Floating on the breeze

Or should I say, floating on the bar and enjoying the breeze? I guess it was some of both. I’ll get to that, but first, let’s cover the morning activities. I’m one of the Hares for today’s Hash trail, so that meant going out to mark our path with chalk and powder. Today is also our annual Candy Run, so we’ll be handing out sweets to the kids we encounter along the way. And it just so happens that the trail we laid for today is primarily the same route we take when Swan and I do our weekly Sunday Candy Walk. So, it was the proverbial killing two birds with one stone activity–we marked the trail and dispensed goodies to our Sunday regulars. Here’s a glimpse of how it all went down:

My fellow Hares
The Godmother (Swan) hands off a Christmas envelope and some sweets for her newly acquired Godchild. We have no relationship with the child’s mother other than our encounters on the Candy Walk.
Our first big group of the morning
Livin’ the life!
Refilling the candy sacks
A nice fruit stand along the way
The Easter Mountain view
A friendly Christmas greeting
The largest group we encountered yesterday
The worst part of our trail is a stretch of a kilometer or so along Sawmill Road–narrow and lots of traffic is not a good fit for pedestrians. There’s no getting around it, though.
Dropping some powder along the National Highway
Arriving at Johansson’s, the On-Home venue for today’s Hash
We had some lunch at Johansson’s. I went with the hamburger steak. I’ve had better.
So, this is the trail as we marked it yesterday. It came out to be 8K. Upon reflection, my fellow Hares agreed that it might be a tad long for the comfort of some Hashers, including our Santa Claus (Gasman). So, we are going to delete that loop you see at the top of the map, which should make it doable for everyone.

My plan today is to head out on the trail a little before the main group and let the kids know that Santa is on his way. I’ll also need to remark the portion that we’ve eliminated so no one takes a wrong turn. Here’s hoping for a successful Candy Run!

Some of the sweet treats Swan and I will be handing out today.

Next up was the Hideaway feeding, which went according to plan. I gifted each of the girls a Christmas envelope containing 500 pesos. I told them Santa knows you’ve been naughty, but that’s the way he likes it.

The Hideaway crew
Joy to the world

With my work at Hideaway completed, it was time to welcome back the Arizona floating bar.

A view from the beach
And a view of Barretto’s beach
Here comes our ride (Swan arrived at Arizona the same time I did)

So, as I understand it, Friday was the first day of operations this year. That’s about six weeks later than usual. The story I heard was that while in storage, the floater had been hit by thieves who stole everything that wasn’t nailed down, including the wiring. I’ve not seen much buzz on social media about the re-opening. We were the only customers we we first arrived. Other than the manager, none of the gals working looked familiar. And when we sat down, we were surrounded by half a dozen thirsty girls. I don’t roll that way; I might reward my waitress and bartender, but I don’t succumb to lady drink pressure. Swan hates it when the girls invade our space.

As you can see.

Anyway, I knew that once they figured out we weren’t buying their company they’d move on, and soon enough they did. It helped when another customer boarded and they flocked to his side.

And he was just what they were hoping for…bought them all at least one round of bottled lady drinks.

Anyway, I don’t think we’ll be bothered on our next visit now that the girls have figured out we don’t randomly buy drinks.

The bay view
And the ridgeline. I took a photo of the floating bar from up there on Friday.
This is what we come for
The angles and perspectives differ from the Kokomo’s views. Swan says she likes the view from here better.
It was good to be back. See you next week!

Next up, a short stroll to John’s place for dinner.

National Highway and Rizal Street…the busiest intersection in town.

It was nice to see our old waitress friend Em Jhae back to work part-time at John’s. Good service and good food are tough to beat. Swan had the birria tacos, one of my menu favorites. I was craving some pulled pork, so I ordered the sandwich without the bun.

It hit the spot. I ate the coleslaw, too, but not the fries.

Swan wanted to do a nightcap at the Green Room, so off we went. A couple more beers for me, a wine for Swan, and a lady drink for Chu and Sally. They both got 500 pesos for Christmas, too.

And the Sit-n-Bull waitress gave Swan this headband. She’s going to wear it on the Candy Run today.

As usual, I kept myself entertained by watching the pool players of varying skill levels compete. And when I saw this comic today, I got a good chuckle:

If you scratch (hit the cue ball in the pocket), you get what is called “ball in hand.” That lends itself to some witticisms, too.

I’m thinking I might play some pool more often during my bar visits. I might as well since I enjoy watching so much. Hmm, a New Year’s resolution?

I got back home a little later than usual (the floating bar experience added an hour or so to our routine), did the pudding thing, and then off to bed. Good times!

Still came in under budget, despite those twelve San Mig Zeros I downed over the course of the evening.
And a better than usual day getting my steps in

It just so happens that five years ago, the Hash was also doing its annual Candy Run:

Look at the handsome skinny guy in the knee socks!

Today’s YouTube video features Reekay holding court on the issue of women with tattoos. I despise them, although a small, discretely placed one (preferably out of sight) is tolerable. Judging from the comments, the vast majority of menfolk agree with my take.

And now for the fun part:

Well, I appreciate the brave few who still visit Long Time Gone.
Sounds like a whole lot of fuckin’ going on.
I don’t remember how to do that.

Another day, another post. Here’s hoping there are many more days to come. I’ll share how today’s Candy Run goes tomorrow.

And here’s a funny “Jingle Bell Rock” parody music video from that funny Filipino, Mikey Bustos. Enjoy!

Stairing back at me

The Friday group hikers caught a Jeepney and rode out to Olongapo City to begin the day’s trek. As I boarded and took my seat, the young woman directly across from me said, “Hello, John.” I smiled and nodded, then discretely looked at her for the duration of the trip. Nothing about her was even vaguely familiar. Being greeted by name by someone I don’t recognize happens so frequently these days that it is beginning to bother me. I’ve decided that when this happens in the future, I’m just going to ‘fess up and admit I don’t recognize them and ask where and when we met. This road to dementia is paved with…shit, I forget, but it’s a rough one. Anyway, when I disembarked from the Jeepney, I said it was nice to see her again.

The hike itself was up and over the Kalaklan Ridge, then back down into Barretto. The route we took was through the aptly named Hilltop village. Ninety percent of the climb is via stair steps, and I’d almost forgotten what an ass-kicker they can be. Getting back down also had some challenging moments, but overall it was a pleasantly scenic hike. I was a bit surprised when I checked my tracker at the end of our journey and saw that we had only gone 3.3 kilometers from start to finish. It sure as hell felt longer!

The Friday group (plus Scott) after exiting the Jeepney in Olongapo City.
We’ll be steppin’ it up from here
The Hilltop community in barangay Upper Kalaklan
Let the climbing commence
We’re up here, Scott!
Lollipops dispensed
On up!
Peanut butter perfume? I’m not sure that smell would be enticing.
A part-way up view of Olongapo
Stairs make a good place to sit when you need a rest from climbing them
Pressing onward
We must be getting close to the top by now
Well, the stairs have ended be we are still going uphill
Almost a feeling of serenity
Seeing a nice house like this in the middle of nowhere was kind of eerie. Very well maintained and decorated for Christmas, so definitely occupied. There’s no vehicle access here, and I just can’t imagine what a pain in the ass getting the groceries home must be. Not to mention getting home from the bars at night.
A ship heading out to sea
Pausing at the top for a group photo
That moment when you are congratulating yourself for having the strength and willpower to complete the climb, and this old guy comes along carrying a heavy load of water up the hill like it was no big deal at all.
Beth played Swan’s part in handing out the cookies
Laundry day at the creek
Finding our way across the water
And now for the downhill trek
Not so bad in the beginning
The view of Barretto from here
Scott is such a tree-hugger
And then things got a little dicey
At least it wasn’t muddy. There was one place where I chose to sit on my ass and slide down as opposed to falling on my ass.
Barretto Beach. You can see the floating island in the foreground, and what’s that about midway…
It’s the Arizona floating bar! I’ll be paying a visit tomorrow.
Another sweets opportunity
And then back down on the highway at last

A short stroll into Barretto and some liquid refreshment at Dynamite Dick’s before grabbing a trike for home.

Short, but mostly nice.

And then, it was time to head back into town and secure my seats for the SOB dance competition at Wet Spot.

Hiking companion Beth is the head waitress at Wet Spot, and she saved our seats for us. She also spells “John” Filipino-style.
Our neighbor, Vina, joined us. You can see how nice it was to have company!
There was record-breaking attendance last night. I’ve never seen the bar so packed.
Alaska finished 4th
3rd Place went to Queen Victoria
Voodoo took 2nd
Wet Spot’s routine included an impressive pole-dancing performance
And secured their first-place finish

It was one of the better shows I’ve seen in a while.

Home to some sugar-free gelatin and then a peaceful sleep. That’s the way this old fart rolls these days.

Coffee and a view to kick off my Saturday morning
I somehow managed to come in slightly under goal

Christmas memories from my working life on Facebook today:

Nine years ago, the 8th Army Commanding General, Thomas Vandal, visited our office at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. Sadly, LTG Vandal died a few months after retiring. RIP, sir!
Seven years ago, I spent my last Christmas as a working man in Korea with my Deputy at Camp Humphreys.

How about some unfiltered Pea for today’s YouTube video? I’ve been mildly curious about my favorite vlogger’s personal life. I assumed she had a foreign husband who supported her channel, but apparently not. Anyway, it was enjoyable to hear her open up some about herself.

The joke is on me:

The three things Filipinas always say to me the first time we make love: Ouch! Oh shit! Already?
Be careful what you wish for
The English accent I find most difficult among the expat community is Aussie talk.

