Yep, it is still raining relentlessly, and I’m stuck at home, missing out on the joy of hiking. At least the water service has been restored. A hot shower is near the top of my “to-do” list.

After being confined indoors all day, I was ready for the great escape when beer o’clock rolled around. My pal Michael messaged that he was still without power at his place on the far side of Subic town, and asked to join us. We agreed to meet up at Sloppy Joe’s. Michael doesn’t do the Barretto scene, having only visited bars tied to Hash events and the ones I showed him on Wednesday after San Narciso. He also said the only restaurant he eats at here is John’s place. I mentioned Sit-n-Bull, but he tried it once and didn’t like it.

After a couple of beers, I was ready for a change of scenery, but given the wet weather, options were limited. Another factor I had to consider was Swan’s hunger. Then I thought of a place I seldom visit that’s right up the street–Hops and Brews Beer Garden. Michael had never heard of it and asked if they served draft beers. I responded that’s pretty much all they have, and he was excited to give it a try. So, we grabbed the umbrellas and headed out.

Hops and Brews is one of the nicer places in town, especially if you like craft beers on tap. Of course, they don’t carry a faux beer like Zero, which may be part of the reason I don’t visit often. Michael was surprised to discover a place for beer connoisseurs like him with a great ambiance and good food. He said he’ll definitely be bringing his wife here when she returns from England next month.

That’s a meat lover’s pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. I’d heard people rave about the H&B pizza, but I’d never tried one. It was good. Michael said it was the best pizza he’s had in a long time. I’ll have to consider elevating Hops and Brews on my list of go-to venues.

After we finished the pizza, Michael headed home, and Swan and I did our nightcap at Green Room.

As 8 p.m. approached, we headed home. Still no water, but when I got up to pee at midnight, the toilet flushed. Hooray!

And now I’ve crossed the border into April 2010 on my journey through the LTG archives. In this post, I share insights and photos of the unique Holy Days celebrations in the Philippines.

For today’s YouTube video, who’s up for a visit to North Korea? This is as close as I ever want to get.

Smile time:

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for a rainy day. It’s Sunday, so I’ll venture out to Hideaway for the feeding, then I’ll join Swan at John’s place. I predict there are some birria tacos in her future.

It doesn’t.

Raining cats and dogs yesterday, so there was no Friday group hike. I have an infection in my left eye (the one where I had the recent cataract surgery), so my helper scheduled me for a 3:30 p.m. appointment with the ophthalmologist at Baypointe Hospital on SBMA. The water at home stopped working (again) because of a pump outage in San Isidro (and it is STILL out). Given the heavy and unrelenting rain, I called my driver for a ride to Baypointe. I transferred $800. to Swan’s bank so she could use her card to withdraw cash for me. We stopped at the ATM on the way to the hospital, and on a whim, I tried my card after having wiped the chip and strip. It worked! Whether it will next time remains to be seen. I had to wait an hour to get in to see the eye doc (welcome to the Philippines). He confirmed it was an infection, but not a deep one (whatever that means), and prescribed some antibiotic eye drops. It does feel somewhat better today.

The eye appointment took longer than planned, so we skipped the SOB, which I was ambivalent about attending anyway. Instead, I had my driver drop us off at It Doesn’t Matter. And that’s where we stayed for the rest of the evening. It wasn’t busy on the outside patio, where we prefer to sit, but a female Hasher, Grace (also known as Dripping Pussy), was at a table, and we joined her there. As the evening progressed, several other gals known to Swan and Grace dropped by as well. So, there I was seated at a table of Filipinas yakking away in Tagalog all by my lonesome. Well, I did have my San Mig Zeros to keep me company. I ordered food from the kitchen and some lady drinks. When it was time to bill out, my tab was almost 3000 pesos, about triple what I usually spend during a night on the town. Swan seemed to enjoy herself (she admitted to being a little tipsy), so I reckon it was worth it.

And now it’s a rainy Saturday, and we’ve had to cancel the candy stroll. The power went out for a couple of hours, but has been restored now.

So, what else have I got? Well, this video Instapundit posted was pretty hilarious:

The truth will set you free!

A couple of days ago, I found this meme on Kevin Kim’s blog:

I wasn’t disappointed. Here’s the comment he left for me:

Free speech : jail time, are you retarded? Your the ones locking up people. Stop already with the fake outrage, you support pedophiles, everyone everywhere now seems what you lot are about. Have some decency and stfu!

Sadly, when I knew him in Korea, he was a normal guy, and we got along quite well. I guess living back in the UK has ruined him.

I like this one, too:

The “March” through 2010 in the LTG archives continues with this post that captures so much of what I loved and miss about my life in Seoul. A spring snow and a river walk. What else can you ask for? (Okay, the young Korean women didn’t love me so much, but still…)

I kind of randomly came across today’s YouTube video about getting suckered by AI and found it worth the watch. Perhaps you will as well (it’s less than four minutes long).

To the funny business, then:

And now it is time to move on with my Saturday. Hopefully, I’ll be able to shower soon (that pouring cold water from a bucket over my head just doesn’t work for me). Then we’ll see what the rain does.

I’ll be back!

Linda Ronstadt turned 79 this week, not that it matters.

Here I go again, nothing new or interesting to report, but I’m reporting it anyway. Just another day in the life in my sweet hometown of Barrio Barretto.

Well, there was this disconcerting news: my ATM card stopped working yesterday. Three different ATMs, and the same result… my card can’t be read. ATMs are my preferred source for restocking my pesos, so I’m rather inconvenienced without that option. I could do a money transfer to myself, similar to how I provide funds to the needy. However, that requires standing in line at the redemption shop, which I prefer to avoid. I’ve reached out to my credit union, and they advised that my account has not been blocked, so apparently, the card chip has been damaged. I requested that a new card be mailed to a friend’s FPO address (retired military personnel can use a US address via the embassy), but I’m not sure they’ll send it to a name other than mine. If not, I’ll use my South Carolina address and have my daughter forward it to me via the FPO. Yep, that’s what passes for excitement around here.

I did an 8K walkaround of Barretto to get my daily dose of steps. Nothing new to see on this route, except for the funeral banners.

It remains to be seen how long I’ll last, but I’m glad to be around for boring walks and writing boring blog posts about them.

