…flat as a board. And you gotta have water to surf and that massive rain storm provided plenty.

I felt like shit all day yesterday, but when it was time to Hash, I headed out. I got maybe 100 yards from home and was out of breath (it is a very slight uphill). I almost turned around then and there but convinced myself to push on. A bit further up the road, I had to stop once more to catch my breath. Not good! I reached the point where the Hash trail intersected with my path and waited for the Hashers to arrive. I knew I wouldn’t be doing any climbing whatsoever, but I figured I’d tag along until the first up, then make my way to the On-Home (at Leech My Nuggets house in Alta Vista). About a kilometer later, I said goodbye to the group and began my solo flat trek. Not long afterward, the sky opened up, and I was drenched from head to toe. Yeah, it was as fun as it sounds. I was heading up Sawmill Road when a trike pulled over and offered me a ride. Well, I was going to catch one at the 7/11 anyway to avoid the uphill walk to Alta Vista, so why not? My trail was 3K or so all in.

I wasn’t feeling much better during the Hash Circle. When the rain let up about halfway through the festivities, I headed for home. And last night might have been my worst night ever. In addition to feeling weak and breathless, I developed a pain in my chest. Not sure what the fuck that’s all about, but I’m hoping what I’ve assumed to be lung issues isn’t heart-related instead. I think it might be acid reflux or something similar, but I don’t recall experiencing that before. I bought some meds for that this morning, but so far, the ache is still there, although it has moved down to my mid-section. Before going to bed last night, I gave Swan the contact info for my kids, just to be on the safe side. It freaked her out, though.

So, I have a lot to discuss with the pulmonary doctor today. I am going to the newly reopened hospital in Barretto, and hopefully, they have the facilities to perform any necessary tests to diagnose and correct whatever ails me. As is the case in most hospitals in the PI, there are no appointments– I have to show up and wait on a first-come, first-seen basis. We stopped in on the way to Royal this morning and signed up. The doctor is scheduled to arrive at 2:00 p.m., and I’ll be there at 1:30 waiting. Damn, I hope this goes well. I hate feeling like this, and I really miss my walkaholic life.

Not the best of days, and hopefully the worst is over.

It’s been interesting watching the left’s convulsions since the failed assassination attempt. All that unity talk lasted less than a day, and now Trump is a fascist again. Oh, and Vance will also participate in the destruction of democracy. Whatever. Pick a better candidate next time, Dems. Trump didn’t make America great again in his first term, but it was a lot better than it is now.

And even the ads I’m seeing on Facebook are changing.

Today’s YouTube video is a short but interesting account of a guy choosing the Philippines over the Scottish homeland that he loves. Yeah, you need to exercise moderation and self-control if you are going to adapt to the lifestyle here, but I would be very unhappy living in the USA.

Some humor before I go to the hospital:

Okay, my transport to the UltraCare facility will be arriving soon. I’d best get prepared. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Another Monday, another Hash. This week, some of the Gash were the Hares, and they laid a pretty nice trail that was well-marked and a little different. It wasn’t all that difficult, but I wound up shortcutting anyway. My “sane” group didn’t wait for me this week, which was disappointing but understandable. I’ve got so slow going uphill that it takes the fun out of hiking with me. Swan and some others were with me, so it’s not like I was alone on the trail. The problem was we got into an area that was unfamiliar to me, and it appeared there was a second climb in store, and I just didn’t have it in me. Since I didn’t know an alternative path, I retreated back to the highway and rejoined the trail down the road. My shortcut was longer distance-wise, but I assumed it was flatter. Turns out, what I perceived as a pending climb would have led me back down to the valley. Still, better safe than sorry.

After the Hash, Swan and I caught a trike to It Doesn’t Matter for the post-Hash gathering. Turns out, I might have had too much to drink. I’ll do better next time.

Speaking of drinking, Facebook carried me back thirteen long years ago to an Itaewon Friday night at Dolce Vita Pub.

Eight years ago, I was walking the shady back paths on Namsan in Seoul.

The looming war with China will be fought on many fronts. The Chinese have already infiltrated even the lowest branches of Filipino government. To what end, who knows? I’m sure the corruption agents can be dual purposed as military assets. And the same things is taking place back home in the USA as well. Shocking how many of the illegal border crossers are Chinese. Today’s YouTube video details some of what is happening here in the Philippines.