Alright, before I get to today’s song from the past, let me share the Baloy Beach bars I was too lazy to post yesterday:

The first business on Baloy Road is the Mangrove Hotel. I’ve never been inside, but I can see from the street that they do have a bar. So, I’ll grant them #45 on the list of Barretto bars.
#46. Harley’s. It’s a pub with hotel rooms. Probably one of the most popular venues in town. I should come here more often.
#47. Blue Rock Resort. This used to be a happening place. I stayed here often as a tourist and always enjoyed the bar. They had great food, too, especially grilled meats. Blue Rock had my favorite floating bar as well. Those days are all gone now. The floating bar washed up on the beach and was destroyed. The hotel never recovered from the COVID lockdowns. As far as I know, no expats go here for anything these days.
#48. The Drunken Sailor. This is a new venue; the nicest thing I can say is that it is a work in progress. It has potential, and we’ll have to wait to see if it is ever realized.
#49. McCoy’s. Pretty much a shithole that caters primarily to Filipino customers. I think it could be an amazing beach bar with a bit of time and effort. I inquired about taking over the lease, but it was rejected.
#50. Wild Orchid Barefoot Bar. This place could also be a nice place to hang out on the beach. Sadly, they have overpriced their beers at 150 pesos each (almost double what most other venues charge) and even though I can afford it, that’s a price I’m not willing to pay.
#51. Treasure Island Resort. The new owner is doing it right. It offers the best food on Baloy, a great pool, live music on Saturday, and just a nice place to hang out.
#52. Foxhole (formerly D’Kudos). The new owner here has taken a viable business and run it into the sewer. I used to enjoy my occasional visits, but not anymore. Nothing to like about this place now.
#53. The Kokomo’s floating bar. Love it. My Tuesday hangout at beer o’clock.
#54. Kokomo’s. I’ll stop by occasionally when the floating bar is not operational.
#55. Three L’s Resort. They have a brand new place on the beach that looks nice to me. When I stopped by they said they open at 8 p.m. I don’t think I’m the customer they are looking for.
#56. Laharnyz. I’ve recently rediscovered this venue and I really enjoy the beach vibe here. Lots of other expats seem to share that view.
#57. Lagoon Resort. Back in my dart league days, this was our home bar. Nice enough place with a decent kitchen and weekend live music.
#58. Viking Resort. They have a nice outdoor bar by the pool, and some folks say their pizza is the best in town.

And that’s it on Baloy Long Beach. So, fifty-eight bars in the little barangay of Barretto. I should never go thirsty! As mentioned, I will try to broaden my horizons and visit new venues as part of my Wednesday routine. You can read all about it here!

I won’t be venturing into the bars this Saturday night. Instead, I’ll be attending a birthday party at Ricky and Heidi’s house here in Alta Vista. It should be fun and a nice change of pace.

Seeing them all, bar none

My Thursday solo walk was a mission of discovery. I strolled past every bar in town and documented their existence with a snapshot. Granted, I started at nine in the morning, so the vast majority were closed, but I wasn’t out to drink, so it didn’t matter. I’ve gotten pretty staid in my selection of venues where I imbibe lately, but I’m going to try for a bit more adventure on Wednesdays in the weeks ahead. So, here’s the state of the bar business in Barretto.

#1. Queen Victoria. I don’t come here nearly as often as I used to. I don’t stay up late enough to hear the live bands.
#2 Johansson’s. This is one of the Hash On-Home venues. In fact, we will be here this coming Monday.
#3 Rosie’s. It’s never been high on my list of places to go.
#4. Alley Hideout. This was my hangout back in my dart-playing days.
#5. Nipsey’s. I’ve been here once since they opened.
#6. Cloud 69. One of the newer bars in town that I have yet to visit.
#7. Red Bar. Another Hash venue that I seldom visit otherwise.
#8. Wet Spot. About the only bar with dancers I regularly frequent.
#9. The Green Room. I’m here as much as I am anywhere these days.
#10. Alaska. I like it, but seldom visit.
#11. BarCelona. This is a very nice bar that, for some reason, isn’t worth climbing to the third floor for.
#12. La Oficina. I used to go here for the SOB occasionally, but had a bad experience on my last visit.
#13. Gentlemen’s Bar. This is a newer venue with some hot gals (I see them sitting outside sometimes), but that’s not my thing. These days, I’m drinking with my girlfriend.
#14. Hops and Brews Beer Garden. I come here to eat occasionally but never to drink.
#15. Hot Zone. One of the better girly bars in town, but that’s not what I like.
#16. Bob Angel’s bar. I haven’t been here since it changed owners/name.
#17. Voodoo. I used to come here once in a while, but now it doesn’t open until 7 p.m. I’m usually wrapping things up by then.
#18. It Doesn’t Matter. Our after-Hash venue and a place I enjoy sitting outside.
#19. John’s Sushi and Steak. I hesitated including this venue, because it is primarily a restaurant. The third floor is technically a bar with a pool table, but nobody comes here to drink.

Okay, that’s all for this side of the National Highway. Time to cross over and walk back the other way.

#20. Redz Pub. This is located at the Arizona Resort and it’s been years since I last set foot inside. The Arizona floating bar will be opening soon, and I’ll come to Arizona for that. I should have taken a picture of it, but we’ll call the floater #21 anyway.
#22. Hideaway. Regular readers know I feed the girls here once a week.
#23. Dynamite Dick’s. Owner here is a nice guy. We stopped in today after our hike.
#24. Macarthurs Bar and Grill. A newer venue I’ve visited a couple of times because my friend Jessa is the manager. It’s not my kind of place, though (beer is too expensive, no wine for my gal).
#25. Red Stars. This bar has had three owners since I’ve lived in Barretto. It’s an okay place I seldom visit.
#26. Johm’s Restobar. I’ve never been inside this place and never will be. Commenter Aaron is interested in ladyboy bars, and I understand this one is chock full of them.
#27. Mugshots. This is a very nice bar with a good kitchen. I’m not sure why I don’t come here more often.
#28. Oasis. I tried to like this place and just couldn’t do it. Not having wine once was the last straw.
#29. Chill Bar. I’ve only visited once, and that was long ago. Too much lady drink pressure.
#30. Annex. One of the few bars that open in the morning hours (Sloppy Joe’s, Dynamite Dick’s, and Macarthur’s are the others).
#31. Candy Bar. A new venue I know nothing about. I suspect it is a girly bar.
#32. Cheap Charlies. I was there on Wednesday. It’s a good bar.
#33. Central Park Reef Hotel. I hesitated including hotels on this list, but I have seen foreigners here on the occasions I’ve ventured in. There is a bar/restaurant on the roof that is very nice.
#34. Thumbstar. Aaron, you might like this place.
#35. Mango’s. Another hotel, but it has a nice bar with beach views.
#36. Rock Lobster Bar. Also at Mango’s, but your traditional bar atmosphere. I’ve only been inside a couple of times.
#37. Castaway. A nice upstairs bar at the Palm Tree Resort.
#38. Hangout Sports Bar. Another newer venue. I’ve only been once and it didn’t resonate.
#39. Lux. A very nice bar ambiance wise. I’ve only been a couple of times.
#40. Whiskey Girl. I used to visit here pretty often when I was single.
#41 & #42. Outback. This resort has two nice bars, the Billabong, and the Pool Bar.
#43. Snackbar. I used to come here often, but had trouble with a 450 peso glass of wine.
#44. SB2. Upstairs is a disco bar that doesn’t open until 8 p.m. I don’t like disco and I don’t like the hours.

And that is all the bars on the National Highway in Barretto. We’ll do Baloy Beach (also technically part of Barretto) tomorrow.

Swan had a busy day doing good deeds.

That included a visit to Tibag Elementary School to deliver a candy donation
It appears to have gone well.

When she returned home, Swan and our neighbor, Vina, set to work on preparations for next week’s charity event at the Aeta village in Naugsol.

That included sorting the 25-kilo rice bags into 150 family-size bags to be handed out.

Since Swan was otherwise occupied, I had a rare evening out on the town on my own. The owner of Snackbar had asked if I had any dart equipment I didn’t need, so I dropped off some flights and shafts to be used in the bar. And since I was there anyway (and didn’t require wine for Swan) I ordered a beer.

The welcoming committee
A good size crowd outside
I sat at the small bar
And as is my style, I sent one of the gals next door to 7-Eleven for ice cream cones (none for me, of course)

Two beers later I was on my way to visit Alaska. The bar, I mean. Only stayed for one there. Then, I finished my time out at Green Room, where I had a 50% off coupon to use. I even played the rare game of pool while I was there. And lost, of course.

I indulged my appetite with these chicken tacos from Sit-n-Bull. They were not a wise choice calorie-wise, but we all have our weak moments.

Then I headed home to see my hard-working sweetheart. And thus ended another Thursday.

A too hungry day, it seems.

Today’s weigh-in results:

  • Last week: 240.6
  • This week: 237.9
  • Down 2.7 pounds
  • November 1: 267.1
  • Overall loss: 29.2 pounds

Progress!

No memories to speak of for today, so let’s look at a YouTube showing what a shithole Manila is. There are some nice parts of town, but I still wouldn’t want to live there. That’s not to say similar poverty doesn’t exist here, but it seems to be on a smaller scale somehow.

And on to the humor:

Stop, you’re killing me!
Some things are worth waiting for
That’s about as horny as you can get!

Gonna do the SOB at Wet Spot this evening and that ought to fill those Friday hours yet to be expended. More to come tomorrow.

I said there were no memories today, but I did post this video thirteen years ago:

It doesn’t always go according to plan

But things turned out good enough, I suppose. So, I was tasked with leading the Wednesday Walkers group hike yesterday, but I was pretty much out of fresh ideas. Since no one else had a better plan, I chose to do a Naugsol valley walk. We started with an unpleasant walk on the always busy Sawmill Road, then made our way through San Isidro to the valley path I had in mind. Except, it was blocked by a newly constructed fence. The flat way around that obstacle was flooded with water, so we headed up the hill. I figured we’d go up, around, and back down, but I figured wrong. No such route seemed to exist. So, we just continued on to the top of the hill, and as we descended the other side, I knew where we were once again. Our new route led us to the My Bitch trail, and that’s how we completed our 6.5K walk.

This week’s iteration of the Wednesday Walkers
Entering San Isidro via Sawmill Road. Should have gone the back way through Alta Vista.
Instead, we dodged cars, trucks, and trikes on the narrow road.
Over Bridge #1
And onto the comparatively quiet backstreets
No idea why this chicken crossed the road
Almost to the valley
Only to discover our normal route is blocked and we couldn’t find an alternative path
Time to explore some other options
A climb I hadn’t planned on, but it was not so bad
And our efforts were rewarded with views like this
And this
Rob is contemplating the age-old question of where do we go from here.
We wound up on My Bitch and ran into the landowner of this property. He invited us to take a rest and enjoy his view.
A very welcoming and friendly guy whose name I’ve already forgotten.
His humble abode
Ah, an eggplant
The bitchy high grass section of our trail
Nearing the end of the line
The route of our journey

Meanwhile, our preparation for the December 27 feeding in Alabang continues.