It was pouring down rain at beer o’clock, but that didn’t stop us from heading into town. Umbrellas only help so much in a wind-blown downpour, so when we arrived at our dinner venue, Jewel Cafe, we were more than a little damp.

After we ate, we paid a visit to the Alaska Club. Treated our waitress and her girlfriend (yeah, lesbians) to a lady drink and tipped the dancers fifty pesos each as is my custom. Also handed out cookies and lollipops to the crew. We went next door to Wet Spot for our nightcap.

We also gave our regulars, Beth and Irene, a pasalubong gift from Vietnam.

And so another day ended with a trike ride home at 8 p.m.

The journey continues through the LTG archives with this March 2010 post about diversity training (the predecessor to DEI). I recount a true story about a session I attended where we were advised that the word “flip” was offensive to Filipinos and therefore should be stricken from our vocabulary. We mocked the instructor for his ignorance, and I don’t recall any repercussions. It must be that “white privilege” I’ve been hearing about.

I came across this in a different post from 2010:

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Smart Girl Philippines, so here’s a twofer. The first is less than a minute long and categorizes the level of dumb you are when giving money to a Filipina. I was mostly “kinda dumb.”

And then in this video, Irish talks about the seven types of Filipinas you want to find and marry. I’d say Swan best fits category #3. Of course, I won’t be getting married or making any babies, but we are enjoying sharing the life we have, at least so far.

Humor me:

That’s it for now.

We began our morning at La Paz Beach in San Narciso with the complimentary breakfast included with our room at the Mope Resort. I had pancakes and Swan some Filipino delicacy. Both were good. Then we headed out for a morning walk.

After some blogging and a nap, we checked out, had lunch, and awaited the arrival of our friend Michael.

It was a bit after five when we got back to the house, and the power was still out. So, we dropped off our bags and rode back to Barretto with Michael. We invited him to join us at Sloppy Joe’s, and he was game. He’d never been there and was impressed. Then I took him upstairs to see the even better-appointed BarCelona and he really liked that ambiance, especially the rooftop. Next, we popped into Green Room, where Michael had one for the road, then said goodnight. We stuck around for a while more before catching a trike home and calling it a night. The power (and water) had been restored. And there you have it, things are back to normal around here once again.

Still strolling through March of 2010 in the LTG archives. I gave a birthday shout-out to my son Kevin in this post. All these years later, I’ve been ghosted. Love is not always reciprocated.

Today’s YouTube video features an expat vlogger who resides in Da Nang, Vietnam, and shares the pros and cons of living there. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and hope to return someday. If I were to move there, I think I’d prefer the smaller town vibe of Hoi An. Not that it matters, I expect Barretto is where I’ll die.

Here’s your daily dose of humor:

And so it went, and so it goes. I’m gonna keep at it.

Greetings from San Narciso!

Here I am enjoying the great escape from the all-day brownout back home. And then I saw this which put an exclamation point on my decision to get out of Dodge, or in this case, San Isidro (the Subic barangay where my house technically sits).

My friend Michael is a regular visitor to the beach in San Narciso, as he prefers swimming in the clean ocean waters rather than the polluted Subic Bay. He graciously offered to drive us here, despite the pick-up being several kilometers out of his way. I repaid his generosity by covering the lunch and beer tab upon arrival. Then he took his swim and departed, promising to return this afternoon and drop us off at home.

I’ve never seen La Paz Beach so deserted. We are the only guests at Mope Resort, and I don’t see the usual foot traffic outside. The complete opposite of Da Nang. Well, it is midweek during the rainy season, and it is rumored that there is a typhoon headed this way. A little rain after we arrived, but otherwise, it has been pleasant enough. Especially compared to being thirsty in the dark.

After Michael departed, we returned to the room for a nap. When it was dinner time, we gave the resort next door a try.

Some beers, some wine, and some chicken wings later, we called it a night and headed back to our room.

One of my favorite things about my pathetic blog is interacting with the few readers who leave comments. I had three AI comments in moderation this morning for the first time in a couple of weeks. I didn’t approve them because some of my regulars have expressed displeasure in seeing them. I don’t find them offensive; in fact, the ignorance of this so-called “intelligence” is rather amusing. Let me share some excerpts to illustrate what I mean.

Yesterday’s post was about the Hash and included a photo of me sitting on the ice, in accordance with the customs of the Subic Hash House Harriers. AI commenter Dilton had this to say:

Hey John, let’s talk about hemorrhoids. I know you’re dealing with some discomfort, and I’m here to offer some advice. While hemorrhoids can be a real pain (literally!), sitting on ice might not be the most effective way to find relief. I get that the cold might feel soothing at first, but it could potentially cause more harm than good.

Let’s focus on finding some more comfortable and sustainable ways to deal with your hemorrhoids, John. There are plenty of options out there, and I’m happy to help you explore them. From lifestyle changes to medical treatments, we can work together to find a solution that works for you.

Thank you, Dilton, for caring about my ass.

And then there was Reginald expressing concern about my addiction:

Hey John, let’s talk about your habits. I know you’ve been smoking hash, but I’m here to tell you that it’s totally possible to quit and replace it with something more productive. Think about it – you’ve got a lot of potential energy and time that could be channeled into something amazing.

One thing to consider is that habits are all about replacement. Instead of focusing on quitting hash, let’s focus on finding something new that you’ll enjoy just as much or more. You’ve got a lot of interests and passions, John, and I’m sure we can find something that’ll really grab your attention.

It’s also worth considering the benefits of quitting hash. You might find that you have more energy, better focus, and a clearer mind. Plus, you’ll be able to save money and avoid any potential risks associated with smoking.

Now, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, John. Quitting any habit takes time and effort. But with the right mindset and support, you can totally do it. You’ve got this! And remember, it’s not about depriving yourself of something you enjoy – it’s about replacing it with something even better.

Thank you for your concern, Reginald. I’ve indulged in my share of hash back in my younger years and managed to wean myself without your “intelligent” suggestions.

And finally, there is Archibald, who is also concerned about my hashing habit:

Hey John, I’m glad to see you’re getting back into your routines! However, I have to ask – are you sure hash is the best routine for you? I mean, it’s great that you’re finding some structure and consistency, but maybe we can explore some other options that might be even better.

