I survived the Hash trail yesterday—at least the part of it I did. But to my credit, I did the hard part. My hill-climbing stamina has been fading rapidly, and I was somewhat worried about doing what I knew would be a challenging ascent. I thought of excuses to avoid the trail, but in the end, I decided I’m not ready to be a quitter. I’ll get up that hill or die trying, I told myself. I hadn’t gone far when I questioned that decision, because the long climb was an ass-kicker. Still, I hadn’t been out this way for a long enough time that it felt fresh and new. And because of that, I was able to overcome the urge to bail out and shortcut back down since I wasn’t sure which way to go. I plodded onward, but knowing there was a second climb in my future, I decided I had done my duty with the first half of the hike, and once we descended to Rizal Extension, I opted to do a road walk back to the On-Home at Bella Monte. The length of my version was about the same as the Hare’s trail (around 6K), but I avoided another hill. That’s my story in words; here are the photos:
That’s the Hare, Leech My Nuggets, in yellow.A gathering of Hashers awaiting the 2 pm start time.Me and my group said, “Fuck that,” and started a few minutes early. The rest of the Hashers passed me before I was even halfway up the hill.We started with a stroll up Banaba Street. It is steeper than it appears in this photo.And then we left the pavement behind and the real “fun” began.Don’t be fooled. I didn’t take pictures during the steepest parts.The struggle continues.On up!The view from here.I thought I’d found a nice urinal until someone advised it was a water well.One of the three barbed-wire fences we had to overcome.A tree that caught my eye.Another shortcutter who followed my lead for a downhill/flat street walk route.Rollin’ On-Home.Our On-Home venue for the second week in a row.The Hare’s trail is in green, and my “shortcut”is in red.Hanging out before the Circle.Chairs? We don’t need no stinkin’ chairs…On the ice.The old folks zone.
And that’s the story of this week’s Hash. I won’t be attending another Subic Hash until December. I’ve got some travel plans coming up.
From the August 2015 LTG archives is the post I made about my 60th birthday. And here I am having made it to 70. And now, let’s see if I can live to write the 80th-birthday post.
Today’s YouTube video discusses the realities of life for the majority of Filipinos. Yes, it is not paradise for most. This video is focused on Manila, but I see similar poverty on my walkabouts. It’s sad to view the hardships so many endure. Still, I’ve never ceased to be impressed by the locals’ resilience and ability to maintain a positive attitude and a friendly nature.
Let me leave you with a smile or two:
Leave it to the government.I think I see what your problem is now, fella.The period before you complete your sentence.
And there you have it. Changing things up some today by attending the weekly RSL meeting. It starts at 2:00, which isn’t in keeping with my kind of schedule, but there is a raffle drawing worth 99,000 pesos, so I’m making an exception with the hope of getting lucky. And the proceeds go to the RSL’s charity projects, so it is good to support that effort. Beer will be served, so everyone is a winner.
It rained off and on all night, but now at last the storm has passed, and life is returning to normal. The electricity that powers the essential tools that fill the hours has been restored, allowing me to check out of the crap Anbon Hotel and return to the luxury living of Alta Vista. It is good to be home!
The Hashers who braved the weather met up at the VFW. The Hare advised, “Trail? We don’t need no stinkin’ trail.”
Yesterday’s Hash was, as I expected, not much of a Hash. There was no marked trail to follow, so you could walk where you pleased or else follow the leader on a bar crawl. Decisions, decisions. I started out with the group that went with the Hare’s bar trek, but wound up on my own in the end. The first bar visited was Dynamite Dick’s, which is a nice enough place but a small venue. And yesterday it was pretty much full even before the Hashers arrived. I prefer sitting outside, but that option wasn’t available. I looked inside and didn’t see anywhere to sit at the bar either. I asked another Hasher where the next stop would be, and he told me it would be Dempsey’s. Okay, that’s down the highway by John’s place, but what’s a Hash without a hike? I was the first and only customer when I got there. I had two beers waiting in an empty bar (the bartender was friendly enough to laugh at my jokes) and decided to head out on my own. Yeah, I shortcut the bar crawl. At least I’m consistent!
Sloppy Joe’s was right up the street from the Hash On-Home venue at the Bella Monte Hotel. I plopped my ass down where I normally sit, ordered up a beer, and began my wait until 3:30, when the Hash beer at the On-Home becomes available. And since I was drinking earlier than I usually do, I decided prudence dictates that I should put some food in my belly (I’d skipped lunch after the big Arizona breakfast I’d consumed). So, I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich with my beer, then made my way to Bella Monte, bringing my Hash trail to an end.
This guy at Bella Monte kept staring at me. No, I didn’t let him ride me.
Honestly speaking, the Hash Circle is my least favorite part of the Hash, but the beer is cold and good. When the circle was done, I made my way to IDM for the usual after-Hash revelry. My hotel room was waiting for me right across the street, but I was hoping that I wouldn’t be needing it last night. I sent messages to the folks I know living in Alta Vista asking if the power had been restored, but it hadn’t by the time I ran out of gas. I stayed at IDM until nine, hoping for good news, and I had to smile when several people commented, “What are you doing here so late?” Heh, I’m famous for being a lightweight.
Resigned to having to spend another night in a crappy hotel room, I went to the small grocery store on the corner to pick up something sweet for my bedtime treat.
The name of this ice cream gave me a laugh.
“Boom boom” is Filipino slang for sexual intercourse. You can look it up. Well, I’ll save you the trouble, here’s the definition from the Urban Dictionary:
The term “boom boom” is most often associated with south east asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos and is used to describe the act of intercourse, usually that which is purchased by males frequenting brothels and whorehouses in those locations. The term is thought to have been created by prostitutes possessing limited english language ability; ie- it is far easier for a non english speaking Thai prostitute to say “You go boom boom”? than it is for her to say “Would you like to go make completely unemotional and detached love with me”?
Swan thought the name was funny too, and suggested I buy some ice cream for the girls at IDM. So, as we walked back to our hotel room, I stopped in front of IDM and asked, “Does anyone here want Boom Boom? They gave me a funny look, especially because Swan was standing right next to me. Then I pulled an ice cream out of my bag, and they got the joke.
Look at those smiling faces. Filipinas sure do love some Boom Boom!
Woke up this morning to the news that the power was back on in Alta Vista, so we packed our shit and headed for home.
The room at the Anbon Hotel we hope never to need again.Let’s just say it needs a little work.
Anyway, the storm is gone and I’m still here, so I’d count that as a win.
Facebook and YouTube are full of this kind of AI bullshit about the typhoon. It’s both sad and scary to see this and think people are that gullible.The future of the human race doesn’t look bright.