Boxes full of candy
Bags of rice, canned goods, and drinks are beginning to pile up.

Swan does the shopping, and I do the paying. This is just another aspect of our 50-50 relationship.

Swan cooks lunch, and I eat it. 50-50!

I’ve decided to start a new Wednesday evening routine by visiting a bar that is not in my regular rotation. I kicked off this effort yesterday at Cheap Charlies.

At one time, I was a regular here. I stopped coming when wine wasn’t available for Swan. They have now rectified that problem.
The view hasn’t changed
It’s nice to sit and watch the passersby. One of them looks a little familiar.
Nope, not her.
The inside view
All my old waitress friends are gone now, but the bartender and cashier still remember me.
And some Hash buddies stopped in as part of their weekly barhop

When it was time for some grub, we crossed the busy highway and dined at Sit-n-Bull.

I’d never heard of a pulled pork chef salad before, but I gave it a try. It was amazingly tasty, and I ate every last bite.

We did our nightcap next door at Wet Spot and had our usual pleasant visit with our regulars, Beth and Irene. Aine arrived just as we were leaving and missed out on the lady drinks. Oh well, actions have consequences.

Another day of goal achievement.

Now for some memories courtesy of Facebook:

Thirteen years ago, I lived a life of domestic bliss at my paid-for house in Columbia, South Carolina. Damn, I thought I would die there. I guess a part of me did.

Ten years ago, I shared this excerpt from a poem I liked:

For I shall always let thee do,
In generous love, just what I please.
Peace comes, and discord flies away,
Love’s bright day follows hatred’s night;
For I am ready to admit
That you are wrong and I am right.

I read it to Swan this morning, but she didn’t find it nearly as funny as I did.

Seven years ago, in the fields outside of Pyeongtaek, they were harvesting a crop of giant marshmallows.

So, I posted this on my Facebook page yesterday and made some lefty heads explode:

Ex-wife #3 was especially offended. I guess calling Trump Hitler is okay, but don’t you dare say anything bad about Obama. Strange how that works.

I’m taking a break today from the losers in the Philippines and enjoying some photos from the good ol’ days I experienced back in the 20th century. Yeah, that’s what old people do, I know.

Humor time:

What the L is he talking about?
Ask your Aunt Flo from Redlands…
I toed you so!

This morning, while Swan was delivering candy to the school in Tibag, I took a 7K stroll through Barretto and Baloy and photographed every bar in town. Almost all of them were closed, of course, but we have over fifty bars to choose from here. That’s nearly a year of Wednesdays! I’ll share them in a separate post tomorrow.

And here’s one of those ’70s classics I loved back in the day. Hell, hadn’t heard it in years, and it still sounds as good as ever!

And the “first time hearing” response:

Over and done

A busier-than-normal Tuesday is behind me, but there will be much more to do as the upcoming holidays pose more challenges, especially to the pocketbook. Well, it’s a blessing to be blessed and to share those blessings with others. I wired 16,000 pesos to my friend in Bohol to finance an annual feeding she does for the less fortunate ones there. Swan was asked for a candy donation for the kids at Tibag Elementary School, so that went on the shopping list. And this year, we will host a feeding event for 150 residents of the Aeta native village in Alabang on December 27. Swan is out shopping for the rice as I write this. I’ve also got to fill envelopes for the subdivision guards, maintenance crew, and trash collectors.

‘Tis the season

Oh, and in the Philippines, it is a thing that the folks you employ should receive a “thirteenth month” payment. That’s basically a Christmas bonus equivalent to a month’s salary. I’ve already paid both my helpers and my driver their thirteenth-month wages.

So, after being picked up by my driver, the first order of business on Tuesday morning was giving Mama her daily allowance of 100 pesos and two breakfast muffins. Then we stopped at 7-Eleven, and I raided the ATM for my weekly 40,000 peso draw. My next stop was in Olongapo City at the Immigration Office, where I renewed my tourist visa for another sixty days without incident. With that task completed, we went to a repair shop across the street to see if they could cure what’s been ailing my phone’s charging port. A thousand pesos later, it was as good as new. The candy list included Christmas lollipops that can apparently only be found at a particular grocery stand a few kilometers from where we were, so off we went. We will be handing those out on the Hash Candy Run this Monday. The bags of goodies for the Tibag school and kids in Alabang are found further up the road at a different grocery store, and we successfully stocked up there as well.

The candy portion of our shopping spree is done, and my wallet is 6000 pesos lighter.

And then, it was off to Royal for the groceries.

It took two carts this week for some reason
Ouch!

Anyway, the month will be over soon, and my New Year’s resolution is to exercise some frugality and rebuild my depleted savings account in time for next December.

I got back home from the above adventures too late to do my normal neighborhood walk, so I took a nap instead. Then, I blogged before heading out for my chelation treatment with Dr. Jo. I guess I didn’t fully understand the process. The first two treatments were injections; this time, it was an IV bag. It took longer and cost more (3500 versus 2000 pesos). Dr. Jo explained that the injections are to clean my innards, and the IV fluid is to restore the good things the injections wash away. Okay, then.

It being Tuesday and all, we headed out to Baloy to spend some time on the floating bar. Once again, it was surprisingly busy. I’m glad to see they are doing well. The Arizona floating bar is due to reopen soon, so that may have some impact on business at Kokomo’s.

Riding the raft to the floater
Those clouds mean I won’t be watching the sun go down
Standing tall. At least until a wave hits.
Vina, our next door neighbor, came out to join us.
Welcome aboard!
Nice of you to join us.
No sundown, but some nice color in the sky to enjoy.

When it was time to eat, we made our usual Tuesday stop at Treasure Island.

Vina wanted to do a pre-dinner tequila shot. I declined, but Swan joined her.
Down the hatch!
Burt, the owner of Treasure Island, came by to welcome us. Vina and her husband are regulars here, bringing the kids out a couple of times a week to enjoy the pool.
I had a hamburger steak with a small baked potato for dinner.
Good times!

We had one more after-dinner drink and then shared a trike ride home to Alta Vista. I did my pudding thing and was safe in bed at 8:30. I’m such a lightweight these days, especially on gin nights.

That deficit should more than make up for Monday’s overindulgence.

This photo from ten years ago popped up in today’s Facebook memories:

Brother can you spare a dime?

Question everything.

Still, a car seatbelt is pretty much just common sense. On the motorcycle, you wear a helmet. I’m all for pushing back on insanity like lockdowns and facemasks, but there is a difference between being a rebel and being stupid.

For today’s YouTube, we’ll stick with the poverty theme. Here’s how you can eat cheaply in the Philippines. I’m not a big fan of the food here, but you can get lots for a little.

Laughing is free at least:

You should get one of those round tuits.
When it rains, it pours, and when it snows, it flows.
One time I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.

And now, it’s time to stop looking back at yesterday and embrace whatever the rest of today may bring. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

A feeding frenzy

As I mentioned yesterday, I accepted an invitation to join in a feeding and toy giveaway event hosted by the RSL (Returned Services League, the Australian VFW). I’m technically a member, having joined a couple of years ago, but I’ve not actively participated in their charity events. Swan’s sister and brother-in-law brought us with them to the far reaches of Cawag, an area I’d never visited. It was a successful endeavor, with three hundred bags of food and rice distributed and toys and candy provided for a similar number of children. I have lots of photos to share, so let’s get to it:

They way to get there
We met up here and then followed the leader to the event location, a few kilometers down the road.
The end of the road
Some of the other RSL members
The town members begin to arrive
Hanging the banners
I pitched in where I could
Getting organized
The toy boxes
Swan and I provided three hundred Christmas lollipops for the kids
Three hundred bags of canned goods and other food items
And a sack of rice for each of the recipients.
Final preparations
Santa Claus arrives
The children look on expectantly
The locals performed a traditional dance for our entertainment
And then it was time for the kids to line up for their toys and treats
The view from the end of the line
Swan’s nieces and nephew handed out the juice drinks and lollipops
Sweet tooth satisfaction

The kids’ line went relatively quickly. The adults getting food bags were given a numbered card and called up in order, which took quite a bit longer. Having nothing better to do, I took a hike down to the river with the members of Swan’s family.

The river road
Hurry up, Swan!
I was a bit disappointed with this section of the river, but loved the mountain view.
Then we saw this path, so we took it.
Where’s the water?
Hmm, a shanty village?
Ah, I see. Some riverside picnic spots
And a nice swimming hole
A bridge over troubled waters?
More swimmers down stream
Swan and her clan on a rocky island
Brother-in-law Jack taking in the view

Honestly, I was rather impressed with the makeshift huts and picnic shelters. I might come back here someday just to hang out and sip some cold beverages. But not this time. We needed to get back to the event and wrap things up.

It’s all so beautiful
Me: “Swan, look that way.” Her: “Okay, but why?”
“Because I need to pee!”
Back in time to see the final goodie bags being dispensed.

On the way back home, we stopped at a roadside viewpoint.

The view from there. That’s Kalaklan Ridge in the hazy distance.
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. But it was a nice morning helping the folks who made this event possible by putting in the time and effort to gather the food and toys and demonstrate the season’s spirit.

Of course, the day was far from over for us. We took a nap, I blogged, and then we headed out for some beach time. Our first stop was the seldom-visited McCoy’s. We know one of the staff there, and she wanted to talk to us about some Baloy beachfront properties for lease. Well, I’d love to set Swan up with the Rite Spot On The Beach, but it’s really just a dream. What she showed us yesterday was way too much money for something that wouldn’t suit our purposes. No expectations, so no disappointment. I’d probably jump at the chance to convert McCoy’s into something viable, but the current owner is not interested in letting it go.

I saw some pussy eating during my visit to McCoy’s.

We went next door to the new Baywatch venue to see how they are progressing. Hmm. The downstairs bar/restaurant is still vacant. The door leading to the upstairs bar was open, so we climbed up there to have a look. Um, we walked in, and nobody was there. I don’t mean there weren’t customers; I didn’t expect any. There was no staff present to serve us. I guess they were closed but hadn’t bothered to lock the place up or something. Meanwhile, they had a videoke machine set up in the open outdoor area downstairs, and someone was blasting bad singing at high volume. Nope, I wouldn’t have stayed even if they were open for business. It seems to me this venue has taken a GIANT step backward.

So, now what? Swan likes a barefoot beach stroll, so I suggested we head down the beach to Laharnyz. And, of course, she was all-in for that idea.