Think about it, John. A routine is supposed to help you feel organized and focused, right? But if your routine is hash, it’s probably causing more stress than relief. Maybe it’s time to take a step back and reassess what’s working and what’s not. Are there other routines or habits that you’ve been wanting to try? Now might be the perfect time to experiment.

Ultimately, the goal is to find a routine that makes your life easier and more enjoyable. So, let’s get creative and see if we can come up with something that works better for you than hash. Sound good?

Archibald, I’ve come up with a solution–I’ll only do the Hash on Mondays. I’ll stick to beer the rest of the time. Problem solved!

Anyway, those were just brief excerpts of long, drawn-out AI advice and guidance for overcoming problems that don’t exist. Does that make it Artificial Stupidity?

It’s March of 2010 in my exodus through the LTG archives. This was one of those “catch-up” posts about the goings-on in my life. I found it interesting that the former friend I mentioned in yesterday’s post (Tom) was featured as a dinner guest back then. Anyway, it’s a nice snapshot of my Korean life with lots of memory-filled photos. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with most of the people who were a part of my life in those days.

At least I haven’t gone broke. Yet. In today’s YouTube video, Reekay discusses the unfortunate expats who end up destitute in a land far from home, with no options for redemption. Welp, my federal pension is as stable and secure as the government that pays it. That’s why I’m so relieved that Kamala is not in charge. Honestly, my biggest fear is that the dollar will collapse in value, rendering my comfortable pension worthless. Of course, it won’t matter if I’m destined to die when China invades. Anyway, I’m not losing sleep over either possibility.

Politics before humor:

Okay, enough of that. Let me leave you with a smile or three:

Time to get back to my day at the beach! Enjoy the life you have while you have it.

…after going fourth. There was no independence from the reign of tropical storm Bising yesterday, but we celebrated anyway. Her majesty has not yet relented her authority to drench all us colonizers residing beneath her throne in the clouds. But I’ve embraced the freedom of being soaked, so bitch, you are powerless to drench my spirit. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Once home, it was time to prepare for the party next door to celebrate both the 4th of July and Fil-Am Friendship Day.

It was a fun gathering and a happy celebration.

It is still February 2010 as I journey through the LTG archives. In this “Blast from the Past,” I recount having some old photographs digitized and sharing some of the story behind this one:

I’m in a Facebook group about Westminster, California, the city where I was raised. Someone posted a photo of the Hi-way 39 Drive-In theatre (who remembers those?), which brought back a flood of memories.

Some other Facebook memories from this day in my life:

Today’s YouTube video discusses why many Filipinos are forced to live in slums. It is worse in the big cities like Manila, but even in my neck of the woods, the poverty is sometimes shocking. The last time I posted a “Grace from the Philippines” vlog, there was some debate about whether Grace is an AI rendering. I still can’t say for certain, but if so, it is probably the best AI I’ve seen.

Humor me this:

And now to get on with my last day in the Philippines. I’m moving the Hideaway feeding to today, and Swan and I will dine at John’s place afterward. There has still been no break in the rain.

I’ll try to knock out a post from Hong Kong tomorrow night, but no promises. Otherwise, it will be Good Morning, Vietnam!

Technically speaking, it was July 4, 1946, that the Philippines were granted independence from the USA, but they have chosen to celebrate their independence from Spain instead (something we also had a hand in providing). Hey, it’s all good. Live free and be happy!

Freedom isn’t free, and often the price is paid for in blood. All the more reason to cherish it and defend it from enemies, both external and internal. Of late, it seems the America-haters inside our borders pose the biggest threat. The America-lovers have more guns, so FAFO if you think you can destroy our country from within.

I posted this parody song twelve years ago, and it is as true now as ever:

Well, let’s see if Trump can drain the swamp once and for all.

Meanwhile, here’s what’s going on in my part of the world:

So, another wet day yesterday, and she ain’t done yet.

My big accomplishment yesterday was securing my finalized Emigration Clearance Certificate from the immigration office in Olongapo City.

Oh, and this happened, too. Swan played a joke on me, but I didn’t fall for it. I still have to appreciate the effort she put into it, even making a video of her trying to gag me.

I deem the relationship 99% recovered.

It should come as no surprise that when the time to head into town for some libations arrived, I didn’t let a little rain stop me.

When it was time to eat, we visited Jewel Cafe.

After our meal, we crossed the highway and popped into what is rapidly becoming one of our favorite bars.

This was our third visit, and once again, we were not disappointed with the laid-back chill atmosphere. The bartender asked if I wanted to change the music, and I told her, hell no, this is just what I like! It’s incredible that there hasn’t been one song during any of my visits that I haven’t enjoyed. What are the odds of that? I need to obtain a copy of that playlist and upload it to my Spotify account.

We also had a pleasant chat with the female manager of Jumpin’ Jacks about plans to attract more customers to the bar. She confirmed that they will not have dancers, which I think is a good thing. Plenty of other bars around for that crowd. She wants to sponsor a pool tournament at least once a week, and they will have a team join the pool league. She also has plans to have a live band play weekly. Then she took us to a nice room in the back that they plan to turn into a karaoke venue. I told her about the norebang (singing rooms) in Korea and that I thought it was a great idea not to let the noise of bad singing intrude on the other bar customers. Her plan is to charge a flat rate for the room use, which can be reduced through the purchase of consumables from the bar. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how things work out, and we will definitely be back again, making Jumpin’ Jacks a regular stop.

We did our nightcap at Candy Bar, a relatively new venue that we’d never previously visited. It’s a dancing bar with a pool table in the back, but there was nothing really that made it stand out in my mind. We were the only customers in the early evening hours on a rainy night. They didn’t have wine, so Swan ordered a margarita. It took the bartender two tries to get it right. Swan knew one of the waitresses from somewhere else long ago, and my friend Narissa is now working at Candy. I met Narissa several years ago at Cheap Charlies, and we took a trip together to Bataan, which I wrote about here. So, we enjoyed some friendly company, and the gals had a lady drink on our tab.

We had a good enough day despite the storm.

In this post from February 2010, I mention vocative commas as if I knew what I was talking about. Obviously, I don’t. I was referring to seeing the Big Hominid posting on his Hairy Chasms blog again. Hey Kevin (see what I did there?), do you remember this post?

Today’s YouTube video is from a new (to me) vlogger, sharing his perspectives on the good and bad of living in the Philippines. Everyone’s experience is different, but yeah, I’ve seen some of the same things he mentions.

