempic. My weekly injection cost me 3400 pesos (around $60). The price will go up as the dosages increase. I don’t intend to be a long-term user, I just need a kick in the butt to drop some pounds ASAP.
I practiced darts at home in the afternoon and threw surprisingly well, so I was feeling confident as we headed out to Alley Hideout for the Tuesday dart tournament. Warming up at the bar, my throws were shit again. I drew Troy, an experienced and solid player, as my partner. We both joked that we’d be the first eliminated from the tournament. We weren’t. A crap first round knocked us into the losers’ bracket, where we won our next match. But it was back to missing in our next games, so we didn’t make it to the money round. If I decide to continue playing, I’m going to need to work on more consistency.
That’s me, chucking the arrows.
I did bring a new shirt home from the bar:
The front……and the back.
I was whupped after my whuppin’ in darts, so we headed home for some smoothies and a restless night’s sleep. At least I did some thinking, something I don’t try much lately.
I’m glad not to be living in the USA. If I left the Philippines, I wouldn’t go back there. I’d probably give Vietnam or Cambodia a shot. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m as happy here as I would be somewhere else.
Here are the countries my fellow Americans are fleeing to.
A Facebook memory from three years ago serves as a good reminder of why I choose to stick with beer.
After a night of gin and sodas, I did a faceplant in the street while exiting the trike that brought me home.
From the May 2018 LTG archives, my farewell luncheon ceremony courtesy of the DHRM team and 8th Army. It was a good (second) ending to my career, and the memories will last as long as I do.
For today’s YouTube video, here’s a doctor who is incensed about GLP-1 “madness,” and he is so disgusted that he wants to leave the USA. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
I’ll be fat and happy for now:
Hard times.My whole world is spinning…Shit! Can you go to hell for bad grammar, too?
And that’s it for now. Time for me to get back to living the best life ever!
Our paths may never cross again Maybe my heart will never mend But I'm glad for all the good times Cause you've brought me so much sunshine And love was the best it's ever been
I wouldn't have missed it for the world Wouldn't have missed loving you, girl You've made my whole life worthwhile with your smile I wouldn't trade one memory 'Causeyou mean too much to me Even though I lost you, girl I wouldn't have missed it for the world
I’m not against descending; it’s the ups I find difficult.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was almost completely flat. Well, to clarify, the “cripples” trail had no hills. I’ve now deemed Leech My Nuggets to be the overall best Hare in the Subic Hash. His trails are always well-marked and easy to follow. And Mr. Leech always offers an option for those Hashers who are no longer up for the challenge of a long, hard climb. I enjoyed the 5K version of the trail very much, as it took me through areas I hadn’t seen before. In fact, I’ll be adding this hike to my repertoire and revisiting it in the future. Our On-Home venue was at a Hasher’s house in Calapadayan, which we’d never been to before. It’s situated right on the edge of the bay and was a very pleasant hangout for our Circle. Overall, it was one of my better Hash experiences.
So, the trail began at Subic High School near Waltermart, a 7K Jeepney ride from Barretto. Here’s some of what I saw during the Hash:
Off we go!Only a month younger than me. RIP Rodolfo.The first of several bridges we crossed on our journey. Also, the sturdiest.The early portion of the trail ran along the banks of the Magnan-Vaca River.Where the long and short trails diverged. Except Leech My Nuggets doesn’t use the term “short.”I’d never been this far down the river before.A new way to go is always nice to find.And here’s another place to go.But I’m not ready to go there yet.The biggest challenge we faced was a series of rickety bridges.Like this one……and that one.I’m happy to report that they all carried the load.The path ahead.A gathering of “cripples.”Sweets for the sweet.Riverboats.I’ve learned to deal with a fork in the road, but what do you do when you encounter two?That old gal doing her laundry is one of my charity projects.We don’t run into her that often, but on the occasions when we do, we slip her 500 pesos. She is raising her deceased daughter’s kids, and it’s a struggle, I’m sure.Now we are on the home stretch.Arriving at Sully’s place.The purple “cripple” trail bypassed the hill climbbefore rejoining the main trail. I enjoyed the riverwalk.Our host for the evening, Sully.Hanging out at Sully’s place.Some Hash Gash.I enjoyed the trail so much that I voluntarily joined the Hare (Leech is on the right) on the ice.It’s nice on ice!And then it was time for the sun to go down……and another Hash came to an end.
Some of the usual after-Hash fun (and beer) at It Doesn’t Matter, then we headed home, thankful for another fine day in paradise.
