We’ll kick things off today with some good news–my buddy Kevin Kim is still alive, barely. He gives a harrowing account from the hospital of what happened to put him there. He is a lucky man, indeed! The road ahead for him sounds like it will be a painful battle, but for a guy who has walked Korea end-to-end numerous times, I know he has the strength and willpower to overcome this broken heart and come out stronger on the other side. Keep fighting, my friend!

My Tuesday began with a trip to the immigration office to extend my tourist visa for another sixty days. This shouldn’t be a problem because I’m in compliance with all the rules associated with a tourist stay. Still, I’ve recently been seeing vlogs and reading posts indicating that stricter reviews of applications and additional scrutiny of the reasons for long-term stays in the Philippines have been occurring. This includes an interview with an immigration officer as part of the approval (or denial) process. Accordingly, I was a tad more nervous than usual as I prepared for my visit to the Bureau of Immigration office in Olongapo City.

I was the first person to sign in and hand over my passport and paperwork. The only agent I saw behind the counter was busy preparing forms and getting ready to do her job. She got around to me after about fifteen minutes. She did the usual typing into the computer, then called me to the counter to collect my 2800 peso extension fee. I sat back down and waited, then five minutes later, she called my name again. I stood at the counter, and then she handed me my passport and an approved extension through October 17. No questions asked!

I wore a relieved face as I completed my grocery shopping at Royal.

I was in a generous mood, so I baked a batch of brownies to share with some bargirls, although I wasn’t sure where. Like me, Swan enjoys the outdoor bars more than the girly bars, so I figured we’d start at Sloppy Joe’s. Our waitress there used to work on the Kokomo floating bar, and she told me on a previous visit that she missed my brownies. She seemed pleased when I gifted her a freshly baked batch to share with her co-workers. Mission accomplished.

Next stop was It Doesn’t Matter for some more outdoor ambiance as I drank my beers and Swan sipped her wine. I brought along some lollypops so the girls there would have something to suck on. We ordered some food, which proved to be a fiasco. Ashley, the manager, apologized and advised us that the kitchen was managed separately from the bar. She gave us a round of free drinks anyway. We didn’t let the kitchen snafu spoil our good time.

One of the things I enjoy about the outdoor venues is taking in the views. Last night, I saw a couple of European expats out on the street.

We our time was done at IDM, we headed for home where some sweetness awaited:

And so ended another day of living.

Facebook memories carried me back to a day spent with the kids in the early 80s when we lived in Poteau, Oklahoma.

Politics, anyone?

Today’s YouTube is from a vlogger I’m not subscribed to, but his catchy heading sucked me in. He claims to love Angeles City. I despise it for the most part. Watch the video and decide for yourself if you want. Perusing the comments, I see most of the viewers agree with me that AC is a shithole. All that it has to offer are those whore bars, but that was never my thing.

Ready for some humor?

Alright, a nice hike today I’ll share about tomorrow. Beer o’clock is on the immediate horizon, so we’ll see how our evening in town turns out. Hasta la vista for now.

I’ve already told you about my yesterday morning in La Paz, San Narciso. I spent the rest of the day here at home in Alta Vista, and there ain’t much blogging fodder in that, is there? But posting here is one of my daily rituals, so I’ll tell you how I filled those hours anyway. I’ll keep it short and sweet to ease your pain.

I fired up the television, tuned into Netflix, and began watching a “mockumentary” a friend recommended called Cunk On Earth. I don’t recall viewing this comedy genre before, but I rather enjoyed the series. I wasn’t familiar with the show’s star, Diane Morgan, but she did a nice job. I especially liked the interactions with real-life experts on historical events and seeing their reactions to her intentionally stupid questions. It’s a British comedy, and their humour can be as cringe-worthy as a misspelled word (or lack of a comma), but you still gotta laugh. The episode where she talks about the American Revolution was the typical loser’s perspective, but it gave me a chuckle anyway. (I recall I had an English bloke as a history professor in college, and he recounted how the “ungrateful” colonists revolted because they didn’t want to pay taxes for the protection our merchant ships received from the Royal Navy. Yeah, right. We said we wanted representatives in Parliament, and King George told us to fuck off. Anyway, that’s history now.)  Cunk On Earth is only five thirty-minute episodes long (I saw four of them yesterday), and I say it’s worth watching.

And when it was time to eat, this is what Swan and Teri put on the table:

I saw this humorous take on Facebook today, and it left me thinking it’s a great example:

A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington, DC when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings the girl to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly. A reporter has watched the whole event.

The reporter addressing the Harley rider says, “Sir, this was the most gallant and bravest thing I’ve seen a man do in my whole life.”