Time for some humor:

Last year, I hosted a 4th of July gathering at The Rite Spot. Later today, we’ll be joining the fun at a party that our next-door neighbor, Jeff, is hosting. I’ve been baking corn muffins and brownies that we’ll be adding to the mix. So, tomorrow I’ll have something different to post about. Bet you can’t wait!

And I’ll close with my favorite patriotic song:

Well, this is me we are talking about, so not all that wild. Plenty wet, though.

The Wednesday Walkers braved the rains and embarked on the 7K Philseco loop. Flat and mostly paved, but satisfying nonetheless.

When it was time to head into town for some liquid refreshments, we started at Sloppy Joe’s. I was happy to see the kitchen was open because I was feeling a little hungry. Lots of stuff on the menu, but the item I was looking forward to eating, a sloppy joe sandwich, wasn’t listed. Swan suggested we wait and eat at Mugshots, but I got an order of squid rings to tide me over.

Owner Bert came over to greet us, and I teased him about the lack of sloppy joes at Sloppy Joe’s. He said, ‘Yes, we have,’ and pointed to the menu —the pulled pork sandwich. I politely advised that a real sloppy joe is made with beef. He shrugged, went to the kitchen, and ordered me a pulled pork on the house. That was a kind gesture.

We went next door to Green Room for our nightcap and stayed a tad longer than we usually do, in part because I got gifted two free drinks. Swan bought the girls grilled meat on a stick from one of the street vendors, we handed out cookies and lollipops, and I enjoyed watching a couple of hotties in short skirts playing pool. I guess that was the wild part I referred to in the title.

When we got home, I lacked the energy to sit through a Squid Game episode, so I’ll need to redouble my efforts tonight. Had a good sleep despite being awakened a couple of times by the pounding rain outside. And it still hasn’t stopped. Glad I’m alive to enjoy the weather, rain or shine.

It is still February 2010 as I scroll through the LTG archives. This picture post recounts the adventure of my wellness checkup at a Korean hospital. I must say that walking into the hospital at eight and leaving at noon (with a free lunch voucher!) after a head-to-toe battery of tests is something not to be found here in the Philippines. Hell, my local hospital sent me all the way to Angeles City to get an echocardiogram. Oh well, as I recall, the results from those tests in Korea that day may have put me on a course of meds and lifestyle changes that have kept me alive.

In today’s YouTube video, the Pea is showing pictures of Western guys to Filipinas and getting a rating. Hell, if she had shown the ones of me I posted yesterday, I’m sure I’d have gotten a ten. The video ends after just a little over two minutes, so something must have gone wrong. I’ll update if and when she reposts, but short and sweet works for me.

You knew this was coming:

Sorry, those were all pretty bad even by my low standards. I’ll try to do better tomorrow when the 4th be with me.

I apologize for leaving you in suspense yesterday. My focus was elsewhere. I’m not going to go into a lot of details because it’s all still too up close and personal. Suffice it to say, we hit a big pothole on Relationship Road that did some damage. I wasn’t sure if things could be fixed or not, but we’ve made some progress on the repairs, and as of today, we are moving forward once again. It was a painful reminder to me about how much is at risk when you entrust your heart to another. The prospect of losing the love game yet again made me realize I’m in the now-or-never stage of my life. If destiny (or Karma) dictates that I’m bound to die alone, so be it. I have zero tolerance for drama, and I’ll flee if necessary to avoid it in the future. Going forward, I’ll keep my eyes wide open–one on the road ahead, and one on the rearview mirror for lessons learned.

And now, let’s get back to our regular programming:

It was another Hash Monday, but I opted not to do the Kalaklan climb. My mood was still sour, so I got some documents copied that I needed for my upcoming trip and then embarked on a street walk instead. Yes, Swan and her friend Beth came along.

Still not much interaction when we got home. I went to bed, and Swan stayed up watching television. She was beside me in bed when I awoke, and we started the day with a hug. Progress! I’m still blocked on her Facebook and Messenger, though.

It’s February 2010 as I continue my trek through the LTG archives. This post about all the cars I’ve owned before was full of happy memories. If I hadn’t written about those times back then, I’d have forgotten most of them today. See, this blog does serve a purpose! It remembers what my brain forgets.

I had a chuckle when I came across today’s YouTube video from Reekay about how to end romance drama. NOW you tell me! Truthfully, my problems were nothing like the incidents Reekay mentions. I was treated rudely, and I overreacted; things escalated from there. Hopefully, we’ve both learned some lessons.

A dose of humor medication:

Anyway, it is what it is. Whatever the ultimate outcome, I know that I’ll be okay.

My morning started with an email from Cebu Pacific Airlines telling me I was fucked. Well, the way they worded it was that they were unilaterally changing my flight times to and from Hong Kong, which screwed over my best-laid plans for a week in Vietnam. Instead of departing Clark airport in Angeles City on July 6 in the morning, I was now scheduled to leave late in the afternoon on July 7. So, I had an expensive non-refundable hotel room booked for the 6th in Hong Kong that I couldn’t use. However, the real kicker was that my flight to Da Nang departs on the 7th, before my newly scheduled arrival time on Cebu Pacific. Additionally, the new return flight from Hong Kong on the 13th was scheduled to depart for Manila, not Clark. So much for leaving the car at the airport.

After consulting with my fellow travelers (we’re going with another couple), we came up with a brand new plan. The whole point of booking with Cebu Pacific in the first place was to avoid the dreaded trip to Manila. So, given that there were no other flights from Clark that met our timeframes, we booked with AirAsia out of Manila. We’ll arrive in Hong Kong on the evening of the 6th, which spoils our plans for a full day to explore the city, but allows us to catch our flight to Da Nang as scheduled. I’ve requested a refund from Cebu Pacific, and we’ll see how that works out for me. What a pain in the ass dealing with this was for my frazzled old brain. Here’s hoping the rest of the trip goes hassle-free.

The remainder of the day went better, comparatively speaking. Starting with the Saturday Sweets Stroll.

Swan surprised me yesterday morning when she asked me if I would cook for her. She’s pretty much taken over kitchen duties since we’ve been together. I asked what she was hungry for, and she replied, “beef stew.” Okay, then. Ask and you shall receive!