A girl in her element
This homeless foreigner was walking on the beach.
The Laharnyz bartender called out to him and gave him a plate of food. Man, what a life that must be.
You can see the floating bar from here

I have come to really like the vibe at Laharnyz. I confessed to Swan that I enjoy it more than Kon-Tiki, except they don’t have food service (I guess unless you are homeless). Swan said she likes the view here better, and when we get hungry, we can always walk up the beach to Treasure Island. And when the hunger pangs came, that’s just what we did.

And on our way to Treasure Island, we passed by a brand new venue on the beach.

Now, this place has potential. We briefly chatted with the man behind the bar, who said their hours are from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Hmm. Well, that doesn’t work for me, but good luck with that.
I’m not even sure what this place’s name is. Perhaps they have signage out front on the street.
And remember that moon in the sky, I’ll get back to that soon.

So, we shared a platter of chicken wings at Treasure Island and enjoyed some live music from the Engine Band. Then we headed home, where my gelatin dessert was waiting for me. And so ended a different kind of day, but a satisfying one.

Now, there is something to be said for my “early to bed, early to rise” lifestyle. While we were on the beach, I had the pleasure to witness this:

I never get tired of watching the sun go down

This morning, I woke up even earlier than usual and was rewarded with this vision outside my window:

That moon I had seen from the beach must have followed me home
And by golly, I was in for a moonset!
And it wasn’t done yet!
Yep, it was coming out of the cloud and heading for the mountain
Nothing like being treated to a double moonset!
Thanks for the wake-up show!

Oh, Pubic Head posted this picture from Friday’s Hash Christmas party:

The only contest I participated in involved swinging an eggplant and knocking a bottle across the finish line. I beat Swan, and our team won the match!

I got hungry at the feeding and snacked on four small pieces of candy. When I looked up the calorie count later, they were 45 calories each! Ouch!

I still managed to stay on track overall.

Today’s entry in the Korea chapter of The Story of My Life comes from January 2005 and tells the tale of my very first weekend in Itaewon. One tale I didn’t tell (I was still married to wife #3 at the time) involved my first experience with lady drinks. I no longer recall the name of the bar, but it was open in the afternoon, and I needed to pee, so in I went. After taking care of that business, I sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. A few minutes later, a friendly gal came and sat next to me, and we began to chat. Since I was a newcomer, she gave me information on places to see and things to do in Korea. Being the gentleman that I was, when I ordered another beer, I asked if she would like a drink. She gladly accepted my offer. We sat there for a couple more hours talking and drinking, and it was all quite enjoyable. I was surprised how a random Korean female could be so kind to a stranger. And when it was time for me to pay up and head back to the Army base (I was staying at the Dragon Hill Lodge), I got my tab and about had a heart attack. It was $300! WTF? Turns out, her drinks were twenty bucks each! Well, it’s a good thing I had a credit card in my wallet. An expensive lesson, but tuition in the school of experience is never cheap! You can click the link above if you’d like to hear about my house hunting and first dining experience in a traditional Korean restaurant.

Ain’t it the truth:

The dark ages are right around the corner

My dating days are hopefully over and done with, but for any readers who may still be searching for “the one,” The Filipina Pea has some insights and advice on dating Filipinas. Good luck to you!

To the humor we must go:

I thought this was funny (I used to live in Arkansas, a whole other chapter in my life story):

A Letter From A Redneck Mother To Her Son

Dear Son,

I’m writing this slow ’cause I know you can’t read fast. We don’t live where we did when you left. Your dad read in the paper that most accidents happen within twenty miles of home, so we moved. Won’t be able to send you the address as the last Arkansas family that lived here took the numbers with them for their house, so they wouldn’t have to change their address.

This place has a washing machine. The first day I put four shirts in it, pulled the chain and haven’t seen ’em since.

It only rained twice this week, three days the first time and four days the second time.

The coat you wanted me to send to you, Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

We got a bill from the funeral home, and it said if we didn’t make the final payment on Grandma’s funderal bill, up she comes.

About your sister, she had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether if it is a boy or a girl so don’t know if you are an Aunt or Uncle.

Your Uncle John fell in the whiskey vat. Some men tried to get him out, but he fought them off playfully, so he drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.

Three of your friends went off the bridge in a pickup. One was driving and the other two were in the back. The driver got out. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. The other 2 drowned. They couldn’t get the tail gate down.

Not much more news this time. Nothing much happened. If you don’t get this letter, please let me know and I will send another one.

Love, Ma

Hope this one is not too spicy.
It took me WAY too long to get this one.

Alrighty, then. Time for me to feed the Hideaway girls. Then I’ll join my lovely lady for dinner at John’s place. I’ll be back with more tomorrow.

We wish you a Hashy Christmas!

Another fun-filled day doing the things I enjoy the most–hiking and drinking!

Only five came out for our pre-party hike
Kept it simple with a stroll on the My Bitch trail.
Grassy
Not so grassy
The Easter Mountain view
Chicken on a stick
Thanksgiving survivor
A cookie delivery
The view from here

And then things took a turn. The females (mom and daughter) took the route down Rizal Extension because that’s where they live. Us menfolk continued on to the trail that used to lead down to Marian Hills. Except the trail is no longer there. Someone has fenced it off. We tried to find a way around unsuccessfully, so we retreated and looked for a different route down. I tried to find a path I had taken in the past, but things were overgrown and unfamiliar. We did our best, including some bushwhacking, and eventually found a route back down to our intended destination.

It’s all downhill from here, boys
I’ve thought that marking a trail with these ribbons is tantamount to littering because they don’t wash away like other markings. Yesterday, it was a relief to see that we had found an actual Hash trail from the past.
Back on flat ground at last
A tad over 6K all told

Back home for some rest and a shower, then Swan and I departed for the Hash Christmas party at Rowena’s Beach Resort in Barretto. The party (and drinking) started at 1:00, which is way too early for me, but Christmas parties only happen once a year, so I got into the spirits.

That would be us
Our compadres in crime
Hanging with the boys
And the gals did their thing
Yogini manned the grill, firing up some sausages and pork chops
Everything came out tasty
Chillaxin’ with my gal
And then the games commenced. This one involved feeding a banana to a teammate while blindfolded
And this was a contest to see which guy sucked the best
Time was passing
Clothes were dispensed with
And bikini dancing commenced
By nightfall, I was feeling no pain. And Swan was drunker than I was, a rare event.

We triked on home before we had anything to regret in the morning.

My pudding was delivered in my absence. I’m glad I had the foresight to leave the money on the counter—seventeen boxes for 3500 pesos.
But last night’s dessert was gelatin

Is there any shame in admitting I went to bed at 7:30?

Twelve San Mig Zeros and still managed to come in under the calorie cap. Unless I counted wrong.

Today, I have a post from the travel chapter in The Story of My Life. Twenty years ago, my then-wife and I took a trip to Istanbul, Turkey. It was unlike any place I’d ever been, and I really enjoyed the adventure.

Eight years ago, I was supervising the Christmas decoration installation in our office on Yongsan Garrison.

Today’s YouTube video is about another expat loser in the Philippines. I can’t imagine allowing myself to suffer the consequences that are for the most part self-inflicted.

And on to the humor:

Makes me wonder where that dinner came from…
Must have been a tight squeeze
Seeing that made them hard as stone

I had a surprise to start the day. Swan asked me to join her at an RSL charity event in the Cawag area. I’d been in the vicinity before, but never that far out. I’ll have pictures of that experience to share here tomorrow. And now, Baloy Beach is in my immediate future. More on that tomorrow as well.

Time to party

I have the Friday group hike coming up at 0900, and the Hash Christmas party is a 1:00, so it is now or never if I’m going to dispense my daily dose of bullshit here at LTG. So, let’s get to it.

At my age, every day is special, and yesterday was no exception. That’s not to say I did anything special, but I still enjoyed filling in the hours, however comfortably and well. We did a walk to the Subic Market and dispensed some sweets to the children we encountered along the way. Swan picked up her Christmas present from me while we were there. Later, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Jewel Cafe and some liquid refreshments in the Green Room afterward. Yep, just another typical day in paradise. Here’s some of what it looked like:

Heading out for our trek
Beth, head waitress at Wet Spot, joined us for the hike
First delivery of the day
The writing on the wall. Something doesn’t add up here.
As close as we got to Easter Mountain this time.
You are welcome!
We didn’t expect to see so many kids out on a school day. Not sure what’s up with that.
On the streets of Calapacuan
A scenic river
Walking the plank
A peaceful fish pond
Highway walking with a couple of slowpokes
The back way to the market is more pleasant than the highway
He was born when I was in high school. Way too young to go.
And there is the Subic Market in the distance
Subic town
The goodies for this week’s Candy Walk
My walk app offers three sets of maps from which to choose. This is the satellite version.
The standard version
And my favorite is the hybrid. Our journey was just a tad under 8K yesterday.

And here is my gift to Swan:

An electric vehicle. Practically a steal at just over $1500.00.
Front and rear seating
The rear-end
And the dashboard

To be honest, I’m a little worried about her driving this on the highway. Traffic moves fast, and these are slow. But she is a grown-up with a driver’s license, so hopefully, she’ll exercise good judgment on the road.

When it was time to head into town, we walked. Walk out, trike home is just the way I roll.

Beauty in the sky
Beauty on the street
Beauty on the dinner plate.

We both had the Jewel filet mignon for 499 pesos each. It’s a small cut but very tasty. The last time we ate these, they had gravy on the meat; this time, I ordered it on the side. And plopping the steak on top of the mashed potatoes was something I’d never seen. It was easy enough to move it, but it just seemed strange.

So, I calculated that I could afford to indulge the potato calories. I limited my evening intake to six gin and sodas. And when I got home, I discovered I was out of my preferred sugar-free pudding dessert. So, I made a batch of blueberry/pineapple smoothies instead.

And that put me over the top. Oops. Well, my pudding order should arrive tomorrow, and Swan made some sugar-free gelatin for tonight.

And the Friday weigh-in results:

  • Today’s weight: 240.6
  • Last week: 245.2
  • Reduction: 4.6 pounds.
  • Starting weight: 267.1
  • Overall reduction: 26.5 pounds

Slow but steady progress. At least I’m moving in the right direction.

Today’s memories courtesy of Facebook:

Eleven years ago, I was enjoying suburban life in my Columbia, SC house. Damn, don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…
Nine years ago, there was a parade in Itaewon to celebrate the birth of the pedophile Mohammed. I got in trouble at work for calling him that on my blog. But how else do you describe someone who married a 12-year-old?