It’s still May 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I share photos from my first week after moving to Pyeongtaek. It was quite an adjustment. As a bonus, here’s a tour of my “Palace,” two stories, four bedrooms, and four baths. It was like an exclamation point on my loneliness.
Today’s YouTube video is one I made thirteen years ago as I prepared to depart Korea for some USA time. It depicts how I filled the months I spent in Korea with the woman I so dearly loved. I didn’t know then what was just around the corner, and that the life I was living and loving would soon come to an end.
Time to cheer myself up:
I never saw such a bad pun.That stinks.And why is it a crime?
Another day, another post. Now it’s time to practice my darts in preparation for the tournament this evening. I’m eating before I go this time to take the edge off my grumpiness. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen a heating unit. I was very thankful for this one in my hotel room last night.
Damn, it’s been cold. I’ve become acclimated to the heat of the Philippines, and my body hasn’t responded well to the chilly winds at my current nearly mile-high altitude. All I have are shorts, but I’m thankful for that long-sleeved sweatshirt I purchased in Da Nang. Anyway, this too shall pass. We are heading down the mountain to Hoi An this morning for the next phase of our Vietnam adventure.
As for Ba Na Hills, I’ve never experienced anything quite like this place (other than my visit here last year). It’s got a unique beauty, and the buildings bring the vibe of a French village from long ago. If you are curious about the history of this area, here’s a good place to start.
We covered a lot of ground taking it all in yesterday, and I’ve got the photos to prove it:
Up at dawn, once again hoping to catch the ocean sunrise in Da Nang, only to be disappointed by the clouds hiding the sun. On the road to Ba Na Hills.Ba Na is around 35K from Da Nang.The only way to the top of the mountain is by cable car…the longest cable ride in the world. With our bags and us, we filled the car.Up, up, and away. (Yeah, this is actually looking down from where we started.Almost to the top.The highlights of being a tourist.
Dropped our bags at the Mercure Hotel (the only one on the mountain) and had three hours to kill before check-in. Here’s the sights we took in as we wandered about:
Reach out and touch someone.Yes, she’s my world.Pretty in pink.So many castles, so little time.Swan in a big red dress.Rock on!Don’t mess with me, motherfucker!Some nice pussy up here.We took a short cable car ride to check out the famous Golden Bridge.That would be it.I’ve got to hand it to ya…Then we toured the old French wine cellars.A wine lover in her element.The tour admission fee included a glass of wine at the end.On with the exploration.That guy in the back looks familiar.Dragon the line.Don’t monkey with me!The view from here.Another nice view.Take a picture, it lasts longer.Her name must be McDonald…the original Golden Archer.
It was time for some lunch (and beer), so we headed to the brewery.
My hero!Something’s brewing down there.The place was packed.Swan and I shared this platter.Let’s eat!
After lunch, it was time to check into our hotel rooms.
Nothing like being greeted on the TV screen.
Rooms were clean and comfortable. I got in a blog post and a nap before it was time to head out and meet up with Jeff and Davina again. I was surprised that so many places were closing at 6 p.m. (or earlier). I guess it really is the slow season, but damn, why book a room on the mountain if there is nowhere to go at night?
We did find this cozy bar close to our hotel that stayed up until 9:30.And our hotel bar was open until midnight, so we didn’t have to go without.The bar was at the bottom of these stairs. It felt almost like walking into a cave.But it was actually very nice inside.The fish and chips we had for dinner were surprisingly delicious!Ba Na Hills is quite a sight after dark.
Speaking of dark, I woke up at 4:30 and peeked outside the window. I asked Swan if she wanted to take a stroll with me for a better look around. She did.
It felt like a zombie apocalypse.Scary shit in the shadows.The end of the world as we know it?
Well, we made it back to our room without seeing any walking dead, so there’s that. It was a really creepy morning, though.
And now I’m writing this post from the lovely town of Hoi An. I’ll tell you all about the getting here and how things are going tomorrow.
The last post in the LTG archives from August 2016 features a recounting of meeting the American Ambassador to Korea in my new suit, having some birthday shots with friends at Shenanigans, and a brief mention of my upcoming trip to the Philippines that would include my new Korean girlfriend. They call that bringing sand to the beach. We’ll find out how that went soon.
Today’s YouTube video is all about where I am now. I visited here for a few hours last year and knew I wanted to come back when I had more time. Let’s see how two nights work out for me.
Maybe I can put a smile on your face with these:
I know what I saw lit me up.Imagine that.He’s on the sheep but he ain’t no lamb.