We didn’t carry umbrellas when we headed into town, and thankfully, we didn’t need them. But shortly after our arrival at Sloppy Joe’s, the skies opened up and the rain poured down.

The nice thing about the Maze is you have six bar options under one roof, so when we were ready for a change of scenery, we went next door to the Alaska Club. Did the usual: lady drinks for our favorite waitresses, a 50 peso tip for the six dancers present, and an order of lumpia from Sit-n-Bull for the staff to share. Then we moved on to Wet Spot for our nightcap. We headed home from there, and Swan was looking forward to a helping of leftover beer stew when we got there. I need to cook for her more often.

In sad news, a longtime mainstay in Angeles, Jimmy Dale, also known as Harry the Horse, passed away yesterday.

Jimmy wrote a newsletter for many years about the nightlife scene in Angeles, and that’s how I became one of his followers. He also owned the Blue Boar Inn, where I had the pleasure of meeting him in person and playing a game of darts back in 2010 during a visit to AC.

He sold his original Harry the Horse newsletter many years ago and had a seldom-updated replacement. He left us with a final post, saying goodbye to his many fans. I hope I get the chance to do something similar when my time on earth is over. Rest in Peace, Jimmy.

I’ve progressed to January 2010 in my journey through the LTG archives. January 4th was a snowy day in Seoul, and the Army sent non-essential staff home early. I walked home and did a post with a lot of photos of a snow-covered Itaewon. I doubt I’ll ever see snow again, not that I miss it.

Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I’ve never watched previously. She does a great job laying out the reasons the Philippines remains a poor country. She confirms what I’ve long suspected. And as she describes the government corruption that led to this sorry state, I couldn’t help but think it had a familiar ring to it. Yep, the good ol’ USA seems to be going down this road as well.

Now we’ll get to the funny stuff:

Another day of being alive is in process. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

I’ve got to rush today’s post as I have a Hash meeting to attend early this afternoon. So, let’s keep it short and sweet. You are welcome!

I mentioned yesterday that neighbor Jeff had never seen the view from the top of Kalaklan Ridge. I volunteered to be his tour guide, and up we went. In fact, everyone on my street tagged along.

A one-minute video clip of what we saw.

Our evening activities included dinner at Sit-n-Bull again, then hanging out at the Green Room until it was time to go home. That was the extent of our ups and downs for the day.

I came across a sweet memory in the November 2009 archives from my days of playing softball. I was big into softball throughout the 70s and 80s, and I wrote about finding a link to an article in the Prescott Courier from August 2, 1979, recounting my exploits on the diamond. I was surprised that the link still works! Anyway, my sporting days are far behind me, but softball is a worthy chapter in The Story of My Life.

Facebook memories shared this photo of me and my not then wife sixteen years ago.

It only hurts until the pain goes away.

For today’s YouTube video, I’ll share this vlogger’s take on whether the Philippines is safe. Shit can happen to you anywhere and anytime. Maybe I’ve been lucky so far, but I feel safer in most aspects of my life here than I would living in the good ol’ USA.

And now your daily dose of humor:

Dave works hard at the plant, puts in a lot of overtime, and then spends most evenings bowling, playing basketball or working out at the gym. His wife, Mary, thinks he is pushing himself too hard, so, for his birthday, she takes him to a local strip club.

The doorman at the club greets them and says, “Hey, Dave, how ya doing?”

Mary is puzzled and asks if he’s been to this club before.

“Oh no,” says Dave. “He works out at the gym with me.”

When they are seated, a waitress asks Dave if he’d like his usual Budweiser.

Mary is now becoming uncomfortable and says, “You must come here a lot for that woman to know you drink Budweiser.”

“No, honey, she’s in the Ladies Bowling League. We share lanes with them.”

A stripper comes over to their table and throws her arms around Dave.

“Hi Davey,” she says, “Want your usual table dance?”

Mary, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club.

Dave follows and spots his wife getting into a cab. Before Mary can slam the door, Dave jumps in beside her. Right away she starts screaming at him.

The cabby turns his head and says, “Looks like you picked up a real bitch tonight, Dave.”

Those who play must pay.

And the curse of reading my drivel is now over. For today.

According to Facebook memories, I discovered this song fifteen years ago. I’m an old-school classic rock guy, but for some reason I came to really enjoy this song (and the video). YMMV.

Back at it again yesterday, doing what it takes to keep life fun. The Wednesday Walkers convened with seven in attendance. Michael’s back and offered to drive the group for an out-of-town adventure. We decided to hike the seldom-traveled Naugsol-Tibag-Naugsol loop and set out to get there. I was a little nervous that the rainy season water levels might make the requisite river crossing difficult, but we made it across unscathed.

A good hike warrants a good meal, and when we got home, Swan made me one.

When it was time for a change of scenery, we saw it from BarCelona. Erik and Cielo met us there, and a bit later, neighbors Jeff and Davina came up to join us.

When Jeff and Davina arrived, we grabbed a table on the roof.

Jeff had never been up on Kalaklan before, so I invited him to join us on a climb today. I’ll post about that adventure tomorrow.

We said goodnight to Jeff and Davina, and went downstairs for dinner at Sit-n-Bull. Erik and Cielo joined us there.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot.

I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but rumors are rife. The story is that Dave has sold his bars (Wet Spot and Green Room) and will be exiting the bar scene. I heard that the SOB will also be discontinued. Tomorrow’s show has been postponed, so we shall see what happens next. Dave has been a fixture here for twenty years. It will be sad to see him go, but nothing lasts forever.

I’m happy to be alive and doing the things I enjoy.

It’s interesting (to me) as I explore the LTG archives and read about things I had totally forgotten about. Like the time in October 2009, someone tried to recruit me to appear in a Korean television commercial. Damn, I coulda been a star!

Congratulations to Smart Girl Philippines on the occasion of her achieving 200,000 subscriptions. In her typical humorous fashion, she reveals some things about herself and how they led her to become a popular vlogger.

The end is near:

We’ll leave it at that for today.

No, I didn’t get royally screwed, because I exercised discretion. I’m talking about my grocery shopping excursion to the Royal Duty Free supermarket, of course. What? You were expecting something exciting? Sorry to disappoint, but Tuesdays aren’t the day for excitement around here. Not that that will stop me from sharing the story of my boring day. Here goes:

My biggest issue with Royal is that the items I want are often out of stock, and when they are available, they are overpriced. Take cheese, for example.