No time for me to parse a YouTube video today. Sorry!

I do have these tidbits of humor to share:

Dude, nothing beats the real thing!
More proof that size doesn’t matter.
Anything is possible, Spock.

And that’s all for now, folks. Back tomorrow (I hope).

The sands of time

The hourglass that is your lifetime comes in many sizes; in most cases, the bigger, the better. If a grain of sand is the equivalent to a day in the life, here’s what my particle of yesterday looked like:

Feeling like a king doing the grocery shopping at Royal.
A discounted Nativity scene. Yeah, I don’t believe that story either.
Home from shopping, I embarked on a 4K neighborhood walk on the streets of Alta Vista.

Then, I was off to an appointment with Dr. Jo for the second installment of my chelation therapy. Other than getting a needle poke for the injection, it was pretty painless. This will likely be a regular event for the next several weeks. It’s 2000 pesos a pop, but if it helps clear those blocked arteries, it is worth the time and money.

It being Tuesday, Baloy Beach was next on our agenda.

Toes in the sand again
The floating bar view. As I expected, the cloud cover precluded seeing the sunset.
A gin and soda night for me
A batch of my brownies for the brown knees on board
Swan and Lizza (the Kokomo owner’s spouse)
A quiet Tuesday on the beach, but it was surprisingly busy on the floating bar
I didn’t get to see the sun go down behind the mountain, but it left a colorful sky for me to enjoy
Goodbye until next week
Next stop, Treasure Island
Swan had tacos for dinner
And I couldn’t resist the beef enchiladas. I only ate one last night and saved the other for breakfast. That’s how you divide and conquer those calories!

So, I mentioned a while back that Swan had bought some almond flour and keto sugar. Yesterday, she put her new ingredients to work and baked a carrot cake.

It came out looking like a regular carrot cake does.
This slice was my dessert when we got home last night.

I’m sorry to say, looks can be deceiving. It tasted dry and unsweet, lacking the flavorful richness I’m accustomed to. That small slice cost me 180 calories, and it was unsatisfying to my sweet tooth. Needless to say, I won’t be tempted to indulge again.

Another under-budget day

One year ago, the next step in my recovery from nasal nodule surgery was removing the internal bandages.

Not a pretty sight and it was painful as well.

Today’s YouTube video is from one of my favorite vloggers, The Filipina Pea. In this installment, she responds to viewers’ emails in a fashion reminiscent of Dear Abby. Some of the situations these guys get into with their Filipinas are so bad as to be almost funny. Not that I have any room to talk. My biggest diversion (perversion?) was dating the eighteen-year-old and not grasping how weird it truly was until my granddaughter celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Nope, I couldn’t continue on that road after that. Still, I never even considered asking out the mother of a girl I had been dating like one of Pea’s fans. Pea is wise beyond her years in the advice she provides.

If that wasn’t funny enough, how about these:

That’s one of my old jokes, captured in a meme. Oh well, I stole it from somewhere anyway. My version was: Forget the past; it can’t be changed. Forget the future; it’s a mystery. Forget the present, I didn’t get you one.
I guess that’s one form of dating
It seems Olive is always trying to make it hard on Popeye.

So, I had a good hike this morning and have no plans as yet for this evening. Something special is coming here to LTG tomorrow. I hope you’ll come back and read all about it.

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

Weekend wrap-up

Goodbye to you, Pozorrubio. Perhaps we will meet again next year.
Well I woke up Sunday mornin', with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more, for dessert
Then I fumbled through my closet, for my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt
And I shaved my face and combed my hair and, stumbled down the stairs to meet the day

I’m no Kris Kristofferson, so after my forgotten Saturday night, my head didn’t hurt, and I didn’t have a beer for breakfast. Maybe I should have.

Remnants from my drunken shopping at 7-Eleven the night before sufficed for my Sunday morning breakfast. Actually, the Snickers bar is “only” 279 calories, and it satisfied my hunger until we were back home for a proper lunch.

We rode home with Tiny Cunt (Keith) and his girl for a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour trip. Along the way, we passed the cleanest city in the Philippines.

Sorry for the blurry photo; it was taken at high speed on the expressway. I’ve heard lots of talk about Concepcion being “immaculate.” (Yes, I went through all that effort just to make this lame joke, but that’s the way I roll.)

Anyway, we arrived home a little after eleven. Swan prepared a nice ribeye steak and broccoli lunch, and then I got to work on yesterday’s massive post. When I finished that, it was time to prepare myself for my Sunday evening endeavors.

Dinner for the five Hideaway gals delivered from Jewel Cafe lightened my wallet by 1500 pesos.

Hideaway had a decent crowd, so that was good to see. The girls enjoyed their food and thanked me profusely. I had two gin and sodas, then headed across the highway to John’s Place for dinner with my sweetheart.

That would be her.
The view from John’s when I arrived.
And a bit later after sundown.
I continued my calorie splurge by satisfying my craving for birria tacos. Three to a serving, but I gave one of them to Swan, thereby limiting the damage to 400 calories. Oh, and I washed it down with a gin and soda.

With dinner over and done with, we moseyed up the highway to The Green Room to enjoy our nightcap. Swan brought some of John’s delicious chicken wings to share with our favorites there. Three more gin and sodas, and we called it a night. I satiated my sweet tooth with some canned cranberries, then hit the hay.

That’s three days in a row I exceeded my calorie goal. I’ll try to do better this week.
And eat less!

Here are a few other photos from my weekend on the farm:

The hotel we stayed in this year. Last year at The Mansion was more to my liking.
Is it RDT or J’adore Grand? If they don’t know, I sure as hell don’t, although the trike drivers call it RDT.
A view from my third-floor room. The room wasn’t much better, and the wifi sucked.
That’s our room with the towels in the window. I told Swan the housekeeper would bring fresh towels, and Swan said, “What if no one comes to clean?” Turns out, she was right.
Heading out to start our Saturday with Haggis Bash Hash. If you read yesterday’s post, you already know how it ended for me.
Our Hash host and farm owner, Honeydew.
Christmas decorations down on the farm. Well, I brought the lady with me.
That’s my fat gut at the Friday circle
And my drunk ass at Saturday night’s after-Hash gathering of the Subic Bay contingent.

So, been there, done that, got the t-shirt:

And life goes on until it doesn’t.

Speaking of which, this was my life twelve years ago:

A cigarette in my hand and a wife at my side. Everything changes, not always for the better.

It was good to see that our soon-to-be former President is being appropriately honored by the USPS:

Today’s YouTube video once again raises the question of why some folks are quitting the Philippines. I don’t know anyone bailing for other than medical issues, but maybe my circle knew the things the vlogger identifies and came anyway. I know nothing here took me by surprise. Sure, there are frustrations, but that would be true wherever I lived.

And now the jokes are on me:

Sounds more like “All In The Family” than “Star Trek”
Talk about an asswhuppin’
And now we’ve covered both sides of the spectrum

Hash Monday has arrived once again. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and the On-Home will take place at his house here in Alta Vista. Leech is one of the best when it comes to a well-marked trail, which I always appreciate. He also provided my fellow short cutter, Pubic Head, with a map in advance so we could plot our deviations. And so we have done. I’ll let you know how that works out for us tomorrow.

I came across today’s music video in my Facebook memories. Arizona was the best place I’ve ever lived (at least in the USA), and this song has always had a special place in my heart. It’s from the opening credits of the movie Junior Bonner and was filmed in Prescott, the town where I used to live. The songwriter and performer, Rod Hart, played in a bar band in Prescott and I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live on several occasions. Give it a listen:

Morning, Arizona morning
Almost sets me free
Makes me glad to be alive
Wondering, why I started wandering
Should have stayed right here
Underneath the clear blue skies

Sadness, changing now to gladness
With the rustle of the breeze
Through the pinon trees where I lay
In the morning, Arizona morning
A place where I can smile
And see a hundred miles away

The birds are flying high above the morning
Singing to the colors of the dawn
And in my mind, I hear a gentle warning
You've been a rounder and a rambler much too long
And a rover, wishing it was over
All my battles won, resting in the sun this way

In the morning, Arizona morning
Coming home today, wishing I could stay
Wishing I could stay

Here’s the movie (slightly shorter) version that I had posted on Facebook all those years ago:

And I also came across this short video talking about some of the backstage shenanigans that resulted in a bar band performer doing the opening song in a Sam Peckinpah film:

Before I go

In a rush this morning before my departure for the weekend adventure at the Haggis Hash up north in Pangasinan. The low down on yesterday was taking Swan on her longest hike yet…nearly 10K. The best moment for me was when she told me she had been ready to quit as we walked uphill on the highway at about the 6K point, but once we started strolling along the riverside, it was fun again. We finished up at a restaurant in Calapandayan we’ve been wanting to try and enjoyed our meals and the view.

Heading out. Swan knew we were going to Subic town but didn’t know we were going the back way, which is about twice as far.
These are customers from our Sunday Candy Walk. The mother asked Swan to be a Godmother to her baby, and Swan agreed to do so.
Can you see the cabin in the woods?
Flowers are on de vine!
These are pretty, too
It had been months since Swan passed this way, but that kid (see him?) saw her and came running
Swan did some heavy lifting on this hike
Rice fields are ready for planting
Over Bridge #4
River crossing
The ass side of Easter Mountain
The road where Swan began to lose her enthusiasm for the hike
Still a long way to go
Getting it done
Be grateful for all that you have
On the riverside
Coming to a beach near me soon
What a coincidence. Both were born in January 1958, and both died this past week. Both are younger than me, too. RIP.
Can you guess what I read when I first saw this sign?
Off the highway and into an alley for a much more serene walk
A narrow passage back to the highway
And then lunch at Ezekiels
It was good with my girlfriend, too
Bayside views
Bayside living
Bayside dining
As seen from our table
Some of the menu selections
Carbonaro for Swan
She seemed to enjoy it
I did the honey garlic chicken wings and found them quite tasty.
I shared the bones with a stray cat under our table
The route we took

Later in the day, we paid a rare visit to Cheap Charlies. I reasoned that I could get a fairly priced gin and soda, and if we got hungry, we could order some food from Foodies, the restaurant on the ground floor. And that is just what we did!

It had been a long time since I enjoyed a delicious bowl of beef stew.