Gonna go for a walk on the raunchy side for today’s humor offering.

That’s all for now, folks.

It never seems to get easier, but I’m still in the fight. Barely. We did a pretty massive shortcut on the Hash trail yesterday, eliminating a climb to the top of Kalaklan Ridge. But the climb we did do was almost more than I could handle. Once again, I had a massive struggle in my head to overcome the urge to say “fuck it” and flatland it back to the On-Home. That was half the battle; the other half was actually getting to the top. It was slow going for me and almost painful, but I made it. I’m just not ready to give up the hills and the views you earn by climbing them yet. And to cut myself some slack, I’ll be sixty-nine next month. I reckon I’m blessed to still have the ability to get out there and try. The day will surely come when my get up and go has got up and gone, but until then, I’m going to keep on keeping on as best I can!

I walked the beach back to It Doesn’t Matter to partake in the after-Hash comradery. And stopped at Myleen’s before catching a trike home.

Facebook memories reminded me of a time when climbing came easier for me.

In today’s YouTube offering, Reekay speaks to the Filipino mortality culture. All Saints Day here is like something I’d never seen; families and loved ones pack the cemeteries to remember and honor the dearly departed. I’m pretty sure the dead don’t care, but it is another example of how family-centered this culture truly is.

Just cremate me and scatter my ashes on a Hash trail, thank you very much.

Humor time:

Tomorrow is another day, and I plan to be here then to tell you about this one. See you then!

Yesterday’s Hash trail was surprisingly short, around 4K. A little shorter for me because I didn’t start at the VFW but met the Hashers as they passed through Alta Vista. The route we took featured one moderate hill climb. No hill is easy for me these days, and I was huffing and puffing all the way up. But it wasn’t that long or that steep, and I made it to the top alive. The On-Home venue was at a private “farm” just past the end of Rizal Extension. We’d hike through there regularly a couple of years back, but it’s been fenced off and posted “No Trespassing” for quite a while now. It was nicer than I expected, kicking back and enjoying the peaceful setting. However, I didn’t stay to participate in the Hash Circle, opting to head down the mountain while there was daylight, and I was relatively sober. Many of my fellow Hashers joined me for after-Hash refreshments at It Doesn’t Matter. I had considered skipping this week’s adventure, but I’m glad I joined the hike.

Now, for a stroll down memory lane:

It’s election season, so forgive my injection of politics:

Today’s YouTube video has a vlogger talking about the practicalities of the rainy season in the Philippines. I’m enjoying it compared to the heat so far.

And let’s see if I can tickle your funny bone today:

That’s all she, I mean, he wrote. But I shall return tomorrow.

Remember that story about the little engine that could the fat old man who could? Well, by golly, I successfully completed yesterday’s Hash trail. Granted, it was the short trail, but it was still plenty challenging. The big up for us shorties came at the end, and it was an ass-kicker for me. I was able to overcome the urge to bail largely because there was nowhere to bail- climbing that hill was the only way back to the On-Home. Head down, one step at a time, and puffing out, “I think I can” got me to the top. Finishing felt a lot better than I did after I wussed out last week, that’s for sure.

And that’s the lowdown on this week’s Hash.

In the memory category, I’ve got some “through the years” photographs to share from Facebook. My son had posted these for Father’s Day.

In today’s YouTube feature, Reekay talks about the best the Philippines has to offer. I’m glad to be here to partake.

And we will finish up this post with some humor:

Anyway, Swan and I are doing the foot spa thing this afternoon, and we’ll see what comes about after that. I reckon you’ll read all about it here tomorrow.

One of the benefits of being a Hare is you have the power to dictate the trail your fellow Hashers will follow. At least in theory. Guys like me tend to shortcut or change course as the mood dictates. And even though I was technically one of three Hares yesterday, I was mostly along to help lay down the powder and chalk. Pubic Head and Blow My Pipe already had the trail in mind, and I didn’t contribute anything to the planned course of action. Well, near the end, I took a detour, but that’s just my style.

Our trail was just a tad over 5K but featured two climbs. The first one was a butt-kicker, and the second one, coming late in the hike, wasn’t easy either. The feedback I got from a couple of die-hard Hashers was surprise–they didn’t expect such a challenging trail from the likes of me. Not that I had much to do with it.

Sometimes, the people you encounter along the way are the highlight of the trail. I had cookies and lollipops on hand to brighten their day a tad.