And it wasn’t just the cheese.

Well, I survived the drama and didn’t yield to the temptation to be gouged. When I got back home, I was feeling tired for some reason, but figured I could just walk it off with a neighborhood hike.

And then I heard a rumbling up in the sky that wasn’t thunder.

I’d recovered sufficiently by beer o’clock to make the trek into town for some bar socializing. We began our hop at Sloppy Joe’s, and things seem to be going well under the new ownership. The RSL (Returned Services League, the Aussie version of our VFW) invaded on their after-meeting barhop, so we gave up our space and moved next door to the Alaska Club. We had the usual pleasant visit there before moving on to Nipsey’s. I raved about this place during our previous visit, but those great vibes we enjoyed then were not evident last night. For one thing, they didn’t have red wine available for Swan. And the music being played wasn’t to my liking either. Needless to say, we didn’t stay long. A disappointing nightcap at Cloud 69 followed, so we gave up and caught a trike for home.

Yep, just one of those days where things weren’t bad but could have been better. But there’s always tomorrow, and today is already showing improvement. But that’s for another post.

Back in October 2009, I wrote a post about a week in my life. There was certainly more substance in those days when I had a job to attend to, but even then I was looking forward to the life to come in the Philippines (I was supposed to retire in 2010 and make the move, but fate had other plans for me and I didn’t get here until 2018.)

Let’s check in with Reekay for today’s YouTube video. Reekay talks about the dangers associated with a bad end to a relationship, most of which I somehow managed to avoid during my dating life here. Now, the incidents that happen sometimes when you bring a girl to your hotel room were lessons I learned the hard way. More than once, I had girls helping themselves to things in my pocket when I wasn’t looking.

Maybe you’ll get a smile out of these:

And on that note, I will mercifully end this post.

Welp, I’ve heard it said that candy is dandy but liquor is quicker, so why not enjoy both? A Candy Walk to start the day, and then some alcoholic beverages to wrap things up. Sound familiar?

You’ve seen it all before, so I didn’t bother taking many photos of the Candy Walk. This seven-minute video (feel free to speed it up) of Section 14 of the walk should suffice.

Next on my Sunday agenda was the Hideaway feeding.

Then it was my turn to eat, so I met up with Swan at John’s place.

I hadn’t done enchiladas at John’s for a long time, and one bite in, I remembered why. Damn, that’s spicy hot! I had about half, and even my icy cold Zero beer couldn’t extinguish the fire in my mouth. I shared some of my leftovers with Swan and waited to see her reaction…ouch! The tacos were good, though.

A visit to Red Bar and then a nightcap at Wet Spot. I shared my concerns with manager Bret about Friday’s low-quality SOB. He seemed to acknowledge that it may be time for some changes. We’ll see what happens.

The power went out just before we did, and we heard the unmistakable sound of a transformer blowing. So, I figured it would be at least a couple of hours with no fans to escape the heat. Fuck that, let’s go into town and have breakfast. I enjoyed the irony of hopping into Swan’s electric cart during a brownout for the ride down to the highway (we don’t drive outside the subdivision for safety reasons).

I’ve eaten at Sparrow’s once, shortly after they opened in the space that was formerly John Kim’s The Pub. Since Sparrow’s doesn’t serve alcohol, it is not a good fit for me as a dining option, but I don’t drink at breakfast, so we gave it a shot.

We rarely dine out for breakfast, but Sparrow’s isn’t a bad option when we do. And the power was restored about thirty minutes after we returned home.

From the LTG archives, I began a series in October 2009 called “Yoja of the week.” (Yoja is Korean for woman). Here’s the first entry.

Here’s an update on the asshole vlogger Vitaly. He was granted bail for the criminal charges pending against him, but he is still being held as an “undesirable” by the Philippines’ immigration. So, he still ain’t getting out anytime soon. Being moved from the criminal prison to immigration jail is a slight upgrade in living conditions, but he is still fucked. Deservedly so.

Humor time:

An office manager had money problems and had to fire an employee, either Jack or Jill. He thought he’d fire the employee who came to work late.

The next morning, both employees came to work very early. So the manager thought he would fire the first one who took a coffee break. Unfortunately, neither employee took a coffee break.

Then the manager decided to see who took the longest lunch break. Strangely, neither Jack nor Jill took a lunch break that day. They both ate at their desk.

Then the manager thought he’d wait to see who would leave work earliest, but both employees stayed after closing.

Jill finally went to the coat rack and the manager went up to her and said, “Jill, I have a terrible problem. I don’t know whether to lay you or Jack off.”

Jill said, “Well, you’d better jack off, because I’m late for my bus.”

I’m calling HR!

And now another Hash Monday has arrived.

I’ve seen a map of the trail, and it includes a Kalaklan climb. I’m not so inclined to do that during a thunderstorm, so I’m plotting a course for the second half of the trail. Wish me luck!

The Ruck March is an annual event held to raise awareness about suicide and depression amongst our military veterans. There were over forty in attendance yesterday, including some familiar faces like Dr. Jo and her hubby Chris, along with several other Hashers.

It was a new twist to the usual Saturday stroll, and it was nice to assist in raising awareness on the struggles of some of our veterans.

There were more twists and tweaks to the usual as Saturday evening arrived.

The portions at Jewel are small, and prices are comparatively low ($11 for the steak, $6 for the ribs). Quality is high, and that’s the important thing. I’ll be back today to get food for the Hideaway feeding.

There’s a new bar in town: Jumpin’ Jacks. Well, it just reopened under new ownership on Friday. The old version catered to an elite crowd that doesn’t exist in Barretto (150 pesos for a beer is a no-go for most of us stingy expats), so it was no surprise that it closed in less than a year. We decided to pay a visit and see how we liked the new version.

The first thing we confirmed was that red wine was available. But when they wanted to charge 300 pesos a glass, I was ready to walk back out, but the manager offered us a discounted price, so we took our seats at the bar. Alas, they didn’t have San Mig Zero beer on offer, but I settled for a San Miguel Light instead. I told the bartender Zero was gaining in popularity, and she assured me they’d have some available the next time we visit. Swan and the manager had a lengthy discussion in Tagalog about wines, so I think they’ll be offering the low-cost Carlos Rossi (380 pesos a bottle at Royal) she likes when we return.