Swan ordered something called Kare Kare, a Filipino stew. I forgot to get a photo. Sorry!

A view from Cheap Charlies

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I enjoyed chatting with the owner, Daddy Dave.

Another day under plan

A little bit of a disappointment at this morning’s weigh-in: 245.2, down only three ounces since December 1. Overall, I’ve lost 21.9 pounds since beginning the diet on November 1. In more positive signs, my belly circumference is down an inch to 48 and two inches off the waist to 44. I’m getting there.

Here is how I looked fifty years ago:

I reckon those days are gone forever. At least until God grants my “do-over” request.

Gotta skip the YouTube video today…no time!

That was a speedy trip
At least you didn’t lose your rein, dear boy.
What a crusher!

Okay, I need to pack up the laptop, as my ride will be arriving shortly. I’ll post updates during the weekend as time allows.

Castillejos loop de las loonies

The Wednesday Walkers took a long thirty-minute Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and proceeded to do an almost 8K stroll on the backroads of town. It’s almost crazy the lengths we will go to in order to see some relatively new scenery. There, I made this post title somewhat sensible now, right? Here are some photos from our journey:

Exiting the Jeepney
Posing for the group shot
Let the roadwork begin
Are we having fun yet?
I’ve been known to worship light beer
Govic Highway, let me slip away on you…
The wide open road
A more pleasant stretch of road
A horny carabao
Faking a leg injury
Dirt is better than pavement for walking
Taking in the view
Marching on
Saluting the Wednesday Walkers
A peaceful village of shanties
Country living
The way ahead seems peaceful enough
Nature’s arch
In Flanders fields?
This pink teddy appears to be escaping
And then we came upon this huge, vacant, haunted-looking mansion. I’d love to know the story behind this.
Always look both ways before crossing
We had planned to conclude our hike with lunch at Mad Willies. Alas, the hours have changed and now they don’t open until noon.
But we had the good fortune to catch a passing Victory Liner bus for the ride back to Barretto. Air-conditioned comfort is much better than a Jeepney for only 20 pesos more.
We wound up having our lunch and liquid refreshments at It Doesn’t Matter. It’s all good!
We went thataway!

Swan and I spent a good portion of our Wednesday evening at BarCelona.

The view from our regular perch
Looks like Mama has a homeless friend
My date
Me and my date
Who cut the fart?
Then we moved out to the rooftop area
The space between By The Sea and Central Park Reef resorts
Looking up the highway
And looking down the highway
A colorful sky

We had our nightcap downstairs at Green Room. We shared a table with my friend Tom, who regaled me with stories from the good ol’ days in Barretto (he’s been here for twenty-five years). It’s tame here by comparison to what he termed “the Wild West,” when things were a lot crazier. I’ll take it the way it is, thank you very much.

We ordered our dinner to take out from Sit-n-Bull.

The options for a dieter exclude my usual favorites. I had these ham slices with a side of coleslaw.

But you do what you gotta do, right?

I did manage to come in under my target goal

I’ll do my weekly weigh-in in the morning. The last pair of shorts I bought had a size 42 waist. When I loosened my belt as I prepared for bed, the shorts dropped to the floor, still fully buttoned. I’ll take that as a good sign!

Today’s memory is the view from my apartment window in Seoul twelve years ago:

That’s snow, not fog. And speaking of fog, I’m not sure if that’s from my apartment or not. It doesn’t look familiar to me now. Plus, I think we were higher up. Oh well.

Today’s YouTube video gives a glimpse of life in Barretto in 1992 when it was still the “Wild West.”

And the daily dose of humor:

Hey, I resemble that remark!
It’s more than a feeling
That pun crashed on takeoff. Sorry!

I’m not sure what’s in store for this evening, but tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Pozorrubio in the province of Pangasinan to participate in this year’s running of the Haggis Hash. It’s always good to get out of town for a change of pace. Don’t worry, I’ll be posting my lame crap from there so my loyal reader(s) won’t miss out on the fun!

And the “first time hearing” video:

Dethroned again

I did my weekly grocery shopping at Royal yesterday, but I wasn’t royalty. Yes, I had lost my crown. Well, not technically lost; it had fallen off while I was flossing. At least I didn’t swallow it. So, after shopping, I visited my dentist. The crown isn’t in the best of shape, and the stub of my tooth doesn’t provide much room for grounding, but Dr. Barrera agreed to reattach it and see what happens. So, I left forty-five minutes later with a freshly glued crown, feeling like a king again. Then I took a 5K stroll amongst the peasants to celebrate having one less hole in my head.

My mouth was still numb when I finished the walk, though.

After the usual R&R at home, the gal and me did our Tuesday on Baloy Beach thing.

I baked this batch of brownies to bring along for the Kokomo’s floating bar crew
Arriving on Baloy
The happy place for Swan
Toes in the sand and a smile on her face
Ready to be ferried to our watery destination
Not real crowded but a couple of big spenders were on board
Wine for Swan, gin and soda for me
The best part of the day
Nice seeing you again
Hasta la vista!

So, they’ve hired a bunch of new girls, some of them quite attractive. Whenever an unattached male came aboard, the girls swarmed him like hungry mosquitos. But they were not overly aggressive and graciously accepted the “no thank you” response. The music was loud, but the playlist was good. I reckon I can handle my once-a-week visits here satisfactorily. The views make it all worthwhile.

When it was time to eat, we went ashore and ordered dinner at Treasure Island.

The floating bar and the sliver of a moon as seen from Treasure Island
This chef salad filled the void in my stomach nicely

A bit of a hiccup on the way home. The peanut vendor I have helped out occasionally messaged that he was unable to restock his peanut tray because all his funds had been used for medical expenses. Well, I respect the fact that Emmanuel works hard selling his wares in the bars of Barretto rather than resorting to begging on the streets. So, I agreed to help him out and told him to meet me at 7-Eleven at 7:30. I had the trike driver stop there on our way home, but there was no Emmanuel. He had messaged earlier that he was on his way, so we paid the trike and waited for him at SnackBar. He got there about ten minutes late, and I lit into him. He said he had walked from his home in Subic, and I gruffly said that he should have left earlier. I told him it was extremely rude to ask for money and then not be on time to receive it. Yeah, I was being an asshole, and it might have been the gin talking. Anyway, I messaged an apology this morning, and he thanked me. So, all is well.

Maybe the end of NEXT year…
A decent effort with the calorie intake yesterday

“The past beats inside of me like a second heart.” I saw that on Facebook this morning, and it seemed like a nice introduction to today’s installment of memories. Just this one from eight years ago:

I saw this somewhere on the streets of Seoul and liked it. You can also see my skinny reflection in the glass.

I’m seeing a slew of videos about expats regretting their move to the Philippines. Today’s video features a well-spoken Filipina giving her thoughts on the subject. I honestly don’t let things like the “skin tax” bother me, and there are easy enough workarounds. My major complaints, like noise and litter, aren’t enough to make me want to leave. I just remember my mantra: Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.

Laughing can help, too:

No candy, cakes, pies, or ice cream for me these days.
WTF
That’s what I just said, mother fucker!

Anyhoo, I’m a lucky man enjoying the mundane lifestyle I’ve adopted. I can tell my boring drivel is tortuous for my readers; my current stats say I’ve lost about half of my blog visitors over the past few months. Thanks to the rest of you for sticking around. If you have any suggestions for things you’d like me to write about, feel free to let me know in the comments.

Doesn’t bother me

I guess I’ve reached the stage of my Hash career where I shortcut without shame. The Hash should be something I enjoy, not a chore. Yesterday was no exception. The Hare’s laid a good and well-marked trail, but when it was time to climb up to the Black Rock ridge, the like-minded Hash group and I opted to go longer and flatter. And it worked out just fine that way.

The trail started at the VFW and passed through Alta Vista. So, I waited here. Bug Fucker was the first Hasher to appear, but I hung around until the group who hike at my pace came by.
And here they come now
The neighborhood German has “Sans Souci” on the wall of his residence, which resolves the mystery of the words the Hares left on the pole nearby.
Almoranus, the German Hare for yesterday’s trail, confirmed the message was intended for the dwelling’s occupant. “A pleasure palace without worry,” indeed!
Out of the ‘hood we go
Over the river on Bridge #3
The river I mentioned
We were pretty much retracing the Candy Walk route so far.
Entering San Isidro’s Purok 3
Pubic Head’s shot of Easter Mountain
The way up to the Black Rock ridge. This is where we parted company with the Hare’s trail.
We did a nice flat valley walk instead
Up top there is where we did not tread
The Black Rock
We did do one climb up some steps and rejoined the Hare’s trail where it came down from Black Rock.
On-On!
That’s always a welcome sign
Onward we tread
Swan waiting on her slowpoke man
And then down we go
My Easter Mountain shot
It better be!
On the Govic Highway
Arriving at our On-Home venue at last!
I enjoy the outdoor ambiance here
Cums Alone, as last week’s Hashit recipient, prepares to pass it on
The honor was bestowed on Buddy Fucker’s Wet Spot this week.
As is our custom, some of the Hashers gathered at IDM when the Hash was over.
The “hard” portion of the trail is in red, and the “long” part is in yellow. Us flatlanders had an 8K journey.

A better day on the diet journey as well.

I limited myself to “only” ten beers.

Weather is warming up here again, but nine years ago I was experiencing this:

Snow on the streets of Seoul

And eight years ago, my still undiagnosed lung issues had me hocking up phlegm all night long.

Things are so much better for me now!

For today’s YouTube video, we’ll have a little fun with Mikey Bustos. He’s such a Filipino!

And here’s some more fun:

Easy mistake to make
I think you’ve got that backwards
Not if he jumps out the Windows

Okay, thanks for dropping by. I’ll be back with more tomorrow.

I’m not sure how anyone would not have heard this song long ago, but these guys claim this is their “first time hearing” reaction:

The first day of the week…

…was also the first day of the month. Otherwise, it was pretty much like every Sunday around here. I’m not complaining; keep ’em comin’!