The trail was marked and ready for the Hashers. Pubic Head met them at the Barretto High School starting point and provided last-minute guidance.

I went home, blogged, napped, and showered, then headed back to Subiza for the Hash Circle.

And that was that. I stopped by Snackbar for another beer before catching a trike back home. Not a bad day to be a Hasher, if I do say so myself.

If I lived in condo I would never take the elevator. Facebook memories reminded me why:

Today’s YouTube video is a little different–not from a vlogger I subscribe to. I came across it while doing my usual ‘netsurfing and found it interesting. It deals with the lifestyle of the native Aeta people here in the Philippines. I’ve been involved in several charity outreaches in local villages here, and the Aeta are always gracious, warm, and welcoming. Having said that, I almost never see them integrating into Filipino society. I don’t think it is discrimination; I think it is a choice. A fascinating culture.

To the humor, then:

That’s all he wrote. For today, anyway.

Another Monday, another “run” with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. I modified yesterday’s trail to suit my purposes, but distance-wise, it was the same length as the Hare’s short version (5K). The Hash trail traversed a good portion of My Bitch, so rather than start at the VFW in town, I left from my house and met up with my regular group at Mountain Mama Onelia’s place and continued on with them from there. It was more challenging than what I did in Angeles on Sunday, but not overly difficult. It was hot again, though.

A couple of after-Hash beers, then some takeout from Sit-n-Bull, and my day was done.

In the memory category, I’m reminded that today marks thirteen years since my father passed away. I marked that occasion in a post called “Finished With Engines.”

I’m getting over 57 pesos to the dollar these days, the best it’s been since I moved here. Of course, prices keep going up for many of the things I purchase, but it could be worse. I’d be screwed if my pension were paid in pesos. And I guess it makes things even tougher for the economically challenged Filipinos.

Today’s attempts at humor:

No more Tuesday on the floating bar, but we will try Kokomo’s Tiki Bar and take in the views from there. I’ll share that adventure here tomorrow.

I came, I walked. I lived. Mission accomplished! It was another hot day on the trail, and our “sane” group opted to bypass the three hill climbs the Hare had included. We still walked a tad over 6K, and that was plenty for my tired old lungs. There was an incline on the road near the end, and I needed to pause halfway up to catch my breath. Other than that, the hike went fine.

Unfortunately, there was some controversy at the Hash Circle. One of our On-Home venues overcharged the Hash to the tune of fifty beers. So, naturally, we crossed them off the list for future visits. Word got back to the owner that folks were talking about the ripoff, and he went livid, issuing threats of physical violence to members of the Hash. The Grand Master told the gathered Hashers about the threats, and one Hasher got very upset and said this was all an overreaction and blamed the Hash leaders for not handling the situation more discretely. Fine, he is welcome to that opinion, but he wouldn’t let it go and continued to rant and rave at the Grand Master. The Grand Master finally ordered him to leave. I don’t know if that means he has been permanently banned from the Hash or not. The venue owner in question did post an apology for the threats to the Hash Facebook page today.

After that incident, my buzz was pretty much chilled, so I left right away when the Circle was over. My neighbor had invited me to join him and some friends when I was finished with the Hash, so that’s what I did. It turned out to be an enjoyable gathering, and I’ll be reciprocating this Thursday at The Rite Spot.

And that’s the story of my day.

Down on Facebook’s memory lane, I posted this eleven years ago:

Four years ago, I was railing against the scamdemic with posts like these:

Here is a short two-minute video about China’s latest provocation against the Filipino people:

Okay, gonna go with some off-color humor today. Sorry in advance:

And now we are done. I’ll be back, just wait and see.

…and hope I never do again!

Okay, when the Hare is Vienna Sausage, I know I’m in for an ass-kicker. He didn’t disappoint in that regard yesterday. Still, I missed the opportunity to shortcut, so that’s on me. Had I known what lay ahead, I would have been more mindful of my situation and avoided the worst part of the trail. Oh well, lesson learned.

I knew in advance we would be climbing to the Kalaklan Ridge, starting from the end of Rizal Extension. I’m up for the challenge of one good climb at the beginning of the trail, and this one was every bit as hard as I anticipated. The hot weather added a couple of exclamation points to the effort, but we got it done. Once on the ridge, the “short” trail followed the ridgeline road, which is mostly flat and shady. The surprise came at the end, when I was thinking we’d be heading back down but instead had to endure another climb. Once that was done, the down was steep and slippery most of the way. All in, it took me three hours to reach the On-Home on a 7K hike. That’s twice as long as normal for me. I was exhausted and thirsty (despite drinking two bottles of water on the trail) when finished, and oh, did those San Mig Zeros feel good going down.