We’ll definitely be adding Jumpin’ Jacks to our bar rotation. The staff is friendly and customer-oriented. What we liked best was the music, a great selection of classic rock songs played at a reasonable volume on a quality sound system. We stayed longer than we intended because we enjoyed chillin’ in the ambiance and groovin’ to the tunes. I got to feeling generous, and bought the bartender and four customer-less waitresses lady drinks. Hey, that’s how I roll sometimes, and it helped make a slow night better for them.

We waited for a break in the rain and then were on our way to another relatively new venue that we’d never previously visited, Candy Bar. It’s next door to The Annex, and as we approached, a large group from the Ruck March was hanging out there. Naturally, we got dragged inside to join them.

It was good hanging out with the crowd, Candy Bar can wait for another day.

The next stop on the Ruck March barhop was Hot Zone. We tagged along and made that our last call of the day.

Hold on to your hats, but it was AFTER nine p.m. when we rolled out of Hot Zone and headed home. Another twist in the routine!

It is October 2009 in my journey through the LTG archives, where I wrote this post responding to criticism of Itaewon. Itaewon was transitioning then, and once the Yongsan Army base moved down south, the changes accelerated.

Nine years ago, I was in the Philippines visiting Maria for her birthday.

Here’s a post I wrote about my first (and last) experience in Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown.

We’ll check in with Reekay again for today’s YouTube video, where he discusses finding trustworthiness among women you date. I had some failures along the way, but I ultimately found my success. Oddly enough, I was friends with Swan through her charity work and knew she was trustworthy long before we became a couple.

Today’s effort to make you smile:

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Sad to think that everyone is this video is likely dead now. Talk about twisted.

As days go, yesterday was nothing to write home about. So, I will blog about it instead. I had to take a pass on the Friday group hike because I had a follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist. The bottom line (yep, I could read it) is that I now have 20/20 vision in both eyes. Sometimes, close up, like reading on my laptop, it gets a little blurry. The doc says the lenses in my eyes are for mid to long-range vision, but a pair of reading glasses should resolve that issue. So now I can see my way clear to a happy future, at least for as long as I might have left in this so-called life.

The only other thing I did yesterday was attend the SOB dance competition. Sorry to say, it has really gone to shit. These may be the final days for that long-running event. The big change since my previous attendance is that the Alaska Club has dropped out. Rumor has it that Alaska owner Jerry was pissed that only one of the other SOB bars participated in his recent 20th Anniversary celebration that included a dance competition. The SOB survived losing Hot Zone a couple of years ago, but Alaska has traditionally been one of the bars where the girls really worked on their performance, had fancy costumes, and put on an entertaining show. They will definitely be missed.

So, we are now down to five bars (there used to be eight) in the SOB lineup, and honestly, most of them don’t appear even to be trying. I’m not sure what the answer might be, but perhaps recruiting some new bars into the mix would help. We’ll see what happens, but this could be the end.

So, I drank my money’s worth of beer, spread some joy with cookies, lollipops, and lady drinks, then headed home at the end of the show. Will I be back? Que sera, sera.

By golly, I came upon the rare LTG post with substance during my stroll through the September 2009 archives. In it, I weighed in on the human trafficking controversy in a post called Juicy bars and prostitution.

The Filipina Pea is back with a new YouTube video during which she responds to questions submitted by her viewers. I could relate to the one about breastfeeding in public, something that is commonly seen here in the Philippines. Of course, I always politely turn my head, but it takes some getting used to. The Pea is always fun to watch as she shares her insights on issues with her unique Filipina perspectives.

Shit I think is funny:

A man and a woman are riding next to each other in first class on a plane. The woman sneezes, then takes a tissue and gently wipes it between her legs. The man isn’t sure he saw what she did, and decides he is probably hallucinating.

A few minutes pass. The woman sneezes again. She takes a tissue and gently wipes it between her legs. The man is about to go nuts. He can’t believe that he’s seeing what she’s doing.

A few more minutes pass. The woman sneezes yet again. She takes a tissue and gently wipes it between her legs yet again. The man has finally had all he can handle. He turns to the woman and says, “Three times you’ve sneezed, and three times you’ve taken a tissue and wiped it between your legs! What kind of signals are you sending me, or are you just trying to drive me crazy?”

The woman replies, ” I am sorry to have disturbed you, sir. I have a rare condition such that when I sneeze, I have an orgasm.” The man, now feeling bad, says, “Oh, I’m sorry. What are you taking for it?”

“Pepper,” she replies.

When I posted the above on Facebook, one of the female commenters asked, “Is it contagious?” That was as funny as the joke!

That’s all there was to it, and that’s all I have to say. For now!

Despite not feeling 100%, I tried to make Sunday as routine as possible. Starting with the Candy Walk.

Here’s a video of Section 13 of our walk if you’ve been following along.

My after-hike nap proved to be disastrous, in a shitty way. Today, I’m still liquid but not leaking. Progress!

I also had some hungry girls to feed at Hideaway, so I headed out to fulfill that mission.

Next up was dinner with Swan at John’s place. No surprise, she once again did the birria tacos.

Red Bar has become our Sunday after-dinner stop, and after a glass of wine and some Zeros, Swan asked, Where to next? I said, “Home.” In another indication that I am not fully recovered, I felt fatigued again. Plus, I hadn’t emptied the liquid brown from my intestines for too long, and I didn’t want to do that in a public place. So, we grabbed a trike for home, I took care of business, and I was in bed before eight. Damn, that’s pathetic even by my low standards. Still, I am better than I was and not as good as I’m going to be.

From the LTG archives in July 2009 is the latest update on the Bali adventure about attending a cultural “Fire and Trance” performance. Lots of photos; the next best thing to being there!

Two years ago, I was enjoying some Thai culture on the infamous Soi 6 in Pattaya:

In today’s YouTube video, we hear the claim (sorry about the AI narration) that Filipino culture is having a worldwide impact. I live here and don’t get out much, but are any of you seeing this phenomenon in your country?

And let’s take a moment to smile:

Happy Birthday to Swan! And I’m going to attempt the Hash this afternoon. Life goes on while you have it.

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there.