Heading out for another Candy Walk. We took our biggest load yet, 250 bags of sweets. We needed two full backpacks and two big handbags to carry it all. We’ve reached maximum capacity.
The first regular stop
What has its gots in its bagses? (get the reference?)
The beauty of nature. The flowers are lovely, too.
They are coming for you, Swan
These are my favorites. Very polite. A hug and a blessing (putting your hand on their forehead) before taking the candy and then thanking you profusely.
I thought they knew each other. Nope. A random stranger trying to sell Swan some property in the neighborhood.
A big bushy bunch of blossoms but no bees
Taking a piss while pretending to be taking in the view
It began like this
And they just kept on coming. The last of the candy bags was dispensed here, but luckily, I had some cookies and lollipops in the backpack to fill in the gap.
At the foot of the mountain we call Easter
Reflecting during the trike ride home
Another Sunday, another 5K Candy Walk. A record-breaking 250+ dispensations this week.

The Hideaway feeding was also pretty much standard fare. There’s a new girl working now, so that’s one more mouth to feed. I was surprised to see the bar was packed, even without a pool league match. That’s a good sign. One of the other customers was an old acquaintance who lives in San Antonio. It was nice to see him again after many months.

The Joy of eating

Speaking of eating, it was time for my Sunday dinner date with Swan.

The cloud cover marred the usual sunset view
So, I zoomed in on the Christmas decorations across the street instead.

We were once again the only customers at John’s place, but the service and food quality remained up to John’s high standards.

I was tempted by the birria tacos but couldn’t justify the high-calorie content. Instead, I opted for the pulled pork sandwich (sans bread). Next time, I’ll order it without the bread, so I don’t waste a bun.
And I had a side salad instead of fries.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. Things went a tad overboard when a customer bought me a drink, and shortly after that, the bar comped me one. I suppose it is better to be fat than rude, so naturally, I accepted the generous gestures. It was a gin and soda night, and my comfort zone with that drink is limiting myself to six beverages. The two freebies put me at eight for the night. I was slightly buzzed but in control of my faculties.

My Wet Spot drinking companions. Yes, Aine and Swan have made up.

And this is the price I paid for my over zealousness:

A gin (85 calories) too far.

Today is the seventh anniversary of my longest walk.

I remain hopeful that I can achieve 50,000 steps once more in this lifetime.

It’s been a while since we last checked in with Reekay. Today’s YouTube video takes on the “real women” of the West and their unfavorable views of Asian women, who many men find much more desirable. I didn’t technically move to the PI for the women, although I obviously enjoy the unique qualities that come with a good-hearted Filipina. It just took me way too long to find the right one for me.

And maybe these will put a smile on your face:

I’m getting older, but I ain’t old yet. At least not in my mind.
Never really thought of it that way before. And yes, that misspelling of “you’re” is a tad irritating, even for someone like me.
A pig in a poke?

And now it is Hash Monday once again.

And as I observed on today’s dog walk, the trail passes through Alta Vista.

Vienna Sausage is the Hare once again, and I’m unsure what his message in German on that pole is supposed to mean. Google Translate gives me this: Pleasure Palace Frederick the Rough Sanssouci, which makes about as much sense as not shortcutting his trails. In fact, I’m going to start from Alta Vista instead of the VFW, and I’ll likely consider my safety and comfort as I determine how much of the rest of his trail is worthy of my time. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

A feast for the eyes

You can’t taste the goodness of the Thanksgiving gathering at The Rite Spot, but at least you can see how it looked.

The meats: ham, chicken, and turkey, before being chopped up and moved to the roof. There are also mashed potatoes, candied yams, bread, as well as a lasagna that one of the guests provided.
Turkey ready for eating
Sliced ham
Chopped up chicken
Swan’s green bean casserole
Mashed potatoes
Carrots and potato
A cake provided by a guest. We also had pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies

I apparently neglected to photograph the fruit salad and candied yams. There was also dressing and gravy.

I wasn’t sure how many to expect. I put the word out; some acknowledged it, while others kept their options open. A couple I was expecting messaged later that they couldn’t attend. I told folks we’d start drinking at three and eating around four, but not many people were present when we kicked off the feast. I figured we’d have plenty of leftovers, but some members of Swan’s family showed up later (that’s how Filipino time works), and we filled the seats.

Time to eat
The chow line
My plate with a little bit of everything and some fruit salad on the side. I enjoyed gnawing on a drumstick for the first time in years. Hey, I wouldn’t have moved to the Philippines if I didn’t like dark meat!
As usual, the gals sat at their own table.
The mom’s and kids gathered here
Time passed, and the sun faded away
It should come as no surprise that karaoke broke out
Swan worked her ass off in the kitchen and did a great job. She was having fun on the roof with friends and family
A couple of Swan’s nieces
Rockin’ on into the night
Checking the status of the food tables
The meats and lasagna took big hits
And so did the sides
People all over the world love my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad
The candied yams had a few fans, too
Mercy loved the yams so much that she wanted to bring some home.

We had bought some takeout containers to give away whatever leftovers remained. Quite a few folks brought the sides and desserts home with them when the party ended. My one-day reprieve from the diet was over and I didn’t need any temptations hanging around the house.

During the festivities, I downed a record-setting fourteen bottles of San Miguel Zero beer. The leftovers won’t be much of a temptation because I rarely drink at home unless I have guests to entertain.

And now for the damage done:

Good thing I didn’t go back for seconds. Except for the pecan pie.

Back on track today. No breakfast and a 7K hike that included another climb up to the Kalaklan Ridge. I weighed myself just now, and I’m at 246.6, DOWN one pound from yesterday. Go figure.

Anyway, it turned out to be a nice gathering, and I enjoyed hanging out with the guys and downing lots of beers. I’m thankful for that opportunity.

Facebook memories presented a video I posted twelve years ago of me playing in the finals of a dart tournament: “Finals of 11/17/2012 KDF tourney in Seoul featuring Alister “All-Star” Tarbett (Scotland) versus John “The Walrus” McCrarey (USA). Best of 5 501 legs. John took the first two legs, Alister came back to take the next two, setting up a classic showdown in the final leg.”

Spoiler alert: I won

Today’s YouTube video advises avoiding ten common mistakes retired expats make. I’ve made some of these, but after more than six years here, I’ve learned to avoid most self-inflicted problems.

Today’s dose of humor:

My body, my choice
The other guy appears to be stone cold sober
When I want to engage in self-reflection, I look in the mirror

Okay, what’s next? I’m skipping the SOB this week in favor of a relaxing evening on Baloy Beach. I guess I’m just In The Mood.

Happy Turkey Day!

May your blessings on this day of giving thanks be plentiful.

Busy morning getting ready for the Thanksgiving gathering on the rooftop. My last portion of the feast to prepare is the candied yams, but I’m waiting for the oven to free up. Turkey is done, but now it’s the chicken’s turn to get roasted.

Turkey basted Gordon Ramsey-style with Swan’s loving touch and into the oven.
Three hours later, the thermometer says the turkey is done
Looks ready to eat to me
It ought to go good with these berries that I bought

Meanwhile, up on the roof:

The new Rite Spot banner is hung
Tables are arranged
Beer is waiting for ice (there’s another cooler with wine, soju, and liquor for the gals)
And there is always The Rite Spot view

Three more hours until guests start arriving, so I’ll share some of my yesterday. The Wednesday Walkers took a two Jeepney (blue and red) ride out to Olongapo City’s Gordon Heights barangay. There’s a road to the top of Kalaklan Ridge (half paved, half dirt), and we took it. It was a 1.6K uphill trek to the ridgeline. I don’t know why, but road climbs, especially straight ones, kick my ass more than trails. Once at the top, we had the usual amazing views that made the struggle worth it. Getting down was a bit of a challenge, too, because the grass was thick and high, making it hard to stay on the trail. We fought our way through and had an overall enjoyable hike.

First, the blue Jeepney from Barretto into Olongapo, then this red ride up to Gordon Heights
We have arrived
This week’s iteration of the Wednesday Walkers (plus Scott, the cameraman)
And so it begins
Hadn’t been by here in quite some time. Back when I was a tourist, and then the first year after I moved here, this was my primary charity recipient. In time, I became convinced that my efforts were better directed elsewhere.
On up
And up some more
The pavement ended but we still had a ways to go
Ridgeline achieved, It’s time for a rest, right, Scott?
Hello down there, Barretto
The blue waters of the bay. The old Hanjin shipyard will soon be reopened under new ownership.
I didn’t forget you, Easter Mountain
Lollipops for the mountain children
Braver than I am
View finders
Another vantage point
The view from here
And now, the struggle to get back down begins
I’ve walked this way many times, but never experienced the grass being this thick
Made for some tough going, but we made it through
Rolly’s place. One of our regular stops on the way down from the ridge
See you next time, Rolly!
On down!
Through the hillside village above Abra Street
Back on the pavement in Barretto
Up, over, and down the other side

I told Swan I was treating her to dinner at Sit-n-Bull (I had a 15% discount coupon I needed to use) and asked if she wanted to have a drink before dinner. She said she did. So, Outback, BarCelona, or Sloppy Joe’s to start? As I expected, she answered “Outback” without hesitation. It has beach views.

We don’t come here often, but it is a nice view
Cheers!
The Outback pool bar
Time passages

And then off to dinner.

Kare-Kare, a Filipino dish Swan enjoyed.
I did the Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, but I f’d up on the baked beans side dish. It had way more calories than I imagined. Oh well, it’s a warm-up for today’s coming ingestion.

A nightcap at Wet Spot, then home for a good night’s sleep before the big day.

Despite the beans fiasco, I managed to come in under my daily budget

Speaking of which, I weighed in a day early so I could assess the damage of the Thanksgiving cheat.

  • Today’s weight: 247.6
  • Last week: 248.6
  • November 1: 267.1
  • Net loss: 19.5 pounds

Belly is still 49″ circumference. Waist is down to 43.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen:

Swan’s sister arrived early to help out
Chickens are done
My first attempt at candied yams. I’ll withhold judgment until I see how they taste.

Looking back to ten years ago, I was alone in Columbia, South Carolina for Thanksgiving. That didn’t stop me from preparing a feast:

You gotta do what you gotta do…

Today’s YouTube video carries us back to the first Thanksgiving and dispels the so-called myths surrounding this American tradition.

And give thanks for these jokes:

You are such a turkey sometimes, Gump!
I hate when that happens!
Holiday cheer to cum!

Anyway, time to get ready to greet the guests who will be arriving soon. Oh, I almost forgot, we had an earthquake this morning.

I was up and around but never felt a thing. Another Thanksgiving blessing!

Okay, Happy Thanksgiving to both of my readers. I will give you a full report on the celebration and feast tomorrow.