The Harley rider replies, “Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.”

The reporter says, “Well, I’ll make sure this won’t go unnoticed. I’m a journalist, you know, and tomorrow’s paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living, and what political affiliation do you have?”

The biker replies “I’m a U.S. Marine, a Republican and I’m voting for Trump.”

The journalist leaves.

The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page:

“U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT & STEALS HIS LUNCH”

And THAT pretty much sums up the media’s approach to the news these days!

Facebook also hit me with the usual memories today:

Actually, now that I think about it, Duke left in 2009. And since he’s wearing a jacket, I’m sure it was not in August. It was eleven years ago that I posted that picture on Facebook.

I also posted this nine years ago, and I don’t regret it:

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”

-- actor John Barrymore

"I dream of having no regrets."

--faker John McCrarey

Today’s YouTube video is from the Filipina Pea; in it she shows what living large in the Philippines looks like. She features a one-bedroom condo near Dumaguete that rents for 75,000 pesos per month. I pay 40,000 for my comfortable house in Barretto. The money I save on rent goes to pay my helpers, who occupy two of my downstairs bedrooms. I don’t have all of the amenities that come with that condo, and admittedly, they are very nice, but I’ll stick with The Rite Spot and the Barretto lifestyle. Thank you very much.

And now for your daily dose of humor:

That’s all, folks! I did a rainy and muddy solo walk this morning and I’ll share some photos from that adventure here tomorrow. Not sure what’s in store for our Saturday night, but whatever we do, we are going to need an umbrella. ‘Tis the season!

I’m back from my twenty-four hours in San Narciso. We arrived around noon, checked in, had lunch, and then took a pleasant beach and street stroll. Swan brought along candy to hand out to some lucky kids, but there weren’t very many out and about on a Thursday afternoon for some reason. The Mope Resort has undergone some upgrades since my last visit, including adding a swimming pool and a bar near the beach. We didn’t swim, but we gave the bar a go last night and enjoyed the venue and views. We got hit with a rainstorm and had to move to a more protected area to enjoy the rest of our beers (they didn’t have wine, so Swan made new with Red Horse, a popular local brew). Another walk this morning, then hung out in the room until our 11 a.m. checkout time. More rain just as our driver arrived, but we made it safely back to Barretto.

I’ve got some pictures of the overnight getaway to share:

We drank our fill, headed up to the room, and had a basic night’s sleep. Downstairs this morning for coffee and pancakes, then another walk.

The drive home was thankfully uneventful. Swan did stop at a nursery to buy some planting soil, and then we restocked the candy supply at the Subic marketplace. And now that I’m home, I’ve decided to stay here. Yep, I am not going out on a Friday night, not even for the SOB. But don’t worry, I’ve got beer in the fridge. It’s looking like more rain, so the Rite Spot may be a no-go. It could be that rare night when I watch TV.

Four years ago, I posted a poem on Facebook that I had written fifty-two years ago in high school. Get ready to cringe:

Alone in my fantasies
Alone with my dreams
But when I wake with the dawning
One sullen fact remains
That I am alone in my love for you---
The sun doesn't shine; it rains.

Today’s YouTube video has some worrisome news regarding tourist visa extensions. I’ve been living here for over six years as a tourist. Under current immigration law, I can extend my visa in 60-day increments for thirty-six months. Then, I’m required to depart the Philippines, and when I return, the clock is reset. That may be changing. Coincidentally, I’m going to the immigration office on Tuesday for my next extension. I guess I’m going to find out then whether the rules have changed.

Anyone up for a laugh?

Okay, I’m outta here. Not sure what I’ll have to post tomorrow, but that won’t stop me.

Here’s a bonus for you. When I was pulling up that Marty Robbins tune, I came across a video of a vlogger’s reaction to hearing it for the first time. I’ve never watched reaction videos before, but I see now there are a whole slew of them. It was kind of fun to watch someone hear a song by an artist I grew up with.

The old adage is true that when it rains, it pours
Even here in our little town of whores
But for the hardy among us, it's onward we march
Through the mud and the puddles and weather harsh

For we know what's coming soon enough
And the scorching heat will be just as tough
The misery that comes with being drenched in sweat
Will make us miss the rain and mourn its death

During a downpour, we may bitch and moan
But we'll look ahead and adjust our tone
For it won't be long until we again regret
Losing the comfort that rain begets

Be careful what you ask for, Mr. Kim!