As long as it took me to complete the trail, I wasn’t the last to make it back. In fact, two Hashers, including the Grand Marshall, didn’t return until the Hash circle was over. They’d gone back to look for another Hasher but never found him (he’d taken a wrong turn but found his way back an hour before they did). The former GM ran the circle, but it was just a bizarre ending to the day. Vienna Sausage came and asked me what had gone wrong with his trail, because he thought it was easy compared to others he’s done. I told him the hill climb at the end had wiped out the group I was with, and had I known, I would have taken an alternate path down. Again, it was not the Hare’s fault; it was mine for not using better judgment. I’ll try not to make that mistake again.

Anyway, I lived to tell about it, so there’s that. Now, it is just another memory.

Speaking of memories, Facebook took me down that road today:

And on to the Quora Q&A:

Q: Is the Japanese occupation of Korea and China still a sensitive topic in South Korea and China?

A: I can only speak to Koreans. I had two different girlfriends who got triggered by the smallest Japan-related issues. What the world calls the Sea of Japan is known as the East Ocean in Korea. Call it the Sea of Japan at your peril, as I learned firsthand from GF #1.

My favorite story from GF #2 was while we were eating at an outdoor street restaurant with a community table. Now, this girl had never gotten over the occupation that occurred before she was born and disliked all things Japan. So, as we were eating (and drinking soju), I noticed her angry face and glares being directed at a young woman a couple of seats down from us. Finally, she says to her, “You are in Korea; why are you speaking Japanese?” The woman was visibly taken aback and responded: “um, because I am Japanese.” Thankfully, my GF let it go at that point.

And NEVER EVER call Dokdo island Takeshima!

I’ve never heard any Filipinos talk shit about the Japanese invasion in 1941. I guess they have bigger things to worry about–like China. And actually, the Japanese have funded several large infrastructure projects here, perhaps in part to say “sorry about that.”

Today’s poor attempts at humor:

Well, technically, it is the sun that browns, but doing the Hash in this fucking heat certainly helps to darken the skin.

So, naturally, I did the short trail yesterday, hoofing it from the VFW to the On-Home at Tiny Cunt’s house at the end of Rizal Extension. That was blissfully only 3+K, but it did feature two moderately long climbs. My walking fun wasn’t done yet, though. I had a few beers after the hike and before the Hash Circle commenced, then departed and walked the 3K to It Doesn’t Matter. At least it was all downhill. I’d rather walk (mostly) sober in daylight than try to find a way back to town in the dark. Anyway, another Hash I lived to tell about, so here goes:

After a few more beers at IDM, I was ready to call it a day. Swan had been taking care of some business in town, and she had her trike driver swing by and pick me up. I skipped dinner, had a smoothie, and hit the sack at 8 p.m. I earned it!

I’ll be one of the Hares next week, so you know it’s gonna be a good one. We’ll see if the Kennel agrees.

A nice stroll down memory lane today courtesy of Facebook:

This is not my memory, but it did give me a chuckle:

Okay, let’s do the Quora Q&A thing:

Q: What is the most inexpensive way my family can deal with me in the event of my death? Is it free to donate my body to science and hold no funeral, no casket, if I’d rather they don’t spend money on my corpse?

A: That’s exactly what my father wanted and did. The medical university that received his donated body took care of all the arrangements, like picking up his remains from the hospital where he died. Several months later, I got a notice that they were finished with him, and I was asked to pick up a cardboard box containing his ashes. Later, my brothers and I poured them into the river in his hometown, and that was that.

Dad always lived life on his terms.

Let’s try to lighten things up a tad:

Alright, that’s all for now. Nothing special going on today, but I’ll write about it anyway tomorrow.

Well, in normal Hash parlance, HHH stands for Hash House Harriers. But yesterday was Hashing Hard and Hot. Yes, it is the Philippines, and a tropical climate is expected. But even folks who have lived here for decades are complaining about the recent heat wave we’ve been experiencing. Hurry up and get here rainy season!

The Hare for yesterday’s trail, Vienna Sausage, is notorious for the difficulty of his trails. Our “sane” group of Hashers opted to take a different route up to the Kalaklan Ridge than the one the Hare chose. It may have been easier, but it was by no means easy. We did intersect with the actual Hash trail near the end of our climb, but by then, I was totally whacked out. So, four others and I took a shortcut back down to Barretto. It was definitely the right call for me. Even when I was back on flat ground for the walk to the On-Home, each step was tortuous. I had to resist the voice in my head telling me to catch a trike. I don’t mind shortcutting a trail, but by golly, I’m going to arrive at the end on my feet. Or die trying.

And then a sad Facebook memory:

Quora Q&A time:

Q: Joe’s Great Granddad owed my Great Grandad $100. Can I sue Joe for the money?

A: Yes, you are entitled to reparations for the sins of Joe’s great-grandad.

I hope the sarcasm came through.

Humor me this:

So, back to Dr. Jo this afternoon for what she calls “a crucifixion.” I’m getting the last of my stem cell injections that involve multiple painful needle jabs into my back. I also sent her a link to this post on Kevin’s blog and asked for her thoughts. Not sure she’ll have a chance to read it before my appointment, but I’ll share whatever insights she may have.

Another week, another journey up to the Kalaklan Ridge. I’ve taken the path to the top the Harriettes chose a couple of times previously, but damn, yesterday was a lot harder than I remembered. Might have had something to do with the heat. Once we were on the ridgeline path, I opted out of doing another down and up, choosing instead to carry on my way until I rejoined the trail for the steep down to Barretto. Even with the shortcuts, my path was 6+K, although I counted the 2K I walked from my house to the start in that total. Here are some photos from yesterday’s Hash:

Speaking of which, my friend Kevin Kim, a frequent reader and commenter here at LTG, reports he has been hospitalized in Seoul. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Kevin.

Just in case anyone missed the Eclips yesterday, I found this picture for your viewing pleasure:

And now for that Quora Q&A thing:

Q: Have you ever been treated differently because of the car you were driving?

A: Back in the early 1970s, I was a recent high school graduate living in Orange County, California. My high school sweetheart had moved to San Diego. I’d go down to see her a couple of times a month. There was an immigration checkpoint in San Onofre, and every time I’d get stopped for a search. I was a long-haired hippie type back then, and I figured I was being singled out because of the way I looked. One day, in frustration, I confronted the immigration officer and said you are harassing me because of the way I look, right? He laughed and said, “No, it’s your car. It fits the smuggler’s profile.” Who knew a ’64 Chevy Impala was so popular for bringing in folks from Mexico? Well, it did have a big trunk.

Yeah, back in those days, our nation actually defended its borders.

What’s so funny?

Okay then, time to get ready for my visit with Dr. Jo. Back tomorrow with a full report.

Another week, another Hash, and another ass-kicking. I’m not complaining, mind you; I love to Hash and live to tell about it. And my group only did half the trail, bypassing Easter Mountain and doing the Black Rock climb. We did leave from Alta Vista which added a couple of flat kilometers to the trek.

Black Rock Ridge was a tougher up than I remember, and the down was challenging as well. Adding to the suffering was the heat being on full blast, and there wasn’t much wind or shade on the trail. But all’s well that ends well, and the beer at our On-Home was cold and plentiful. The pictures tell the story better than I can, so here goes:

I bitch and moan a lot, but I am very thankful I am still about to push myself and make these hikes. When the day comes that I can’t, I’m going to miss it.

While I was Hashing, Swan went shopping in Olongapo.

When I returned home in my semi-inebriated state last night, I plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. I figured I would try a YouTube video to help me sleep. Now, I watch very few vloggers in the Philippines and have never heard of this guy (he’s an Aussie), but he held my attention for the 40+ minutes of his video. Most of it takes place in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Manila (Tondo, but popularly known as Happy Land). My foodie readers might find what poor people eat in the slums of interest (the vlogger enjoyed what he ate). And the craftsmen making swords out of scrap metal was good, too. You see a lot of crabs being sold, even here in Olongapo, and this video tells the fascinating story of where they come from. Hey, this is practically a review! Here it is:

Facebook memories took me back to Istanbul in December 2004:

I reckon that brings us to today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Why do people treat their fellow human beings as illiterate?

A: I don’t understand the question.

I also don’t understand why I’m not more popular on Quora. Not that I care.

Alright, let’s do this:

And that’s all I’ve got for today.

Well, I did what I could and the rest I didn’t. I walked to the start of yesterday’s Hash on Rizal Extension by taking the My Bitch trail. From my house to the trailhead was right at an hour’s walk. The last portion of Guenter’s trail followed My Bitch in the opposite direction, so I did do SOME of his trail at least. It was hot yesterday, and the two small climbs I undertook to get to the start left me feeling tuckered out. I knew then the hard-ass climb up to Kalalkan Ridge was not in the cards for me.

My alternative was doing a one-hour street walk leading back to the On-Home at Red Bar.

Those 249 Zone Minutes came as a surprise. That’s over four hours, and I didn’t walk that long. So, I just did a quick search, and this is how Fitbit counts it:

Work out smarter. With Active Zone Minutes, the harder you work, the more credit you get. 1 minute in the fat burn zone earns 1 Active Zone Minute, and 1 minute in the cardio or peak zone earns 2 Active Zone Minutes. You put in the work, and we’ll do the math!

Alright, that explains why my heart was pounding so hard getting to the start. It’s also a pretty good indicator that I made the right call when I didn’t climb the mountain. I got back to the On-Home around three o’clock. My regular group doing the “short” trail didn’t make it back until 4:30. Apparently, both the up and the down were brutal motherfuckers. Glad I missed it!

The On-Home at Red Bar was pleasant enough, although I declined to partake of the food offerings (they looked pretty carby). After the Hash, I joined the group at IDM for a couple of more brews. I grabbed a trike for home and was deep into Alta Vista before realizing I had left my backpack at IDM. I had the driver turn around and take me back to retrieve it and, of course, doubled my usual fare. I wasn’t drunk, so I guess it is another indication that Biden disease is slowly taking root.

Speaking of which:

But enough politics. Here’s a blast from the past via Facebook memories:

Get your Quora Q&A while you can, I’m running out of answers (I rarely participate these days).

Q: What kind of changes have you made to your wardrobe now that you are retired?

A: Gave away all my shirts and ties (kept one suit for special occasions). Now I wear shorts every day. Blue jeans when I dress up to go to immigration.

The suit and jeans no longer fit. But I’m working on getting back down to size.

Now for the funny business:

And that’s all I’ve got for today.

My fellow Hares and I pulled off a successful Hash yesterday. I measure success in terms of no one getting hurt and most of the Hashers professing a liking for the trail. A couple of folks lost the trail, but since the vast majority were able to find their way, I attribute the failure to their individual lack of attention. As I expected, there were some mild complaints about the short length of the route, but just as many found the distance to their liking. Vienna Sausage is the Hare next week, so the masochists can get their fill of hardship then.

Not a lot of Hash pictures to share this week, but here’s what I’ve got:

I walked the 3.5K to the starting location, then another 3K back to the On-Home at Subiza Resort on Baloy. My non-hash hike was longer than the actual trail. Flatter though.

I spent most of the pre-circle time sitting on a chair, taking in the bay views (that first photo in this post was captured by a fellow Hasher). Here is some of what I saw:

Most of the group seemed to really enjoy Subiza as a Hash On-Home venue. Very spacious and comfortable with great views. We did run out of beer before the circle was over, which is outrageous. I’m told that was because the Hash Beermeister cut us off at ten cases of beer. I was not a happy camper, but I’m glad it wasn’t Subiza’s fault since I recommended them as a Hash host.

When the beer ran out, so did I. I got home much earlier than usual (and less drunk), so I was able to finish watching the final episodes from Season 1 of Blue Eye Samurai. Now, I have another series to share my thoughts on. I’ll get to them both soon. I promise, said the procrastinator.

My son Kevin celebrated his 46th birthday yesterday.

And then Facebook memories reminded me of that time I was on TV:

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: When you moved from California, where did you go?

A: I left Orange County, where I was born and raised, in 1978 because I didn’t want to raise my kids in California. We moved to Prescott, Arizona. Best move I ever did make!

And now it appears I was ahead of my time with more people moving from than to California.

Today’s puns are so bad they even made me cringe:

My sincere apologies.

But I was good enough yesterday to complete the Hash trail without any breathing difficulties. It’s been too long since I could say that. I did the short trail (around 5K), which included two moderate climbs. The ups are never easy for me, but it is nice not to feel like you are going to die while doing them. So, I am making progress, one step at a time!

The Hash began at the VFW and passed through Alta Vista, so I joined the trail there.

I really enjoyed this trail. It was short, and I didn’t have to take shortcuts (other than the first half-kilometer from the VFW to Alta Vista). Some parts were familiar, some I hadn’t done for a while. But as I said, the best part was hiking again and feeling good while doing so. So much more fun that way!

I also participated in the after Hash at It Doesn’t Matter for the first time in quite a while. The kitchen there has reopened, so I gave their BLT sandwich a try.

After I’d had my fill of beers, I headed for home. Stopped by Myleen’s for some takeout desserts, then grabbed my trike. I settled onto the couch with my sweetie and some apple pie a la mode. Then watched episode #5 of Blue Eye Samurai. Well, most of it anyway.

Facebook memories reminded me that five years ago I was marching strong:

I’m not sure I’ll be replicating that distance regularly, but I have some plans to push myself a little harder, starting with my solo Thursday hike. Stay tuned!

Also, Facebook showed me a picture I’d posted from my glory days back in the early 70s.

I’m still alive and kicking fifty-plus years later, so I reckon I beat the odds and overcame a lot of those bad life choices. I’m going to keep that up for as long as I can!

Quora Q&A time:

Q: Would a millionaire in his 60s get hot girls in their 20s easily?

A: I am not a millionaire. I am 65 years old, and I routinely “get” hot girls in their 20s (although honestly, I prefer women in their 30s) easily. It is simply a matter of helping each other out—they have needs, I have needs. I take care of them; they take care of me. Win-Win.

Not anymore, of course. Live and learn. Or maybe I just got lucky.

How about these?

Anyway, it’s all good. My Tuesday evening routine of heading to Baloy Beach and the Kokomo floating bar is coming up next. I could get used to normalcy again!

I made it through another Hash and lived to tell about it. So that’s just what I will do. I joined the Hash trail in progress 2.5K from my house. My route had some ups and downs, but only one short climb. Once I was with the sane group of Hashers, it was mostly downhill due to our willfully bypassing two of the climbs planned by the Hare. I didn’t push myself too hard, but I still felt like I had made some progress on my 6K road to recovery. I’m taking it slow and trying to keep it fun. Here is some of what I saw along the way:

I opted not to participate in the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter this week. I’d had enough to drink and had something sweet waiting for me at home. I’m becoming so domesticated, it seems.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: If you were to choose how and when you would die what would you choose?

A: I’d choose to die like my grandfather did—peacefully in his sleep. Unlike all the screaming passengers in his car when it went over that cliff.

Things that made me smile today:

All right, that’s just about enough of this nonsense, don’t ya think? Back with more tomorrow.

One of those rare songs posted here that are older than I am.

I made it through an abbreviated Hash trail yesterday, which, given my recent performance, is quite an accomplishment. Under normal circumstances, I’d rate the climb moderately difficult, but these aren’t normal times for my tired old lungs. We started out in Subic town in what was unfamiliar territory for me, so the inevitable urge to give up was checked by the reality of not knowing where I was. I pushed onward, slow as a snail, but eventually made it to the top. The down wasn’t much fun either, with a good portion of it being through a creek bed, one of my least favorite places to walk. There were three other guys in my small group of stragglers, and we took a pretty major shortcut to end our suffering. Here’s how things looked on our journey:

Dave, the Wet Spot owner, and a retired physician, heard my cough the other day and suggested I try Carbocisteine to clear the mucus from my lungs. I started taking it last night, and hopefully, it will help me breathe easier in the future. Feeling like I might pass out during a climb takes away whatever joy there might be in the hike. The day may come when I have to accept being a flatlander, but I’d like to delay that as long as possible.

I came home after the Hash and completed viewing the final season of “Shameless.” I’ll share my thoughts on the series soon, but anything that can hold my attention as long as this show did must be pretty damn good. Next up: Blue Eye Samurai.

A couple of items from my Facebook memories:

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Why do Americans call the small room where the toilet is a ‘restroom’ (when there are no chairs or beds in there) or a ‘bathroom’ (when there is no bath in there)?

A: Here in the Philippines, they call it a “comfort room.” And when I’ve got to pee, I take comfort when one is available.

Today’s bad humor:

Anyway, I’ll leave it at that. Back tomorrow with more goodness.