I got a sweet father’s day card from Swan this morning:

Long-time readers may remember the young woman I call Mary. She was eighteen when we briefly dated which is legal, but WAY to young for an old fart like me. It was when my granddaughter turned eighteen that I knew I couldn’t keep seeing Mary. Anyway, she moved to Manila for a factory job, and I posted about our last evening together here. Mary returned to Barretto several months later, by which time I had moved on with Swan. Mary asked for my financial help so she could attend college in Olongapo. I give her around seventy-five bucks a month, which covers some of her expenses. I don’t hear from her often, but she occasionally updates me on her progress. I’ve told her my expectation is for her to escape the poverty loop, succeed in her career, and then “pay it forward” to help others in need.

Anyway, that’s a long, drawn-out introduction for the Father’s Day message Mary sent me:

Dear John, Happy Father’s Day! I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate you today—not just as an amazing dad, but also as the incredible friend you’ve been over the years. It’s clear how much your kids look up to you, and that’s a testament to the kind of father and role model you are. You’ve always been there for me, through thick and thin, and I’m so grateful for your friendship. It’s like you’re a dad that I never had

Keep being the amazing person you are. Enjoy your day, my friend—you deserve it.

Thanks for the kind words, Mary. Well, that “you’re the dad I never had” line made me cringe a little. But I’m glad I’ve been able to help you pursue your dreams; it’s what dads do.

My ill health, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, has not yet been completely resolved. My temperature is back to normal, and I had enough energy this morning to do the Candy Walk, although it was a struggle. A new symptom, diarrhea, has befallen me, and it’s one of the worst cases in memory. I discovered its onset when I attempted to pass gas and sharted instead. No problem, I will just resist the urge to fart. Except it seems I fart in my sleep, and TWICE during my nap today I soiled my shorts. Yuck!

The appetite hasn’t returned either, although I did have a hamburger patty before walking this morning. You’d think if I weren’t eating much, there wouldn’t be anything in the bowels, but alas, that’s not the case.

Today I haven’t eaten anything other than that burger patty, and I’m still not hungry. It’s like being on a diet without even trying!

From the July 2009 LTG archives is another installment of the report on my trip to Bali. Everyone raves about the beaches in Bali, but I enjoyed our stay in the mountains at Ubud even more. Lots of pictures in that post to show you why. I believe this was also the first trip out of the country I took with my future wife, Jee Yeun. Oddly enough, I spelled her name differently back then.

Today’s YouTube video is about an expat who got ill (and diarrhea) from something he ate. I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure what I had to eat that may have led to this. I had that enchilada dinner at Sit-n-Bull on Friday night, but my early symptoms don’t seem food-related (fever, lethargy). I threw up once on Saturday afternoon, but the diarrhea didn’t hit me until late Saturday night. Well, hopefully, this too shall pass (preferably into the toilet).

Now for the funny business:

Misery loves company. Thanks for joining me!

Most men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, at the best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principal appetites of the soul.” –Aldous Huxley

It almost seems like Huxley suffered through daily reads here at LTG. Sometimes, I do feel like I’m playing out the string of whatever days that remain in this lifetime. But I honestly can’t help but think that I’ve earned the right to enjoy my time here in a laid-back and uncaring manner. Lord knows, I’ve been transcending myself for over fifty years; I need a break!

I’ve been ill today for the first time in a long time: lethargy, loss of appetite (nothing since breakfast), fever, and nausea (threw up once, but my stomach was mostly empty) are the symptoms du jour. Swan, bless her heart, is a certified caregiver, and she’s been working hard all afternoon to give me some comfort. And now I feel strong enough to subject you to more of the pain you’ve come to expect here.

I hadn’t had a hike since Monday’s Hash, but no one in the Friday group felt the need to hit the trail. Swan and I undertook our own journey, walking the seven kilometers from our house to WalterMart on the backroads of San Isidro, Naugsol, and Manga Vacca. It felt good to be out and about once again.

We skipped the SOB last night and started out at Sloppy Joe’s. Then we visited Sit-n-Bull for our dinner.

After a brief nightcap at The Green Room, we called it a night and headed for home.

And there you have it, a day with not much to blog about, but that didn’t stop me. As usual.

In July 2009, I was blogging about my trip to Bali. Loads of pictures from my second day there. Damn, looking back, it was the best vacation of my life. In the coming days, I will talk more about some of the happenings. No energy to do so today.

For today’s YouTube video, we’ll visit Smart Girl Philippines with a story as short and sweet as she is (one and a half minutes). She says giving money to your girl’s family will not endear you to them. My method is giving Swan a healthy allowance; she can spend it as she sees fit. I know she helps some of her nieces with school supplies and stuff, but I never get asked. That works for me.

Here’s some humor before I go lay down again:

And that’s it for now. Today has been a good reminder of how quickly things can change health-wise. I’m glad it wasn’t more serious, but the fact that I’ll be staying home on a Saturday night and not drinking at all demonstrates how whupped I’m feeling. Hopefully, I’ll recover in time for tomorrow’s Hash.

Yesterday was all about preparing for and then enjoying the Independence Day gathering at The Rite Spot On The Roof. I thought we might have overdone it on the food, but the turnout was larger than expected, and there were plenty of eats and drinks for everyone. I was also worried about the weather, having experienced three straight days of heavy rains. And then, in an almost Moses-like fashion, the clouds parted and our patch of land was spared from rainfall for the remainder of the day.

Yes, I added pineapple chunks to the mix. It struck me that chili was a dish of Spanish origin. Not wanting to be disrespectful to the holiday’s history, I Filipino-ized the recipe by adding the national fruit. Hey, Filipinos like pineapple on their pizza, so why not in chili?

For your enjoyment, here’s a minute and a half of the party vibe, including karaoke, that I recorded:

It was a nice get-together, and everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy themselves. Is there a better definition of success? Maybe we’ll do it again for the 4th of July.

From the LTG archives is a June 2009 post from Bali, Indonesia. The first day of my first (and last, so far) visit to that island paradise.

Today’s YouTube video takes us back to a time before air conditioning. I have aircon in my house, but I almost never use it. I keep cool with fans and open windows. I guess I’ve adapted myself to the climate, preferring outdoor/open-air bars to chilled ones inside.

Let’s have a smile or two before I go:

I enjoyed a non-routine day, but now it’s time to get back to normal. We’ll see how that works out for me.