Anyway, yesterday wasn’t as totally empty as I anticipated it would be. When I presented Swan with the option of staying in or going out, she said she wanted pizza. Hmm. I guess I could have ordered one for delivery, but then came an unexpected break in the rain, so I took that as a sign that Jesus wanted me to head into town and spend some money in the empty bars. And that’s just what I did.

We started out at BarCelona, and we were the only customers. Some beers, some wine, and a lady drink for our waitress, then we headed downstairs to Alaska Club. Once again, we were the only customers present. Greeted owner Jerry and enjoyed more beer and wine. The dancers on stage were actually making an effort to perform in unison, so I tipped them each 50 pesos for putting the moves on. Next up was Wet Spot, and no other customers were there except for us. Weird, but I guess the rain and flooding kept sane people at home. Waitress Irene got a lady drink, and thankfully, there was no sign of Aine. When the Sit-n-Bull waitress came around, we ordered our take-out food (pizza, lumpia, and a burrito). We also treated Irene to some chicken fingers. When our order arrived, we headed home.

And so ended another day. Honestly, I think I would have been just as happy staying home. What the hell is wrong with me!?

It’s raining again today, but not constantly, and not as hard as the past few days. Perhaps this storm has finally died. I had planned on attending the SOB dance competition this evening, but it has been canceled for weather-related reasons. I’m not sure what my alternative plan will be, but I’m thinking we might head out to Baloy Beach and see if it is still there.

Facebook took me back nine years to the going away party for my pal Lonnie.

Then there was this memory from four years ago:

Ah, her name is Mary. I’d actually forgotten that brief period of drama she brought into my life. And then looking up the post I linked above, I came across this picture of the initiation of a virgin Hasher in July 2020:

Maybe I should post this next to my laptop, but I doubt it would help much. I mean, I know what punctuation is; I just don’t always remember to use it properly.

Today’s YouTube video is about life in the Philippines from this particular vlogger’s perspective. Everyone is different, of course, and not everyone is suited to live happily here. There are all kinds of options, from city life to province life and everything in between. I’ve found my niche, and I’m happy with it for the most part.

And now for today’s dose of humor, such as it is:

And that’s all for now, folks.

…but I don’t date them anymore, either. Now that I’m in a relationship, I take comfort in my daily routines. On Sundays, that means the candy walk with Swan, the feeding at Hideaway, and our weekly dinner date at John’s place.

The candy walk was our regular (routine?) route through the streets of San Isidro. Once again, the kids were out in force awaiting our arrival—so many, in fact, that we ran out of candy two streets early. We felt bad for the ones we missed, but we’ll try to stock up more for next week.

Another sweet Sunday morning.

The afternoon was also sweet and stormy. Used my umbrella on the walk to Hideaway, but took care of business. Speaking of business, the bar was surprisingly full yesterday. This was partly because of the pool league match but also because owner Griff was in attendance, and that brought his drinking buddies in. I got some suckers for the girls and told Griff I’d help attract more customers by posting on Facebook that the girls at Hideaway are happy to suck your lollipop. That earned me a laugh and a free beer!

Three (or was it four?) beers later, I crossed the highway to meet my sweetie for dinner at John’s place.

We did our nightcap at Green Room, grabbed some pumpkin pie from Myleen’s, then headed home to end our sweet day. Crazy heavy rain throughout the night, and there is more on the way.

This doesn’t bode well for today’s Hash. I’m one of the Hares today and marking a trail during a rainstorm is even more challenging than hiking the trail. Depending on how bad it gets, we may have to revert to a street walk. We’ll see how that goes.

The big news politically is that Biden has bailed from his failing re-election campaign, as I predicted he would. How he can remain President in his condition is a question his puppet-masters haven’t answered yet.

For any of my readers who happen to be foodies, this post and photos from Kevin Kim’s meal prep for a work luncheon are not to be missed. I wish he offered delivery to the PI.

Facebook memories showing history repeats itself? Turns out, I was one of the Hares five years ago, too.

Speaking of rain, it has arrived now. And today’s YouTube video doesn’t bode well for the pleasantness of today’s Hash adventure:

When it rains, it pours. Oh, well. We’ll figure something out.

You can either laugh or cry:

One more to cleanse the palate of that nastiness above.

Okay then, gotta prepare for whatever the immediate future might bring. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the appointment with Dr. DeLeon went well. I dated a doctor once, and she told me medical practice was as much an art as a science. There are rarely clear-cut answers leading to diagnosis; it’s more a process of elimination. Since it was my first meeting with Dr. DeLeon, she took the time to explore my pulmonary history, beginning with that first diagnosis of COPD eight years ago. We talked about the drugs I’m taking for that condition, the symptoms I’ve been experiencing, and their varying degrees of severity. She wants a chest x-ray to get a clearer picture of the current situation and some blood work for additional assessments. The pulmonary function tests I want are not available at the new UniCare Hospital yet, so we will schedule those at Baypointe Hospital.

Based on the information currently available, Dr. DeLeon believes the most likely cause of my recent exacerbation of breathing issues was triggered by a virus, and when coupled with my existing COPD condition, caused the symptoms I’ve been suffering under. She prescribed a five-day antibiotics regimen and seven days of steroids. I’ll make a follow-up appointment when I get the aforementioned test results back.

I continue to feel like I’m making progress. The lowest reading on my oximeter has been 93%, the others have been 95 and above. I slept through through the night. I’m no longer experiencing discomfort from acid reflux symptoms. I did my long dog walk this morning and didn’t suffer much.

I also did a 7K+ flat street walk this morning. I wasn’t as strong or as fast as usual, but it felt good to be out and about again.

My evening on the town last night went well too. We started out at BarCelona.

We didn’t stay too long at BarCelona because I had a wallet full of SOB coupons to use or lose. So, we headed downstairs to the Green Room. I gave Swan a “buy a lady drink, get a customer drink free” coupon while I used the remainder of my 1500 peso voucher. That lady’s drink made our regular waitress, Chu, very happy. When our other regular, Lea, came to the table, I got her a lady drink too, and Chu used Swan’s coupon again, giving Swan a second glass of wine on the house. And the party was on!

Now, I’m not a big spender, but I can be generous. So, the lady drinks at my table kept flowing. I bought some snacks and finger foods for sharing as well.

I spent a tad over 2000 pesos on my quest to be generous. Two tourists came in and sat at the table next to mine. A few minutes later they were surrounded by twenty girls or so, and damn, they bought them ALL drinks. And pizza. I’m sure they didn’t get out of there for less than 10,000 pesos.

Swan’s three glasses of wine put her over the limit, so we headed for home a little after seven. Swan allowed me to break my ice cream fast with some pecan pie a la mode.

It was a good day, and hopefully better days are yet to come.

Is this politics or humor? I guess both.

Today’s YouTube video discusses five major construction projects taking place in the Philippines, including a new airport in metro Manila, which is sorely needed. That solar panel farm was disgusting and didn’t appear environmentally friendly. Why not just build a nuclear plant? Well, this is the PI, and given the construction standards and lack of maintenance, maybe that’s not a good idea either.

Shall we take a stab at humor?

Yeah, I’m a bad boy but I’m behaving. I invited Swan to Kon Tiki this evening. Let’s hope the rain holds off.

Some folks disparage routines as boring and indicative of a lack of motivation to try something new. I tend to enjoy mine, though, and us old retired guys appreciate being in the comfort zone. The Sunday routines I follow fill the hours in a manner that satisfices my needs. See for yourself:

I did the blogging, napping, and showering routines, then headed into town for the Hideaway feeding.

There had been a pool league match before I arrived, so at least there were a couple of customers this time. The owner of Hideaway is due back from the UK this week. Hopefully, he can turn things around. The future doesn’t look bright for the bar if he can’t. Good luck!

Next up was the best routine of the evening—dinner with Swan at John’s place. I arrived first and was disappointed to learn they were out of red wine. Wine doesn’t spoil, and for a restaurant not to always have a bottle on hand makes no sense. I gave Swan the option of dining elsewhere, but she took it in stride and ordered a San Miguel Apple beer.

Dinner is served:

We did our nightcap at The Green Room, then headed home for the final routine of our Sunday.

And now it is Hash Monday. In a break with the normal routine, Swan has consented to join the Hashers for today’s hike. It is her friend Jo’s birthday Hash, and Jo asked her to attend. Swan asked if she should bring anything, and I told her no, we would make Jo a birthday cake during the circle. Swan said, how do you do that? I told her to wait and see.
I’m looking forward to the look on her face when she sees what making Jo a birthday cake looks like. I’ll try and get a photo or two.

Something interesting is happening in the lot across from my house:

I sometimes think about what life would have been like on the old Navy base. Today’s YouTube video from the days when China didn’t fuck with the Philippines is the closest I’ll get.

Puns and more today!

Oh, they get worse:

I hope you’ll come back for more tomorrow.

Yesterday had some of both. We’ll get to that, but first this:

Yep, tomorrow we will be up on the roof to celebrate the anniversary of America’s Brexit. It’s also Fil-Am Friendship Day, so I’ll be flying the Filipino flag too. So, yesterday’s shopping excursion was focused on getting the items we needed to round out the food and beverage menu. Because Royal is notorious for not having things I need in stock, we hit the Pure Gold supermarket on SBMA first. Between the two, I stocked up on the beer, wine, condiments, snacks, and other items I was seeking. Mission accomplished!

Tomorrow’s menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and chili. Cole slaw, cornbread muffins, assorted chips and dips, and nuts will also be available for our hungry guests. I anticipate we’ll have the usual twenty to thirty attendees, but we’ll be prepared for all who want to join in the fun (I borrowed extra tables and chairs). I’m looking forward to this event at The Rite Spot!

After leaving Pure Gold, I stopped in an adjoining store to pick up a new belt and some underwear. I would say I got scammed, but I’m to blame for the fuck-up that ensued. The cashier rang up the two items, and the total came to 11,000 pesos. I handed her my credit card, and the transaction was completed. In my mind, I saw 1100 pesos (twenty bucks), not the $200 I was charged. I freaked out when I saw that the belt alone was $180. I don’t even like the damn thing. So, I was going to return the items, but the stamp on the receipt said, “No Refunds. No Returns.” Fuck it. I screwed up, and that is the fine for being stupid. It is painful even now to think about. Hopefully, I’ve learned my lesson and will be more attentive in the future when using my charge card.

My Fitbit tracks my sleep, and Monday night was the best slumber I’ve had in a long time:

Last night was the opposite. I couldn’t shut down my brain telling me what a fool I’d been shopping, and my lungs weren’t cooperating with the keeping me oxygenated either. I woke up at midnight with a reading on my oximeter of 86. The nebulizer got it back to 92, and I used my oxygen tank to regain my comfort level of 96. I still couldn’t get back to sleep, though. I tossed and turned until almost 4 a.m. before escaping to dreamland.

Between one and four in the afternoon we had the heaviest rainstorm of the season.

I feared the worst, but when beer o’clock rolled around, the rain ceased, and Swan and I were able to make our way into town without the need for an umbrella. Baloy is notorious for flooded streets after a storm, so we didn’t make our usual Tuesday visit there. Instead, we enjoyed the beach views from Mango’s Resort in Barretto.

Beer and wine and some snacks as we took it all in.

Swan drinks slow, and I drink fast. I must have been on my fourth beer when the waitress asked about the alcohol content of Zero. Swan showed her the 3% label. I guess she was worried I might get drunk or something.

The sun went down without showing any colors, so we crossed highway for a rare visit to Queen Victoria for our nightcap. I had a 500 peso voucher from the SOB to use, and we finished 480 pesos worth. It helped that the bartender included Swan’s glass of wine on the coupon.

So, that was the good and the bad of my yesterday. Today hasn’t been so great, either. I skipped the Wednesday Walkers group hike because of the breathing issues, but did do an abbreviated 3K candy walk with Swan. Along the way we saw this funeral banner:

Facebook memories reminded me of just how far I’ve fallen in eight years:

I’m not a subscriber to this YouTube vlogger, but the drone footage of Barretto is worth the watch. I don’t agree with some of his suggestions for transferring money to the PI. I don’t trust it and will not use GCash, for example. Also, while it is true that using ATMs (250 pesos per withdrawal) is expensive, you can take out 20,000 at a time with BPI machines. He paid 110 pesos for 6000. To each his own. The best transfer method is bank-to-bank via a wire service like Wise. I don’t have a Philippines bank account, but I pay my help and rent through transfers from my bank to their accounts. Anyway, enjoy the Barretto scenes and take the advice with a grain of salt.

Ready for some humor (such as it is)?

It was a finetastic Saturday, if I do say so myself. I was bored with my Standard Saturday Solo Street Stroll, so I decided to change things up. And for some reason, I thought a hike out Philseco way was in order. I asked Swan if she wanted to join me, and I was surprised when she responded with an enthusiastic “yes!”. So, we grabbed a Jeepney to the far side of Subic town and kicked things off from there. I basically replicated the Hash trail I helped Hare back in April, but I managed to take a couple of wrong turns along the way. No big deal; we still made it to the One-Three Resort for some after-hike refreshments without a problem. My tracker shut off for some reason, so I don’t have an exact count, but our Hash trail was around 7K, and we did pretty much the same thing yesterday.

The afternoon rains held off, so my plans for a Saturday evening at The Rite Spot were not ruined.

When I was done at The Rite Spot, I spent a rare hour in front of the TV watching a BBC documentary from the 80s about bargirls in Olongapo. It was interesting to see the Navy base in operation and the impact of those sailors and Marines on the young ladies of that era. Thousands of them found husbands. Thousands of others were left pregnant and brokenhearted. Swan recognized one of the girls, a friend of her aunt’s. One of the featured bars, Rock Lobster, was located in Barretto. We have a Rock Lobster bar here now, but it is nothing like its predecessor. The bar scene now is just us old retired expats with a few tourists sprinkled in. But when one of those Navy supply ships is in port, the girls still get excited about the young two-week millionaires. Here is the video if you want to give it a watch:

I haven’t weighed in on the recent debate, but if you were surprised, you haven’t been paying attention. I’m enjoying the memes, though.

And then there was Hitler’s reaction:

I have this memory from six years ago to share:

Alright, not much to offer in the way of humor, but I do have this:

Alright, I’ve got a Hideaway feeding to attend to, and after that dinner with Swan at John’s place. See you here tomorrow!

That’s the drone footage from Friday’s hike. I’ve never seen myself walking before, and it’s nice to have an aerial perspective of the surrounding landscape. Thanks, Brian!

I awoke to another morning rainstorm yesterday, but it let up in time to do the dog walk on schedule.

My Standard Solo Saturday Street Stroll didn’t meet my usual standards. I just didn’t have the energy to complete my normal route, so I shortcut and called it quits at 4K (the regular walk is six).

Swan had a visit from a girlfriend in the afternoon, and she joined us for a bit when we ventured out to Treasure Island to see the Engine band.

Hmm, maybe sipped should be guzzled. When it came time to pay the tab, I was shocked to discover I had downed ELEVEN San Mig Zeros. On the plus side, they had Zero. On my last visit, I had to drink San Miguel Light (5% alcohol versus 3%). And even after all that beer, I was only slightly buzzed. So, the night ended well.

I reckon when the tensions between two nations are escalating, it is only natural that memes would begin to appear.

I saw this and had to laugh. Facebook has slapped fact-checks on my posts now and then and even deleted one with a warning that my account would be suspended for similar violations in the future. Most of my “lies” were Covid scamdemic related, and I have subsequently been proven correct in my assertions.

Facebook did share a memory from way back in 2009 today.

Today’s YouTube video is an update on the response from the Philippines to China’s attack on one of its supply ships. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. Henceforth, the Philippines will tell China when it is sending supplies to an island within its own territorial waters. What a ballsy move! And be sure you say please.

Let’s laugh while we can:

Hey, Thompson, are you okay? Haven’t heard from you and I’m thinking maybe you pissed the girlfriend off again and she grabbed another rock.

Gonna do the Hideaway feeding soon, then meet up with Swan for dinner. She requested we go to Pujon Corner, a grilled meat place here in town. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Or maybe we circled back. Either way, we started and finished our Wednesday Walkers trek at Mad Willie’s in Castillejos. We did the Govic Highway for a bit, then veered off through houses, farms, and fields on the way back. It made for a rather pleasant 7K hike and since we only come out this way a couple of times a year, it had a fresh feel to it.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable morning jaunt. Swan was busy taking care of some business in Olongapo, so I had some “me” time when beer o’clock rolled around.

Nerissa, my old friend from Cheap Charlies, is now working at BarCelona, so at least I had a familiar face for company. BarCelona is for sale, and it is a very nice venue, except for the lack of customers thing. Nerissa said they get busy late at night, so there’s that. I had planned to go to the Green Room, but they were having a wake for an expat who recently passed away. I didn’t know him, and the place was packed, so I moved next door to Wet Spot. Once again, I was the only customer. Had a nice chat with the manager, Brett, and he bought me a beer, so it’s all good. I ordered a chicken burger from Sit-n-Bull and was home by seven. Yeah, I’m not the barfly I once was.

In the memory department, Facebook reminded me of how I used to roll during the 80s in Poteau, Oklahoma:

Eight years ago, I was scouting Samal Island as a possible Philippine retirement destination.

Things continue to ramp up in the disputed waters off the coast of the Philippines. China has now resorted to violence. The article concludes with this bottom line:

At this point the Philippines has to make a choice about whether it wants to escalate and match China’s belligerence at sea or simply back down and cede the territory. Either way, there will be a price to pay.

Today’s YouTube video also addresses the incident of China boarding a Philippine craft, injuring crewmembers, and stealing weapons. The Philippine government declared it an act of piracy.

Things are going to get uglier I fear.

In the meantime, let’s have a laugh:

So, another day, another post. I’m having a date night with Swan, and we are going to make the trip out to Kon Tiki for some quality beach time. Or so we hope. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

When it comes to grammar, I’m not very punctual. My comma tutor has used examples like the above before, but I’d never seen it portrayed quite like this. Anyway, I don’t eat cats, although I’ve had my share of pussy.

A pretty quiet Tuesday around here. The ATM was working, the groceries got bought, and the day proceeded from there. In the afternoon, Swan and I went to the salon, where I had a haircut, and she got a foot spa. I was done before her, so I waited at Snackbar. Two beers later, Swan rejoined me, and we proceeded to Kokomo’s for some beach time.

After our Kokomo’s time, we went next door to Foxhole and had some grub. Then we headed back home. A day doesn’t have to be exciting to be good, and I had no complaints about how we filled the hours.

In the Facebook memories department, I was reminded of a “where I stand politically” test I took three years ago:

For shits and giggles, I took the test again this afternoon. I was a bit surprised at the results:

There was a collision between a Filipino ship and a Chinese ship out in the disputed waters off the Spratley Islands. So, things are ramping up. Today’s video discusses the implications:

One more from China’s perspective:

I’m sure Biden has things under control.

Ha! I guess that last statement qualifies as humor. Here’s some more:

I’ll try and do better tomorrow!

Yesterday was a special Hash for me–the three hundredth time I participated in an SBH3 run.

Not for the first or last time, I deviated from the path plotted by the Hare and made my own way. I walked from my house to the start, but just wasn’t feeling it when I reached the hill climb portion of the trail. All reports say it was not a bad up and now I regret wimping out. Still, you have to listen to your gut and given the sorry state of my lungs, I opted for prudence.

Both trails ended at our On-Home venue–Red Bar.

After the Hash Circle was completed, I joined the group for the after-Hash at It Doesn’t Matter. After a couple more unneeded beers, I made my way home via trike.

It was another rough night, breathing-wise. This time, I was lying in bed, and the wheezing noise when I exhaled was keeping me awake. I decided to get up and put on my headphones to drown out the annoying sound with music. Then, I had an idea and went to the closet to retrieve a pillow.

I never wheeze when standing or sitting, so I figured avoiding lying flat in bed might help. It worked! I wasn’t sitting completely upright, but a 3/4 posture seemed to do the trick. The wheezing stopped, and I had a decent night’s sleep. A 96 reading on the oximeter this morning, so perhaps whatever it is that ails me can be satiated by a Jefferson-style sleeping posture.

So, I’ll see how this sleep style works out going forward.

The Philippines is a land of volcanos, and one was rumbling last week.It’s not near me, but we do have our share here in Luzon, including the infamous Mt. Pinatubo. Anyway, I need a YouTube video for today, and this one is mildly interesting, although the narration is a tad irritating.

And, um, you can cleanse your palate with these:

I parted ways with the Wednesday Walkers yesterday morning and then had a boy’s night out to say farewell to Gary, who is heading home to the UK for a couple of months. The days keep rollin’ on, and I’m still rockin’.

I fancied a flat walk yesterday, but the group opted to find some shade up in the hills. I tagged along for a bit, but when I saw the up they were taking, I said farewell and went my own way. Martin (18 Kilo Ass) who has been having some knee issues chose to join me. We did the My Bitch trail and came back to town via Rizal Extension.

Yeah, that’s being a bit melodramatic, but something ain’t right, and I was feeling it yesterday. The lung issues have flared up again, although not as bad as they were previously. I’m also feeling pain in my lower legs and feet and a generalized lack of energy. I think these symptoms are exacerbated by the intense heat we are still experiencing. At least I felt better during the shady portions of the hike.

Oddly enough, when we reached the mountain family’s place, Onelia said something about another group of hikers passing by earlier. And when Martin and I finished our journey, we stopped by Dynamite Dick’s for refreshments, and some of the Wednesday Walkers group were there. They, too, had done a portion of My Bitch, but had taken a different way down and back to town. So, while my route had avoided a hill climb, it was 2K longer than what the rest of the group had done. That felt like vindication.

Gary messaged that he wanted to meet at the Annex bar at four, and I was there on time. We had two beers and then moved on to Cheap Charlies. Erik messaged wanting to join us, so now there were three in our group. I checked my SOB coupons that were due to expire and saw I had a couple that provided a 50% discount on customer drinks. So, we made the Green Room our next stop.

We had talked about moving on to Red Bar next, but after the manager bought us a round of beers, I had had my fill. I had a 15% discount coupon for Sit-n-Bull I needed to use, and the roving waitress conveniently came by our table with a menu. I told her I was bringing something home for my girlfriend and asked if she had any suggestions. She immediately said, “bring her the roast beef dip.” That cracked me up because that was what I had intended to order. It’s another small-town moment when the waitress remembers your gal’s favorite foods.

Woke up this morning a little after four and saw something peeking in at me through the window:

A rooftop gathering at The Rite Spot is on tap later today. Chili is in the crockpot, muffins and brownies are baked, and Swan has prepared the meat-on-a-stick for grilling. I’m looking forward to a good time.

Today’s YouTube video is from someone I only recently discovered. He lives in Pundaquit and I’ve walked past his house before (without realizing it until I saw one of his vlogs). Anyway, this one shows the beauty of one of my favorite weekend getaway areas, just an hour away.

Here’s some more poor attempts at humor:

Alright, have you had enough? Me too! See you tomorrow…

I started my day with a trip to the blood lab. They withdrew several vials of my precious liquid from a vein and 7500 pesos from my wallet. They will be testing for twenty-five elements, including a prostate PSA. I’ll pick up the results tomorrow and then schedule a meeting with Dr. Jo to see what it all means.

Of course, part of the bloodwork routine is the requirement to fast for 10+ hours prior to the withdrawal. That’s why I scheduled an early morning arrival at the lab, so most of the fasting was spent sleeping. After the samples were taken, I was ready to eat. The lab is located at the Harbor Point Mall, and as I was leaving, I spotted a Pancake House franchise. I rarely frequented this diner back in the USA because I had better options like Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. Those options not being available here, I decided to give it a try.

I was tempted to order a caramel waffle, but I opted instead for a ham and cheese omelet and cinnamon toast. I can’t remember the last time I saw cinnamon toast on a menu—how could I resist? After placing my order, the waiter returned and advised that they were out of raisins for the toast. I told him no problem; I wasn’t expecting raisins anyway.

With my hunger satiated, we headed out to do the weekly grocery shopping chore.

Home for the usual afternoon activities, and at beer o’clock, we ventured out to Baloy Beach. I wasn’t sure if the floating bar was still out, but there she was, bouncing in the rougher-than-normal bay waters.

After our time was done on board, we headed ashore to Treasure Island for some dinner.

A nice night out and a happy ending to a busy day.

The Facebook memories took me back to 2016.

Today’s YouTube is from another vlogger I’ve enjoyed over the years, The Filipina Pea. She has some advice for men coming to the PI in search of love.

Some more lame humor:

That’s all for today; we’ve reached the end of the line.

Yesterday’s trail wasn’t particularly hard or otherwise challenging, but I wussed out anyway. I’m going to blame the heat. I told myself the light-headedness I was experiencing was a warning sign for heat stroke, so I decided prudence dictated that I refrain from strenuous activity. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! Anyway, I followed the shortcutters as usual, and then I shortcut the shortcutters. I still logged a hot and flat 5K to the On-Home at McCoy’s on Baloy Beach.

After the Hash, I walked back to the highway and had a couple of more beers with my friends at Snackbar. I might have been a little generous with the lady drinks, but I hadn’t seen them for a while as this venue is no longer one of my regular stops.

So that was my Hash Monday. Been a busy Tuesday so far, and I’ve got a visit to Dr. Jo coming up later this afternoon. Tell y’all about it tomorrow.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Where can I find a city in the Philippines that is safe, has a high-quality lifestyle with a low budget, has greens and beautiful sea view sights everywhere, that is not far from commercial areas and a place to start a new life?

A: Well, I chose Olongapo/Subic Bay, and it meets all of those criteria. Safe is a relative term, but I certainly feel as safe here as I would anywhere in the USA. As for the quality of lifestyle, that’s somewhat subjective and contingent on your personal preferences. For me, hiking in the mountains and on the beaches are my favorite daytime pursuits. For the nighttime, lots of good restaurants and bars. I like to play darts, and there are venues with tournaments and a dart league available. Pool leagues, too, if that’s your thing. There is a close-knit expat community and a small-town feel about living here that I like.

Here’s the view from my living room:

Plenty of green, along with views of the bay and the mountains. I shop at the duty-free grocery stores on the old American Navy base, where I can find most of my favorite American comfort foods. There are several shopping malls, all within 30 minutes of my house. A convenient international airport (Clark) is just over an hour away in Angeles City. In the worst-case scenario, I can go to Manila if necessary, but other than doing business at the embassy there, I try to avoid the big city hassles and traffic.

I started my “new life” here about 18 months ago, and I’m very happy with my choice so far.

That was answered over four years ago. My view has changed since then (I think for the better), and I’m still convinced that Barretto is the best fit for me.

Some quick humor before I go:

This too shall pass. Hopefully. Gonna take a break from posting today while I sort things out. But hey, I did this one on my phone. That’s a first!