Today is Veterans Day, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to honor those who served in the military.
Thank you for your service!
It’s April 2015 in the LTG archives. In this post, I share the story of an afternoon spent with two distinguished authors in Itaewon. One of them still visits my blog, but I’ve lost touch with Young Chun. His book, The Accidental Citizen-Soldier, is a great story about an American citizen getting drafted into the Korean Army. And he lived to not only tell about it, but to sign my copy of the book!
Give it a read.
Today’s YouTube video touches on some of the things I discovered during my first visit to the Philippines that made me want to live here. Many Filipinos may be poor, but they are also happy, generous, and welcoming. I’m sorry for the AI renderings, but the message is brief and legitimate. I’m living rich in a poor country and don’t tend to spend quality time with the Filipinos I encounter, but that’s all on me. I’ve often thought on my walkabouts that if I were hiking through an American slum, I might not make it out alive. Here, I’m greeted with friendly smiles.
Let me leave you with a smile or two:
I had a Scottish friend in Korea who was teaching English. I could only understand about half of what he said.What a crock!Welcome to my world, and I don’t even need to be on the toilet.
I’ll tell you what, I’d rather experience the same shit every day than no shit at all. And I’ve got enough variety to keep it interesting most of the time. At least for me.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was nothing special, but I’ve only got myself to blame for that. I opted not to follow the route the Hare prepared and set about on my course. Coincidentally, the Hare’s trail did intersect with mine for a kilometer or two, then headed back up into the hills. My path started with the My Bitch trail and then came down into San Isidro for a flat street walk to the On-Home at Smokes and Bottles in Calapacuan. I did manage to log 7K on my journey, and that ain’t bad for a fat old guy. Pubic Head (Scott) was going to a street walk to Smokes and Bottles from his house, but he decided to join me on my trail instead. It was good to be Hashing together again!
As we set out, I couldn’t help but notice that the new SBH3 shirt Swan was wearing had some ambiguity about it. I imagined encountering someone reading the Hare’s name (Anal Receptive) and taking it as an invitation to poke that ass.Into the tall thatch grass that is part of the Bitch experience.Swan posing for my Easter Mountain shot.Waiting at Mountain Mama Onelia’s place for Pubic Head and his contingent to arrive.The gang’s all here.That cabin in the woods I fancy.Making it just under the wire.The view from here.That really gets my goat.Well, lookee there, we are On-On the official Hash trail.The path was going our way, so we took it.Crossing Bridge #3. Not long thereafter, the Hare’s trail went one way and we took another.But our paths reconvened near the On-Home venue. The Hare (Almoranus) speaks German, and I *think* “saufn oida) roughly translates to “beer near.”On-Home at Smokes and Bottles, one of my favorite Hash venues.Some Hash Gash.That’s the Hare, Almoranus, on the right.The trail I mostly didn’t do……and the one I did.
After-Hash revelry at It Doesn’t Matter, then back to the house for a good night’s sleep before waking up thankful to still be amongst the living.
It’s still January 2015 in the LTG archives. Now, I personally have a very low tolerance for people who feel the need to act out and become a drama queen. Except when I are one. Live and learn.
Today’s YouTube video is also from the LTG archives. It was funny to see it again.
Let’s roll on into these:
Why not both?Man, you can say that again.What a stand-up guy.
Another day, another post. Let’s see what happens next.
As Hash runs go, yesterday was not really to my liking. The trail markings were inconsistent, resulting in some wrong turns. The trail itself was muddy and slippery in places, especially with the numerous ups and downs. When I’d had enough, I bailed and did a street walk back to the On-Home venue, the new Cyclone Bar.
The Hashers gathered at the Alta Vista clubhouse for the start of the trail.Ant then we were On-On!The stragglers.And now we have the obligatory Easter Mountain shot taken care of.Off the pavement.And up the first hill.The view from here.And one of that bay they call Subic.Country living.Swan going down.Steppin’ on down.Hanging out at the On-Home.Then, making our way to the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.The Hare’s trail in red and my black alteration.
You have to take the good with the bad, and I’m just glad that I can still participate, even when I do it my way.
It’s December 2014 in the LTG archives now. I’ve accepted a job offer in Korea, rented out my Carolina house, and made the long journey back to The Land of the Morning Calm. I didn’t know then that my American life had come to its conclusion.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger named George, one of the few I’ve actually met in person, and I occasionally see around town. He doesn’t post as frequently as he used to, and truth be told, I was never a consistent viewer. I noticed this one today because he mentions that life in Subic has become a rut for him. I’ve had similar feelings, and like him, I try to alleviate the “same-old, same-old” routine with intermittent travel. He lives on SBMA, which I would find more boring than Barretto. It is what it is, and at this stage of my life, I’m just going to ride it out.
Humor time:
Who’s the lucky one?That’s spineless.Why make it so hard on him?
It is always good to be back home, and I reckon that’s a pretty strong indicator that I’m generally happy with my Barretto life. La Union is nice, and I’ve always thought of it as a potential alternative should I ever feel the need to move on. This is the third year in a row I’ve attended the LUH3 Anniversary Hash run, and it’s still an enjoyable change of scenery. The three-plus-hour drive getting there ain’t much fun though.
Speaking of which, when you are unlicensed and carless, this is one way to get around:
Rent a vehicle for the weekend from one of Swan’s friends: 3600 pesos
Fuel for the vehicle: 3000 pesos
Expressway tolls: 1900 pesos
Payment for driver: 5000 pesos
Lodging for driver: 1900 pesos
Food money for driver: 1000 pesos
Total for getting there and back again: 16,400 pesos($280)
That’s the way I roll these days.
We once again enjoyed our room at the Go Resort in Bauang. Clean and comfortable, complimentary breakfast, and friendly staff. My only complaint is that the Wi-Fi sucks.
Here are some photos from yesterday:
The Go Resort is on the ocean, but there ain’t no beach.The open-air dining/bar area is very much to my liking.A nice pool that I’ve never used.My breakfast companions.
Then it was time to hit the highway.
An impressive tree in downtown Agoo.Enjoying the cloudy horizon as we cruised down the expressway.The offramp for the immaculate city of Concepcion.A couple of the Subic Hashers hitched a ride home with us.I looked up at the sky and shouted, “Are you threatening me?”Something about that hump of a mountain always catches my eye.
After our return home, we joined our next-door neighbors, Jeff and Davina, along with the other side neighbors, Martin and Joss, for a home-cooked meal.
The Bryce Street squad.Davina’s latest creation is something I’d never had before, what she called a “Spanish-chicken-and-vegetable-paella.” It was tasty indeed.
And yes, it was good to be imbibing San Mig Zero once again. In moderation, of course.
Lots more adventures on the horizon: a day on the river in Botolon on November 8, a week in Surigao at the end of November, the Haggis Hash in Pozorubio in December, two weeks in Vietnam to kick off the new year, and a Valentine’s Hash in Baguio come February. Yeah, I’ll work on filling in some of those gaps. Life is good, live it while you’ve got it!
I’ve reached the end of November 2014 in the LTG archives. I was depressed back then, and re-reading those old posts was depressing. My wife, the woman I loved, was not going to rejoin me in the USA, so I was working diligently to find a job in Korea to facilitate my returning home to her. And I finally got a job offer as a contractor, pending USFK approval. I had a roommate move in to my house in anticipation of him becoming the renter when the job came through. So, the month ended on a relatively high note.
In my mind I’m going to South Korea, Riding on the Blue Line, Having galbi with some rice wine And it seems just like a friend of mine That I’ve left behind Yes, I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
Jee Yeun she’s my smiling sun, Want to hike with her and watch it shine, Watch her climbing Bukhansan. The lonely fear’s disappearing now, I’m flying, ain’t I? I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
There ain’t no doubt in no ones mind That Seoul’s the finest town around, The cars and the bars it all suits me fine. And hey, babe, we’ll be together, I’m trying, ain’t I? I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
Dark and lonely late tonight, I think I might have heard Incheon calling. Want to catch that flight and drink some Hite. And signs that might be omens Say I’m going, going I’m gone to South Korea in my mind.
I’ve done my best to make this work But I’ve got to cross that ocean soon And it seems like I’ve been far away forever, You must forgive me If I’m up and gone to South Korea in my mind.
Needless to say, things weren’t destined to turn out the way I had hoped.
The Filipina Pea brings us the news from the Philippines in today’s YouTube video. Jeepney’s disappearing? I’ll believe it when I see it. They are also building a mass transit rail line from Manila to Angeles. Drove by the construction near Clark on my weekend travels and noted no progress had been made whatsoever in the last year. As I say about the alleged Barretto bypass highway, work may be ongoing, but no one seems to be in a hurry. I’m not going to live forever, you know.
Let’s try these on for size:
That’s one way to achieve the “do-over” dream.What a way to go!You get your money for nothing and your chicks for free.
Another Hash Monday is here; let’s see if I survive it.
And here is that James Taylor song I bastardized. At least I was in Carolina when I stole it.
135 kilometers and three and a half hours, door-to-door.
Arrived safely in the lovely town of Bauang in La Union after a long drive. Today’s Hash starts at 10, so I’ve got to dash out a quick update before heading out. Regular posting will resume tomorrow.
Some scenes from along the road:
The old Spanish gate on SBMA.Rolling down the expressway.Mount Arayat, an extinct volcano in Pampanga.On the MacArthur highway in the province of La Union.Entering Bauang.Checking into our room at the Go Resort. We wound up in the same room we had last year.
The Hash festivities began with a gathering at the Blue Cat bar, one of my favorite venues in Bauang.
The view from Blue Cat.The view inside Blue Cat.My table at Blue CatHash Gash on the beach.
Sunset on the ocean is a different look than the ones I see back home.
The clouds added some color.I like it!Thanks for the show!
At the conclusion of the Blue Cat Hash gathering, the male Hashers were invited to gather at the only girly bar in town, Footloose.
Who am I to say no to such an invite?I had to be discreet with my photography, but there was a lot more to see later in the performance, if you get my meaning.
So, no one has Zero beer in Bauang, and a long night of drinking SML left me somewhat out of sorts. It’s all a little fuzzy after that, but I did wake up in my bed this morning, so I guess things ended well, even if I don’t recall how I got there.
We’ll leave it at that for now. Gotta run, well walk, to the Hash meet-up.
The world leader in litter. From what I’ve seen, it is a nationwide effort.
I’m off to Bauang, La Union, this morning for a Hashy weekend. I’ll dash off a quick post before I go.
I had the bright idea to trike out to Naugsol yesterday morning for a hike with Swan. It didn’t go as planned because once we were on the scene, neither of us wanted to fuck around with wading across the river. So, we did a 4K street walk instead. We brought along lots of candy bags, but soon realized that with school in session, we wouldn’t be seeing many youngins.
A bridge that was too dicey to cross. I’ve gone across it in the past, but wasn’t feeling so brave yesterday.A candy delivery for a kidtaking a river bath.The kids at this school came out for some treats. And the teacher didn’t complain about tooth decay.That mountain named after Easter.Twin peaks are the breast!It wasn’t much, but what there was wasn’t bad.
The visit to the pulmonologist went well. She listened to me breathe and heard no obstructions. My blood oxygen level was within the normal range. She gave me something that dissolves in water to drink before bedtime, which might help me clear the phlegm I hock up with some regularity. Otherwise, it doesn’t look like a lack of lung capacity will lead to my demise. We’ll see if I survive tomorrow’s Hash.
After the doctor visit, I got a haircut, then we had dinner at Jewel Cafe.
I did the filet mignon, as usual. A little bigger this time.
Then we finished our evening at Green Room. I sponsored a match (100 pesos to the winner, 50 to the loser) between a couple of the girls and enjoyed watching the action. Dropped some coin on lady drinks as is my custom, then we headed on home to rest up for our trip today.
Back to October 2014 in the LTG archives. It’s funny to be reminded of things you thought were important at the time, but have no recollection of until you read about them again. That happens more frequently the older I get. Anyway, this post recounts me losing it over some darts drama.
Here’s a bonus entry from the archives you may find funny: Are you coming?
Fifteen years ago, I shared this account of a bad morning I experienced:
Death to Aria! I was attacked in my sleep last night. The battle raged from 0200 to 0300. I was unable to digest why it was happening and was in danger of being completely liquefied. I retreated from the bedroom and eventually purged the intruder. When I awoke a few hours later, I found myself on more solid ground. I’m just glad the attack didn’t occur on the subway, or I would have been in deep doo-doo.
And twelve years ago, I posted this music video to my Facebook page:
Today’s YouTube video is about a vlogger’s bad week in Angeles City. It is good to keep things in perspective. My bad days aren’t this bad.
And now to bring things to a close:
If you say so.You got me goin’ in circles…The old dirt road.
Almost time to hit the highway. I’ll check in from up north in the morning.
Another Subic Bay Hash anniversary is in the books. By all accounts, it was a good one. And everyone made it back alive, which given the difficulty of the trails is never a given. I wisely took the wimp route and did the short five kilometer trail. It had two moderate climbs, but damn, they kicked my ass. Had I stuck with my original plan to do the 7K route with a steep climb up Kalaklan, I may not have been here today to tell you about it. I think I might have to embrace the fact that I am indeed an elderly man and take joy and pride in my ability to still get out and about in the hills. I just need to recognize my limits.
The three trail options: insane, crazy, or hard.The Hares were still busy marking trail, so they asked me to do the pre-hike guidance for my fellow short trail walkers.And off we go!There were quite a few like-minded Hashers who opted for the shorter trail.This part of the first climb was especially, um, tiring.Credit where credit is due, the trail the Hares laid was through some new terrain for me, which isn’t easy to do after all these years of Hashing.Even the downs had their challenging moments.Up we go again.What goes up, must come down.A couple of virgin Hashers joined in the fun. That’s the owner of John’s place and her daughter.Getting passed by one of the folks who did the medium trail, Egghead from the Corona Hash in Angeles. In our defense, they did start an hour earlier than us.And we took a moment now and then to hand out some sweets along the way.On Home at Bella Monte.
We had ninety-nine Hashers in attendance for the anniversary run (we are normally in the thirties). Hashers from Angeles City, Puerto Galera, and Manila joined in the fun.
Thanks for another year of Hashing with the SBH3!The Hash Gash are pretty as a picture.Hanging out before the Circle.Time to circle up!The old farts taking a chair.It’s nice on ice!Eh, not so much.So many in attendance yesterday, we needed TWO blocks of ice.A couple of posers.
Oh, did you notice my new Hash shirt?
Another year, another anniversary shirt.
We did the after-Hash hangout at It Doesn’t Matter, then made it home happy to be alive.
It’s September 2014 in the LTG archives. In this short post, I talk about heading back to the USA from Korea as part of our regular “six months there, six months here” rotation. I casually mention that my wife was not returning with me because she needed to take care of her mother. She was supposed to join me in a couple of weeks. I didn’t know then that she would never return.
I came across this photo as I slogged around the internet this morning:
Sedona, Arizona. One of my favorite places. I lived an hour or so south of there in Prescott from 1978-1983. The drive on US Highway 89A to and from Sedona was amazing. What a life this has been.
Another new to me vlogger for today’s YouTube video. I’ll always remember the two things that stood out for me during my first visit to the Philippines: the most extreme poverty I’d ever witnessed and the kindness of the Filipino people. This Canuck had a similar experience.
Let’s get this stuff out of the way:
What color is the pot? Asked the kettle.I’ll have a taste of that!Man, I hate when that happens.
It’s been a good Tuesday so far, with more to come. Down the road, I’ll be spending this coming weekend in La Union to participate in their anniversary Hash. I’m going to keep it On-On as long as I can.
Yesterday’s Hash trail wasn’t so bad except for that first climb. Steep and slick, just the way I hate it. I made it to the top, though, so there’s that. And someday I may look back and miss those days when I could still drag my sorry ass up into the hills. Live it while you got it!
Things started off easy enough with a pleasant street walk.Our marathoners were once again leading the pack. They’ve earned the respectful title of FRBs (front-running bitches).Let the climbing begin.Yeah, people live up here, so I guess I can’t complain about having to climb the path for the first and last time.One step after another eventually gets it done.Did I mention it was steep and muddy?Come on up!Made it to the top.The view from here.Heading back down.The descent was comparatively enjoyable.The short option presented itself and I took it.A dicey spot on the way down. When there is green on the rock, you may well be in for a slip.Clear sailing from here on out.It wasn’t very long, but that’s okay.On-Home out back at It Doesn’t Matter.Old guys rehydrating.Icy recognition (Swan was recognized for double digits (55 runs).Back up front at IDM for the after-Hash refreshments.The Gash gathering.
There was some sad news from the Puerto Galera Anniversary Hash this weekend. Several Subic hashers attended the event, as did the Corona Hash group from Angeles City. A Corona hasher brought along her boyfriend, who had never hiked a Hash trail before. Apparently, he didn’t come prepared and collapsed during a climb early on the trail. Efforts were made to revive and comfort him, and eventually, a rescue team carried him down on a stretcher and then transported him to a local hospital. That’s where he died. Honestly, I’ve always been surprised there aren’t more casualties amongst the Hash participants. Count your blessings, drink plenty of water, proceed with caution, and hope to live to see another Hash is how I roll.
In other news, Swan made me another Filipino breakfast burrito yesterday.
A tortilla filled with yumminess.The innards.
In this post from the June 2014 LTG archives, I recount a journey I made to Songtan (south of Seoul), where I participated in a dart tourney. I find it shocking that a mere eleven years ago, I was staying out in party mode until 3:30 in the morning. I’ve become such a lightweight in my old age. And yeah, I still miss the good ol’ days in Korea.
Let’s check in with the Filipina Pea for her thoughts on some common misconceptions foreigners bring with them to the Philippines. Well, it is what it is, and I’m still here, going on eight years now, so I reckon the good outweighs the bad. You either learn to live with the downsides or you leave.
Let’s get the funny business out of the way:
Not so far—maybe I need to drink more beer.I thought it was bass ackwards.This should be a tourism poster.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from our beautiful Hariettes yesterday, but I wound up being very pleasantly surprised. How good was the trail? Well, I didn’t have to shortcut. Granted, there was a long (6.5K) and a short (4.5K) option, and I went with the lesser one. That turned out to be a good choice for me because the two moderate climbs took about all I had in me to complete. That said, I really enjoyed the trail, especially the portion I hadn’t done in so long that it felt almost new again. The trail was well-marked, and the gals obviously put a lot of effort into creating two versions that were pleasing for both hardcore Hashers and old farts like me.
Two of the three Hares: Fast and Loose and My Mouth Is Shut.Hashers gathered at the start.And we are On-On!Let the climbing commence.Through the jungle.A Barretto view.We were blessed with good weather.And only a couple of potential pitfalls.If you got lost with all the marks, it was your own damn fault.That’s always a good sign.Our On-Home venue was at Hasher Pecker Checker’s house in the Magdalena subdivision.Chillin’ before the circle.Hares on the ice. That’s Boom Boom Manana on the right.The long and short options.
Some after-Hash fun at It Doesn’t Matter brought another Hash Monday to a close. I’m learning to savor the moments while they last.
A little surprise on my journey through the LTG archives from April 2014: a post about my first time meeting the esteemed Kevin Kim. It was nice to meat with you at the Brazilian steak house.
Facebook had a memory for me from eight years ago:
A trip to Boracay to celebrate Loraine’s 50th birthday. Two weeks later, she confessed to being in love with someone else.
Too bad I hadn’t learned the lessons that Smart Girl Philippines offers in her YouTube videos. Here’s today’s guidance:
Maybe these will be worth a smile or three:
Definitely didn’t strike gold with this one.Something doesn’t add up here.Hmm, I’d never considered that possibility before.
On the bright side, we are on the periphery here in Zambales, lots of rain and some gusty winds, but not the full brunt of the typhoon. The only damage I’ve seen so far is a few broken tree branches. The storm makes daily living a bit of a pain in the ass, but this too shall pass.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the Hare wisely elected to save his mountain trail for a dryer day, substituting a street walk through Barretto for the Hash trek. Walking in the rain made it a tad less boring, and I have to give the Hare credit for coming up with a creative way to craft a 6K journey around town at the last minute.
The hardy few who braved the rain and showed up for the trail.And we are On-On!Through the streets we go.A reminder that as long as you are alive, the weather is just a bump in the road. As I walked out in the streets of Barretto, as I walked out in Barretto one day…Arriving at this week’s On-Home venue, Johansson’s.Rain may be wet, but so is beer.Circle up!It’s nice on ice! These two were visiting Hashers from Long Beach, California. I spent a lot of time there back in the day.The 6K trail crafted by Leech My Nuggets.My 8K version included a walk from my house to the start of the trail.My beef stew dinner at Johansson’s.And as usual, some after-Hash revelry at It Doesn’t Matter.
Rain or shine, every day is a blessing.
In this October 2013 post from the LTG archives, I reflect on my life and career. A working-class hero is something to be. I consider this to be one of my better posts, and it will definitely be included in The Story of My Life. Assuming I live long enough to write it someday.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay discusses the group of expats who were considered losers back home and brought those traits with them when they moved to Southeast Asia. I’ve encountered a few of this type during my time here, but thankfully, they are a small minority in the community. Granted, I’m far from perfect, but I eventually learn from my mistakes and I’m blessed with a pension sufficient to cater to my indulgences.
Let’s see how these attempts at humor go over:
I’m sure she was just horsin’ around.Watch your grammar, son.One of my Blondie favorites. Here you go.
It’s good sometimes to look back at where you’ve been that led you to where you are. And here I am ready to fill some more rainy day hours.
As soon as you're born they make you feel small By giving you no time instead of it all 'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool 'Til you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years Then they expect you to pick a career When you can't really function, you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion, and sex, and T.V. And you think you're so clever and classless and free But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still But first you must learn how to smile as you kill If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me If you want to be a hero well just follow me
Greetings from the Philippines! The fact that you are seeing this post is evidence that I survived yet another Hash Monday. Let’s get On-On with the photos:
Once again, I did things my way. Cums Alone and BF’s Wet Spot joined in the fun as we departed from my house at 1:00 p.m. with the intention of arriving at the beginning of the official Hash trail prior to the 2 p.m. start.And then, lo and behold, shortly after exiting Alta Vista, we found evidence that we were on the official Hash trail, albeit in reverse. Works for me!Getting ready to go up where everyone else came down.There’s that cabin in the woods I sometimes fantasize about.The view from on high.And then we saw where the trail went thataway, but we didn’t.Our journey took longer than expected, and we didn’t arrive at the starting point on time. We did encounter these Hashers making their way on the trail.Later on, we encountered some other shortcutters making their own way too.Back on the trail and the final steps were on Baloy Beach.I think I’d fancy living in this house on the beach, but 12 million pesos ($210,000) is a bit steep.Arriving at our On-Home venue, Kim’s place.Doing what Hashers do when they aren’t on the trail.This week’s shot of the Hash Gash.Circle up!Hares on the ice. That’s Vienna Sausage and Always Wet.A couple of old fuckers.Our newest named Hasher, Pussy Cat Fucker.A nice sunset at the end of the Hash Circle.The trail I didn’t do was 8K.And so was the one I did.
More beverages and camaraderie at the after-Hash gathering at IDM, then we were homeward bound after another fine day amongst the living.
Lots of lefty tears about the people being fired for their deranged celebration of murder. This sums up my sentiment quite well:
When I left the States for Korea in 2005, it was my first time being exposed to the unique beauty of Asian women. There was a time when I considered Korean ladies the most attractive, but now I find Filipinas to be the ones I like best.
So many to choose from in my do-over life.
There was a time when darts were a big part of my life. In the July 2013 LTG archives, there is a post highlighting the dart events I attended during the preceding twelve months. And now I can’t remember the last time I even picked up a dart. Times change, passions fade, and yet, life goes on with new adventures. I’m glad for the memories, but don’t regret moving on.
From Facebook memories, on this day in 2019, I linked to my blog post entitled “Comma-tose.” Guess what, all these years later, I’m still a dunce when it comes to punctuation. Still, I’m happy to be adding value as a bad example for Kevin Kim’s Substack grammar lessons.
I came across today’s YouTube video somewhat randomly, but I liked what I heard. The vlogger says that if you do these five things after the age of 70, you are on track to live to 100. Hmm. I’m kinda sorta doing all of them, so maybe I’ll make it to my goal of 85. I’m still finding it difficult to shake this feeling of impending doom I’ve been experiencing. Welp, I’ll just keep living one day at a time and see what happens next.
And you know what’s coming next:
No need to be an ass about it.Sounds like the reaction to my blog posts.Ain’t that the truth!
Another day of blogging about yesterday is now complete, so I’ll get on with the rest of this one.
Nothing special, but I’ve had worse. My biggest gripe was that the first portion of the trail was not well-marked, and my group ended up missing a turn, requiring us to backtrack. Otherwise, just the familiar, but not boring, My Bitch, for most of the trail. I lengthened the adventure by 2K when I started from my house.
I got a little tired on the way to the start.The Hare, Buddy Fucker, telling us where to go.Off we go!Passed through Mountain Mama Onelia’s place.There’s that mountain again.Branching out.Marching onward.A Subic view.And that town they call Barretto.Why, yes. Yes, we are.The gathering of Gash at the On-Home venue, Bella Monte hotel.Circle up!Cums Alone got recognized for her 50th run with the SBH3.And Buddy Fucker got a Hashy birthday cake.The “official” Hash trail, with long (6K), and short (4K) variants.My variant was just shy of 6K.The after-Hash at It Doesn’t Matter.Our tab included food and drinks for the IDM crew.
And that’s the way this week’s Hash went down.
Speaking of down, we still have no water, and if the Alta Vista guards are correct, we may not have service restored for two or more weeks.
Pouring a bucket of cold water over my head is something I dread. I may need to make plans for an emergency trip out of town.
From the LTG archives in February 2013, proof that bad poetry and bad darts go hand-in-hand.
Today’s YouTube video also comes from the LTG archives. In it, I document the life I was living in Korea over the preceding six months. It makes me sad to see how happy I was, if that makes any sense. In the screenshot below, Bridget is dead, Jee Yeun is gone, and I haven’t seen or heard from my other teammates in years. Life is like that, so enjoy it while you can.
I could use some humor about now:
Caring is sharing.Shocking!Oh, shit!
So much for yesterday, now it’s time to get on with today.
I’m happy to report that I survived my first Hash as a seventy-year-old man. Yesterday’s trail (I did the short version) was not particularly challenging, as it was mostly flat and paved. Near the end, there was a steep and muddy path down to the highway that was completely new to me. Keeping my feet on the descent was difficult, and near the end, I failed to do so. Fortunately, I came down on my ass with nothing hard or sharp underneath. Swan also took a tumble once. Other than that, it was an almost boring 4.5K trek.
The trail began at the Hare’s house in Alta Vista. That’s Anal Receptive giving last-minute guidance before we departed.I listened to what the Hare had to say.And we are On-On! It was good to see Pubic Head (in the white shirt) back after his recent medical issues.I got the Easter Mountain shot out of the way early.Taking the back way out of Alta Vista.This is one of the streets we do on our Candy Walk.We enjoyed the benefits of a well-marked trail.I had a “come to Mary” moment shortly before beginning that treacherous down.It was all downhill from here. I doubt I will voluntarily use this trail in the future.We made it to the On-Home venue intact.The old folks chillaxin’ after the hike.A gathering of Gash.A virgin Hasher is initiated. “What doesn’t go in you, goes on you,” but she managed to down the entire bottle without it leaving her lips. I guess that makes her a swallower.Swan and I joinedthe other “Hash crash and Hash fuck-ups” on the ice.And I was this week’s recipient of the Hashit.The way we went (purple for us lazy types).
As is our custom, we went to hang out at the after-Hash hangout, IDM. I think I got that right, this time. Good times were had as usual.
This non-Hash big spender (in the dragon shirt) came and quenched the thirst of all the girls. Thanks for that!
And so another Hash Monday came to an end with neither Swan nor me feeling any pain. That’s the way I like it.
From the September 2012 LTG archives, I’ll share two posts today that tell stories of how I spent my days as a retiree in South Carolina. There was my darting life, and binge-watching Netflix, in this case, Battlestar Galactica. Coincidentally, Kevin Kim is currently re-watching that series and has promised a proper review is forthcoming.
Some Facebook memories from this day in my past:
Nine years ago, I took my then-girlfriend, Eun Oke, to a bar in Angeles City.When the girls saw her, they all came down from the stage and surrounded our table. It was like they had never seen a Korean woman before. She bought (I paid for) them all a drink, despite my admonishment to pick one or two to spend time with. The next morning, she asked how much we spent, and I told her, “5000 pesos.” How much do you pay when you and I go out drinking in Seoul?” I had to admit it was about the same.
Today’s YouTube video provides more perspectives on dealing with beggars. I encounter them on a daily basis, and with the exception of “mama” and a crazy guy, I almost never give money, especially to kids. For one thing, it’s against the law, and as a matter of principle, children should not be conditioned to think begging is an acceptable source of income. I’ll give them cookies sometimes instead.
Here I am, still trying to be funny:
I’m glad he was able.Fame is hard to earn, but she managed it drunk and on her back. Well done!I like the way she thinks!
Good day Subic Hashers.. Today trail it’s easy and flat all cripple, lame and whimps can make it the trail more or less 3.5km..We run all together in the small hidden falls down to rice fields all the way to ON HOME. .Everyone can get trikes going up to 4th Court Rizal Extension for Meet Up and START on trail..The marking sign well marked.. ORANGES Ribbon, PAPERS and trees.
That’s the message one of the Hares posted on Facebook. It felt like she was talking directly to me. Still, I had my doubts, but there was only one way to find out. Of course, getting to the start way out at the end of Rizal Extension is its own kind of pain-in-the-ass. Given the reported shortness of the trail, I decided to walk to the start via the familiar My Bitch trail, which conveniently runs between Alta Vista and Rizal. It doubled the length of the official Hash trail, so I guess that makes me a longcutter.
Gathering at the trailhead.
Now, I don’t want to say the trail was poorly marked just because it was.
Now what? Losing the trail early on, and not for the last time.
One of the Hares, Always Wet, stayed with us at the back of the pack, acting as a sweeper of sorts. Whenever I couldn’t figure out where the trail was, she kindly pointed me in the right direction.
As promised, the trail was all downhill. But theearly portion was alongside a rocky creek with thick branches and sticker bushes. I’d prefer a hill climb to that!Gettin’ down!Strolling on the water’s edge.The only falls I experienced.Easter Mountain looms large.Walking on water.Down in the valley.Heading for the On-Home.
This week, we gathered at the compound of Hasher Smurf 69 and joined in the anniversary party she was hosting with her mate, Covid 69.
Quite the spread.Yummy this……and yummy that.It’s not a Filipino celebration without lechon.Live music from some familiar faces.A gathering of Gash.Circle up!Hares on the ice. Our host, Smurf 69 in the middle, Always Wet, and Derby’s Bitch, the one not facing the camera.Blow My Pipe was the Hashit recipient this week.
We ate, drank, and were merry, and then as darkness approached, we headed out in search of a trike to take us back to town. We were fortunate to find one without having to walk very far. We got dropped at It Doesn’t Matter for some after-Hash revelry, then it was off to home after surviving another Hash Monday.
The official Hash trail.And my elongated version, at 6.5K, if you are keeping score.
I’ve reached September 2010 in my journey through the LTG archives. This post documents my Labor Day drive to Gangneung on the East Sea side of Korea. Lots of photos of a beautiful trip.
Today’s YouTube video is one of a growing number focused on the increasing tensions with China. Perhaps it is an encouraging sign that so many nations are standing together with the Philippines. Perhaps China will be dissuaded from further escalation. One can only hope.
Today’s lame humor attempt:
A ballsy move, Kirk.The truth will set you free.Don’t be such a cunt, Riker.
And there you have it. I’m attending a birthday gathering later this afternoon at Alley Cats, and I experienced a once-in-my-lifetime event in the kitchen. At my age, that’s something!
Oops! I dropped the brownies when I was taking them out of the oven. Oh well, I baked another batch.
When I was walking the neighborhood today, this Cat Stevens song came up in my playlist. I was never a big fan of his back in the day, and Miles From Nowhere was a song I’d last heard fifty years ago, and it didn’t really resonate. Somehow, this morning it felt meaningful. I guess that is the difference between the 70s and being (almost) 70.
Miles from nowhere Guess I'll take my time Oh yeah, to reach there
Look up at the mountain I have to climb Oh yeah, to reach there
Lord my body has been a good friend But I won't need it when I reach the end
Miles from nowhere Guess I'll take my time Oh yeah, to reach there
I creep through the valleys And I grope through the woods 'Cause I know when I find it, my honey It's gonna make me feel good
Yes, I love everything So don't it make you feel sad 'Cause I'll drink to you, my baby I'll think to that, I'll think to that
Miles from nowhere Not a soul in sight Oh yeah, but it's alright
I have my freedom I can make my own rules Oh yeah, the ones that I choose
Lord my body has been a good friend But I won't need it when I reach the end
I love everything So don't it make you feel sad 'Cause I'll drink to you, my baby I'll think to that, yes, I'll think to that I'll think to that
Miles from nowhere Guess I'll take my time Oh yeah, to reach there
A short and sweet Hash trail yesterday, which suits me just fine. I wasn’t up for climbing muddy mountains, and the “wimp” version (3.5K) was challenging enough, given some recent issues I’m having with my back. I’ll be consulting Dr. Jo this afternoon to see if there is anything to be done about it.
It rained on the way to the starting point in Calapacuan (a fifteen-minute Jeepney ride away) and then, almost miraculously, it didn’t rain again until after the Hash was done.And we are On-On!Over a bridge…And through the wet backstreets of Calapacuan.A long set of stairs was the only climb us wimps endured.The view from up top.The last portion of the trail was the same streets we take on our Saturday Sweets Stroll.Familiarity did not breed contempt, however.Back to Smokes and Bottles for this week’s On-Home.I like it here.The long and the short of it. Purple is the route I took.
The usual after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter, and another Hash Monday came to an end.
From the LTG archives, a memory of the time when I was a Ringwraith. Softball was a big chapter in The Story of My Life.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay talks about giving money to beggars. I’m generous in some ways, but for the most part, I don’t give handouts to people begging on the streets. Especially kids, who shouldn’t be encouraged to engage in a begging lifestyle. It’s also technically against the law, although I’ve never heard of it being enforced. “Mama” is an exception, but then, she never begged, just graciously accepted a handout I offered. The first time I saw and helped her was in my tourist days, and we are both still at it all these years later.
Humor me:
How’s that working out for ya?A measured history…At least he’s not commatose like me.
Let’s end it here in keeping with today’s theme of short and sweet.
Okay, back to my routines again. Starting with the Monday Hash run. The trail was a mostly flat 5K street walk ending at the house of Hasher Online Bargain, in the Santa Monica subdivision. She hosted the Hash Circle there in conjunction with a surprise birthday party for her partner, Chris, who turned 60 years old. She went all out, with lavish decorations, live music, and catered food that included the Filipino favorite, lechon (roast pig). It was a great time, and it was nice to be hanging out with my fellow Hashers once again.
Gathering at the Baloy 7-Eleven starting point.And we are On-On the National Highway.Through the littered backstreets of Matain.Beached boats.Unbeached boats.The straight and narrow.Through the ‘hood.A slimy passage.Time to step it up.Almost to the top.The view from here.Onward she goes.Finishing up in Santa Monica.The On-Home venue.Our hostess and the birthday boy.Chris’ throne.Chris said he suspected something was up, but he was surprised to come home to a house full of Hashers.The duet sang mostly country and Southern rock songs. That’s what I like!
At the end of the song, I asked the singer if she knew what a bayou was. She smiled and said, “No, I don’t.”In the chow line. Everything was delicious!
Everyone in attendance was gifted a coffee mug:
Happy birthday!When it was time to circle up, we hit the street. This was the first time in my experience that we had to be on the lookout for passing cars during the Circle.It’s nice on ice!I spent some time there this week.The path we took. So easy this week that even I didn’t feel the need to shortcut.
As usual, most of the Hashers beat me to the finish. So, I was surprised when I saw Leech My Nuggets arriving several minutes after me. I told him this was a first, me getting to the On-Home before he did. He just shrugged, congratulated me, and matter-of-factly said, I did the trail twice. Ah, that would explain it. At least he didn’t lap me.
In March 2010 and I blogged about buying my first iPod. My (now former) friend Tom generously allowed me to download the 22,000 songs in his collection. And when I shuffled the music for the first time, a familiar song played first. I found that worthy of a post. (Tom unfriended me because he didn’t agree with my politics.)
Here’s a couple of old photos I found in the LTG archives:
My dad and his friend Mac are out in the Mojave Desert looking for gold.This is likely the oldest photo of me in existence. No wonder I’m considered God’s gift to women.
Thirteen years ago, I played around with making my own memes.
Good thing I didn’t quit my day job.
Today’s YouTube video shares the experience of a first-time visitor to my little town. His perspectives don’t always align with mine, but he’s entitled to his opinions. To each his own and all that. The video is worth the watch regardless.
And now for the funny business:
Comes in handy if you have an itchy head, I reckon.This hits pretty close to home these days. (Did I post this before? I don’t remember.)It’s on my fuckit list.
So, I’m leaving town again this afternoon. Wasn’t something I was planning on until I saw this on Facebook:
An all-day power outage. No thnaks!
We are going to spend the night at the Mope Resort in San Narciso. We’ve arranged a late checkout, so hopefully when we get back on Wednesday, it won’t be long until we have electricity again.
Here’s the song that first played from the 22,000 downloaded to my iPod all those years ago. What are the odds?
As I was making my way to the starting point for yesterday’s Hash trail in a downpour of rain, two words came into my head. Weirdly, they both have six letters and seemed to sum up my feelings as I splashed through the water puddles.
I was SOAKED and it SUCKED.Seeking shelter at the meetup.And off we go!
My plan was to pick up the trail from where it came back down from the Kalaklan ridge climb. But when we got there, the trail marks were nowhere to be seen, likely washed away by the rain. So, we did a street walk to the On-Home venue on Baloy Beach. The rainstorm diminished to a sprinkle, but it didn’t matter by then. It sucked to be soaked.
Wet and wild in the streets. My camera lens must have been soaked, too, given the blur.That sucks.The deserted beach at Baloy.The Hash Gash chillin’ at Kim’s Place, our On-Home venue this week.Guy style.Circle up!Nice on ice!
And during the Circle, we wished Swan a Hashy birthday and made her a cake:
The trail I didn’t walk.And the one I did. 7.5K, including the 2K walk to the start from my house.The usual after-Hash gathering at IDM.
Made it home safe and sound after a wet day of Hashing.
Got home and took off my wet shoes and socks. What’s up with this?
It been said that after a while, the Philippines grows on you.
And here’s the evidence.
The archives in the early years of LTG are dominated by political rants from yours truly. That and darts. Neither of those subjects holds much interest for me now, but this one, entitled “Hypocrisy” from November 2009, made me laugh. Can you imagine calling your political opponents Hitler?
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Today’s YouTube video from Smart Girl Philippines tells the story of a Filipina dating site gold digger. Yeah, I got scammed a few times on those sites back when I lived in Korea. Probably the worst was sending a gal I’d been chatting with for almost a year $500 so she could buy a plane ticket to visit me in Seoul and never hearing from her again. Yeah, I was that stupid. But after that, my rule was never sending money to someone I’d not met in person, and any unmet gold digger begging for a “loan” was immediately blocked. Which is not to say I didn’t get scammed by Filipinas I met after moving here, but that’s another story.
And now for these:
After a long night of passion, the young guy rolled over, pulled out a cigarette from his jeans and searched for his lighter. Unable to find it, he asked the girl if she had one at hand.
“There might be some matches in the top drawer,” she replied.
He opened the drawer of the bedside table and found a box of matches sitting neatly on top of a framed picture of another man. Naturally, the guy began to worry.
“Is this your husband?” he inquired nervously.
“No, silly,” she replied, snuggling up to him.
“Your boyfriend then?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” she said, nibbling away at his ear.
“Well, who is he then?” demanded the bewildered guy.
Smiling she replied, “That’s me before the operation.”
So, smoking isn’t the stupidest thing he’s done.
Soaked and sucked?What a pisser!
Now it’s time to leave yesterday behind and get on with the rest of today. Thanks for coming by.
The short trail option (4.6K) for yesterday’s Hash was such a breeze that it was practically boring. The fact that most of the trail was through the familiar terrain we traverse on our weekend candy walks added to the lack of excitement. I’m not complaining, though. In my weakened condition, the long trail (8K) would have been too much (unless I shortcutted). So, maybe the Hash Gods are looking out for me.
The Hare, Anal Receptive, provides last minute guidance for the trail ahead.And we are On-On!And so the journey beginsOver the bridge we call #3.The mountain we call Easter.The frontrunners. I was in the middle of the pack.Uling (charcoal) drying on the sidewalk.And what’s that drying on the highway?It’s corn off the cob.What’s up with this shit, Pooh?This week’s On-Home venue.Smokes and Bottles is my favorite Hash venue.Circle up!Hash recognition.And now it is 351 runs.The long and short of it.At the After-Hash gathering at IDM, the Gash presented Swan with a birthday cake.
And so ended another Hash Monday.
I’m still making progress health-wise. I can now fart with impunity and experience no liquidity. Oddly enough, I now seem to be suffering from constipation. I’m sure it will all come out okay in the end.
Another episode in the Bali adventure from July 2009, as we head for the beach.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay holds court on the top four reasons relationships with Filipinas don’t last. Well, the trick is finding the right one. There may very well be a lot of pain and suffering on that journey, but it is worth it.
You knew these were coming:
You should love what you eat.You’re in the dark, Data.Isn’t that sweet?
Yes, I shortcut the trail. But no, I was not arrested. Read on for the rest of the story.
I was 50-50 on whether I was going to Hash at all yesterday. Anytime the On-Home venue is out at the end of Rizal Extension I’m uncomfortable because getting back to town from there is a pain in the ass. Trikes are not readily available because many of them don’t have the horsepower to make it up the long incline of Rizal. Being faced with the prospect of walking back to town in the dark after drinking puts a damper on my spirits. And so does the rain. Anyway, my solution is to leave before the Hash Circle commences and head down to Barretto while the going is good. That’s what I did yesterday.
So, my modified trail included a different way up than the Hares prepared, but the alternative route was suggested by Vienna Sausage, who thought the steep and slippery climb on his trail wouldn’t be to my liking. Oddly enough, I intended to go the way he recommended before we talked. I also skipped a mid-trail down and up, and stayed on My Bitch until the end, which is also where Always Wet, another Hare, resides. She sponsored the On-Home gathering at her place.
As mentioned, I left early, and Swan and Beth joined me for the walk down Rizal. We hadn’t gone far when we saw a police vehicle making a U-turn in front of us. Swan and Beth jokingly called out asking for a ride, and the police van stopped. The cop in the back gestured for us to hop in. I really didn’t want to, but it started raining and the gals didn’t want to walk the rest of the way. Fine.
My first-ever ride in a Philippine police vehicle. I’m glad it was voluntary.
Here are some photos of my Hash journey yesterday.
A view on the way to the trailhead at the VFW. Surprisingly, there was no rain for the duration of our hike, but once we made it to Always Wet’s house, it was, well, always wet.The gathering at the start featured Vienna Sausage providing guidance for the upcoming trail.And we are On-On!Down the alley……and up the steps. There were a lot of them.The climb didn’t end when the stairs did.Climbing has its rewards.Proof that we are on the trail.Hello there, Easter Mountain.I liked the view from here.Hanging out before the Circle.A gathering of Hash Gash.Handing out lollipops as we make our way down Rizal Extension. The police encounter happened shortly thereafter.A large turnout for the After-Hash at It Doesn’t Matter.The way I done it. Yes, I did.
It was also my 350th Hash Run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. My goal is to make it to 500. Wish me luck!
Back in June of 2009, I still had the attention span needed to sit through a movie and then write a review here at LTG. The film I wrote about is Crossing Over. Reading this now, I don’t even recall watching it. But damn, this movie was like a premonition of things that are happening today. Immigration agents arresting illegal aliens in Los Angeles, and the resulting outrage caused by enforcing the law. Oh, and of course, the Hollywood point of view then, as now, was that the ICE folks are the bad guys.
Eight years ago, I purchased a brand-new vehicle:
I had some really nice rides during my year in Pyeongtaek. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?
Today’s YouTube video touches on a recurring theme in my life: looking back in regret and missing all the good that surrounds you. I’m trying to do better in that regard, because there’s no going back. Unless God grants the do-over life I’ve been praying for.
Humor time:
No matter how you slice it…Hard to argue with that logic.I done that, too.
all cripple, lame and whimps can make it the trail more or less 3.5km..We run all together in the small hidden falls down to rice fields all the way to ON HOME. .Everyone can get trikes going up to 4th Court Rizal Extension for Meet Up and START on trail..The marking sign well marked.. ORANGES Ribbon, PAPERS and trees.