And surely you knew this would be the song of the day:

Thanksgiving Eve

A busy day ahead as I make final preparations for tomorrow’s feast. It’s been seven years since I last attempted to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, and I’m thankful Swan is here to assist. One of my chores today will be trying a dry brine recipe helpfully provided by a commenter. Thank you, Mr. Kim! I’m also attempting a candied yams recipe I found online. I hope it tastes as good as the one Mom used to make. I’ve already got my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad chillin’ in the fridge. An apple pie is in the oven, so while that’s baking, I’ll share a little about my yesterday.

As usual, I start my Tuesday by baking up a batch of muffins. I don’t get to partake these days, but my housemates, driver, and “mama” enjoy them.

Cranberry-Orange this time

Next up was a trip to Royal for the weekly grocery shopping adventure. This time, the cart was overflowing with the extra goodies I purchased for the upcoming big meal.

We definitely ain’t going hungry, diet or not.
Spend it if you got it
This meat thermometer set me back $7.50. I’ve never used one before, but it’s recommended when baking a turkey.
I’m also excited to report that I found cranberry sauce in a can! And it is the whole berry style I prefer. I’m so Thankful!

In keeping with my No! vember objectives, I engaged in my newest Tuesday routine–a neighborhood walk after shopping.

For you Easter Mountain fans
Another view from the ‘hood
A 4K stroll. And this time, I turned RIGHT.

Renewing an old Tuesday tradition, Swan and I took a walk out to Baloy Beach late in the afternoon.

The view on arrival at Baloy
Toes in the sand puts a smile on her face every time.
Our objective, the Kokomo’s floating bar, is in sight
A view of Kalaklan Ridge from the floater. I wound up climbing that MF’er this morning.
What the hell, did a plane crash?
Why do they call it pair a sailing when there is only one? (sorry!)
Another gin night
I prefer beer, but you got to do what you got to do
Swan asked why I never smile in our photos
Is that better?
You knew this was coming.
Actually, it’s going
And now it’s gone
It’s cloud illusions I recall
The bright spot on the beach is our dinner destination–Treasure Island Resort

A nice evening on the floating bar. Not as crowded as Saturday was, but still a good crowd for a Tuesday. Certainly better than the Kokomo’s beach bar ever does.

See you next week!
You win this time, Santa
With that girl what lives in my house (that’s me talkin’ Southern, y’all)
A nice ambiance at TI
Chicken cordon bleu for Swan
And beef enchiladas for me.

Man does not live by salad alone. I only ate one enchilada last night (350 calories) and one for lunch today. And I’m still skipping breakfast, which is a bit of a surprise; I didn’t think I had the willpower to ignore those morning hunger pangs. I’ve discovered they go away if you ignore them long enough.

Not a bad day, if I do say so myself

Meanwhile, in the kitchen:

Before it was fruit salad
And after
The apple pie is safely out of the oven now. Everybody doesn’t like something, but nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. Yes, I baked a frozen pie.

And I had these two beauties delivered:

Pumpkin and pecan. I am so going to blow my diet tomorrow!

And here is the result of my first time trying brine on a turkey:

Brine applied in accordance with this recipe. Swan suggested I add some garlic, and so I did.

I’ll add a butter-based glaze with additional seasonings before I pop the turkey in the oven early tomorrow morning.

Next up on my agenda is the candied yams.

The recipe calls for these ingredients: yams, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and marshmallows. I’m adding the pecans because I’m nuts.

I’ve decided to wait until after the turkey is cooked tomorrow to make the yams. Reheating them seems fraught with peril.

Swan is still busy in the kitchen making a green bean casserole, roast potatoes, and a small ham. We’ve also got roast chicken, dressing, and mashed potatoes with gravy on the menu. Some of our guests will be bringing their favorite sides, so no one is going home hungry. We’ve also purchased some “take out” containers so we can send everyone home with leftovers. I’m only going to cheat one day!

Oh, and the old banner didn’t survive the rainy season, so this new one will be there to greet our guests at the Rite Spot tomorrow:

We’ve enlisted Swan’s sister, Chloe, to manage the assembly line bagging the candies for Sunday’s Candy Walk.

Spreading the joy

Today’s YouTube video discusses hiring a “tour guide with benefits” when visiting the Philippines. Those days are over for me, but as a tourist coming from Korea back in the day, I took this route, and for the most part, it worked well. My mistake was falling in love with my regular guide (Loraine), and that didn’t end well for me. Live and learn.

Today’s dose of humor:

My sleep score has been higher than normal lately, but I’m having some bizarre dreams.
You are Royally screwed

And it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving if I didn’t post this old gem:

I see, the blind man said as he picked up the hammer and saw.

Okay, my work here is done now. I’m going to shower up and head into town for some Thanksgiving Eve revelry. Tell you about the Wednesday Walkers and my night out tomorrow. I hope you’ll be Thankful for that!

Damn, it’s been awhile since I’ve heard from Sawyer Brown. Still love this classic:

Money talks, Candy Walks

Another Sunday Funday. I dropped some coin but dispelled the myth that money can’t buy happiness. We were happy putting smiles on the faces of over 200 children during our weekly Candy Walk, that’s for sure.

All our bags are packed, we’re ready to go…
The path to San Isidro is thick with grass
Our first stop is always a happy one
Entering the village of Marian Hills
Where are all the kids today?
Ah, here they are
Installing a solar light in a tree. That ought to brighten things up!
The house on a hill
Waiting patiently for our arrival
Over Bridge #3
Come and get it!
The Easter Mountain shot
Besieged
And here come lots more
A 5K morning of sweetness

But I wasn’t done spending money on Joy.

This week’s food for the Hideaway feeding
Joy feeding

And then it was time to purchase some happiness for me and my girl.

John’s gone, but the view remains
Life goes on
A pleasing bowl of bulgogi for my dinner

We had our nightcap at Green Room, and the largesse continued. Four of the girls received lady drinks, and everyone else received lollipops. Another gin and soda night, and I am starting to learn my non-beer boundaries. Whether that will stop me remains to be seen.

The last time we called our “regular” trike driver, he failed to show up as scheduled. So, we agreed we’d not bother calling him and just went to grab a ride at the trike stand. As fate would have it, our regular guy was first in line. A happy ending to the night for all!

Skipping breakfast does help with staying on the calorie budget. I skipped again this morning but was hungry, so I had an early lunch. (I woke at 5:30 and ate my first food at 9:30)

Twelve years ago, I was immersed in the best times of my Korea life.

Darts and friendships made for happy memories.

Let’s have some fun with today’s YouTube video. For some reason, I thought of this one during my visit to Hideaway Bar. I requested it be played on the big-screen TV, and everyone had a good laugh—especially the Filipinas.

That’s a good lead-in to more funny shit:

That outta work
We don’t have cougars in the PI–all the white men are too old.
Talk about a fingerbang!

Hash Monday has arrived once more. Sadly, the trail start is midway up Rizal Extension, making it a pain in the ass to get to. I have no idea where the trail goes from there, but the Hare isn’t one of my favorites, so I have low expectations. My plan is to hike the My Bitch trail from my house, then down Rizal Ext from there. Once I arrive at the start, I’ll decide whether to do the Hare’s trail or find my own way to the On-Home at Red Bar. Check back tomorrow to see how that works out for me.

The feeling is floating

Another Saturday has come and gone. We did another hike to the Subic marketplace to stock up on sweets for the upcoming Candy Walk. Nothing special about that anymore. The highlight was visiting the Kokomo’s floating bar on Baloy Beach for this season’s grand re-opening. We followed that event with dinner at Treasure Island and enjoyed listening to a band called Star Network for the first time. All in all, a good day.

The walk to the market is so routine as to be boring, so I wasn’t motivated to take many photos. But I can’t resist those funeral banners for some reason:

Romeo was seven years younger than me when he passed. Sorry to Juliet for her loss.
Thelma was four years older. Hope Louise is okay.
Mission accomplished—only fifty bucks for this week’s candy supply.
The 7.5K route we took to the market

Next up, a walk to the beach!

Saturday on the beach
Here comes our ride
It was nice to be back on the water again
I remember you!
This was by far the busiest I’ve ever seen the floater.
Looking up the beach
And looking down the beach
I baked a batch of welcome-back brownies for the brown knees
And then it was that time of day
See you next time
The lights come on…
…as darkness falls

It was good to enjoy some time on the water again. I assume it was so crowded because it was opening night and also Saturday night. Lots of big spenders were on board, plying the staff with lady drinks. Several of the gals were stumbling around drunk. It was a bit different vibe, but Tuesdays were always my Kokomo’s day, and I expect things will feel more like normal next week.

Then it was dinner time. TI has live music every Saturday, but on previous visits, it was the Engine band playing. Last night’s group featured three female singers and a different sound. I enjoyed hearing them play, which is not always the case with bar bands.

Tuning into Star Network
And the lead guitar player was awesome.
It was my gin and soda night, and I sipped my last one (#5) with dinner.
I enjoyed my low-calorie chicken breast selection very much.

A trike ride home and some sugar-free pudding to end the evening. Speaking of sugar-free, my order of sugar-free sugar was delivered yesterday:

Swan wants to use it for her cheesecake recipe. We’ll see how that works out.
Yesterday was one of my better days, diet-wise. Makes up for my overindulgence on Friday. Skipping breakfast isn’t something I thought I could do because I usually wake up hungry. And now I’ve managed to do so two days in a row!

Some memories:

Eight years ago was the last time I prepared a Thanksgiving feast at home. Had my nephew Justin, a co-worker, and some of the Shenanigans bar staff over to join me. Good times!
Seven years ago, I was living the Camp Humphreys lifestyle in Pyeongtaek.
Two years ago, I shared a Thanksgiving meal with some friends at Papagayo Resort. Sadly, Bob, the guy on the right with the tattoos, died in a motorcycle accident a few months later.

Today’s YouTube video is from a guy I’d never seen before. So many of my fellow expats seem clueless. We all have to find our way in life, and sometimes, that’s the hard way.

How about a taste of some nasty humor today?

You should hear her after a beer!
What an asshole!
You are what you eat.

Soon, I will be heading out for my usual Sunday routine. I’ll start by feeding the Hideaway girls, and then I’ll have a Sunday dinner with Swan. This was posted on Facebook:

John’s place, minus John, is still going, and as long as it is, I’ll dine there to honor his memory.

I will be back with more of my drivel tomorrow.

And the “first time hearing” video: