A rock and a hard place

The Friday hiking group tackled Black Rock yesterday. The getting up part isn’t so bad, but the coming down can be a bitch. That was the case with yesterday’s descent. It’s always steep and rocky, but add in patches of slick and slippery, and it can be a real pain in the ass. Literally. We all made it down safe and sound, and the remainder of the trek was mostly pleasant–except for a creek crossing and the portion on the highway. But that’s all part of the adventure, I suppose.

Heading out up the highway
Seven brave souls for the journey this week
Heading up through this hillside village
A brief woodsy interlude
Back on the pavement
And then the climb to Black Rock commences
Almost to the top
The summit of our accomplishment
A view of Barretto and the Kalaklan Ridge
Calapacuan and Subic Bay
That’s Alta Vista on the hill across the valley
A zoom shot of my house (on the right) from atop Black Rock
And a zoom of Black Rock from my house
Stop, you’re killing me!
Our next destination
This was the easy part of the down
This not so much
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor
Watch your step!
The end of the down
That’s more like it
Yes, someone lives there. He gave us a friendly greeting as we passed by.
A creek crossing ahead. A couple of the guys were able to jump it. A couple of others tried and failed. I just waded across.
Taking time to smell the flowers
A balloon vendor. That’s something you don’t see every day.
Looking up to where we were looking down
Ministry of Lectors? Sounds rather cannibalistic to me.
Finishing up back on the highway
8K, including a climb. Not bad for an old fucker.

The afternoon adventure was attending the SOB dance competition held this week at La Oficina. I do not visit this bar often; in fact, the last time I was there was several months ago, also for an SOB. I arrived a little before the 5 p.m. opening but was allowed to come in, sit down, and order a beer. It always amazes me when the waitress remembers my name in a place I almost never frequent, but mine did. I secured two seats as Swan would be joining me when the show started at six. I entertained myself by watching the La Oficina dancers practice their routines. Not long after five, another customer came in and asked that the four seats next to mine be reserved for him and his friends. The waitress did so, and he departed.

As time went on, the bar rapidly began filling up with SOB attendees. One guy came to sit in the previously reserved but still empty seats and went ballistic when told he couldn’t do so. He screamed at the bar manager, then yelled at Daddy Dave, who runs the SOB, before storming out. I don’t think he got a refund. Shortly thereafter, the four guys came and filled the seats. By the time the show started, there wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

The SOB format includes free local drinks during show hours between six and eight, which are included in the 700 peso price of admission. I take it as a challenge to consume my money’s worth. When Swan arrived, she ordered her usual glass of red wine. When the waitress brought the wine, she said, “That will be 150 pesos.” Swan told her drinks were supposed to be free, and the waitress responded that wine isn’t considered a “local drink.” Swan told her to take it back then. A bit later, the waitress returned looking glum and said that the glass of wine was being deducted from her salary. Shit. I know that would be at least half of her daily pay, so I had her bring the wine back, and I paid for it. I complained (civilly) to Daddy Dave. He went and spoke with the manager, and then the manager came to me and said the next wine would be free. When Swan was ready for a second glass, she told the waitress what the manager had said. When the waitress returned empty-handed, she told Swan it was still not allowed. Apparently, the so-called manager has no real authority in the bar. I offered to pay the difference between the local drink and wine prices, but that wasn’t acceptable either. I shrugged and told her, okay, so you are losing my future business over fifty pesos. Swan got a Gatorade instead. Fuck you, La Oficina. We won’t be back, even for an SOB.

We stopped in downstairs at Wet Spot for a bit of the SOB Aftermath. My raffle ticket wasn’t drawn in the first round, and I’d had more than enough beers, so we grabbed a trike for home.

I had eaten a few chicken fingers during the SOB and was surprised to later see how many calories that cost me. But the real culprit in my missing my calorie goal yesterday was the twelve San Mig Zeros I downed during the evening.

Oh, well. I skipped breakfast this morning to make up for the deficit.
You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. I’ll make it a gin and soda night next time.

So, how about some memories from the good ol’ days in Korea:

I was steppin’ it up seven years ago.
And I didn’t let a little snow stop me
Hmm, what’s that alien spacecraft-looking thing in the distance?
Ah, a Twosome Place coffee house with a view!
I was a lonesome onesome guy back then, but I went up for a coffee and the view before continuing my long-ass walk.

Damn, I hope I can recapture some of those glory days in my walking life. Maybe I should just be glad I’m still walking at all. I saw today on Facebook that an old dart buddy in South Carolina died yesterday. He was only 53 and succumbed to cancer. RIP Dennis.

Today’s YouTube vlogger tells us about the five things he doesn’t like about life in the Philippines. Yeah, there are some frustrations that come with the territory, but here we are, and here we will remain.

Humor me this:

Life’s a gas
Yeah, FAFO.
Hope you enjoyed your visit to the Philippines, Gandalf!

The big news today is that the Kokomo’s floating bar is now open. So, I’ll be headed out to Baloy Beach with some “welcome back” brownies for the crew. I’ll share some pictures of the event here tomorrow—maybe even a sunset!

A bakers dozen

I challenged myself yesterday, something I rarely do anymore. Lately, an 8K walk is long for me and pretty much maxes me out. That notorious distance walker, Kevin Kim, recently posted he was going to test an injured foot with a “short” 10K hike. Hmm. Well, that inspired me to take a “short” walk and see how it feels. My goal was 10K, but I picked a route where I could easily bail if need be after 7K. I was in for quite a surprise. Once I hit the 10K target, I just kept on going to see how far these tired old legs could carry me. I finally said “enough” when I hit 13.5K and was standing in front of a trike stand. So, that was a long walk for this version of me, but as the memory photos I posted yesterday show, it was far from a record performance. My longest walk ever was back in December 2017, when I managed 38K (50,000 steps). At the time, I called that achievement a once-in-a-lifetime event, and that is likely the case. Here’s the post I wrote about the adventure. And seeing all those photos from my Pyeongtaek neighborhood really made me miss a life I never fully appreciated. Anyway, I’m motivated to push myself and see just how much I have left in me. My fantasy is to do a 29K walk to Mope Resort in San Narciso. I almost made it halfway there yesterday. We’ll see what the future brings.

Here’s some of what I saw along the way during yesterday’s long trek:

The home I left behind at the beginning of my journey
Leaving the ‘hood through the backdoor
Into the flatlands
On a street in San Isidro
The view at 1.6K. Yep, that’s rice drying directly on the pavement.
What I call Naugsol Falls
A Naugsol valley view
Over the Matain River
At 3.2K I was entering the village of Naugsol
I don’t know why this sign at a small shop on the road in Naugsol caught my eye, but it gave me a chuckle. “Ukay” is the word for used clothing. Manage your expectations, indeed!
The backside of Easter Mountain
4.8K found me on this lonely stretch of roadway.
On the river that runs through Mangan-Vaca
Still on the riverside at 6.4K
Over the river, I go
A Mangan-Vaca street scene
Waltermart is where I usually catch a Jeepney back to Barretto after this hike. Onward!
Checking my spelling and hyphenation. Got it right this time!
I was strolling down the National Highway in Subic town at 8K
The decorated barangay hall in Subic
A fully loaded Jeepney
You were destined to live a L. Ong life, Antonio. I’m hoping for more than 79 years.
9.6K on the highway in Calapandayan
Brown people can drive too, you know.
Retreating from the highway onto the market street in Calapacuan
No cars! My kinda road.
Trading lollipops for smiles
11.2K took me to the backstreets of Calapacuan
Through this narrow passage
Back on the National Highway in Matain at 12.8K
What I look like in a trike after a 13.5K walk. I was oozing light.
The “short” hike I’ve been longing for. If I’d walked the rest of the way home, I’d have hit 15K. Next time, perhaps.

Anyway, I was tired and a little sore when I got home. Swan made me a lunch of shrimp and asparagus that I very much enjoyed.

I was halfway done before I remembered to take a photo.

After a shower, a nap, and a blog post, it was time to hit the road again. First stop: the Angel’s Touch Salon for a foot spa.

My feet deserved some kindness after what I’d put them through
Swan enjoyed her treatment, too.

I also got a haircut while there. When we left, I was hungry, so we made Myleen’s our dinner destination.

I couldn’t find any low-carb options, so I went with the chicken enchiladas, but I only ate half of them.

Did our nightcap at Green Room. On the way in, we saw the Hash Grandmaster and his gal at Sloppy Joe’s. They joined us in GR later. It was a nice night out and a good day full of what passes for adventure in my life.

The tally for the day after steppin’ things up a notch
Calories in, calories out. Came in under my daily goal and burned more than usual.

Speaking of which, today is the weekly weigh-in. How’d I do?

  • This week’s weight: 246.6
  • Last week’s weight: 250.2
  • Weight loss: 3.6 pounds
  • Weight on November 1: 267.1
  • Overall reduction: 20.5 pounds

No reduction this week in my belly circumference (49″). My waist is down 1/2 inch to 43.5.

I’ve just got to keep on keepin’ on. I’ll reach my goal or die trying!

Things Facebook reminded me to remember today:

Four years ago, I enjoyed some pecan pie a la mode. That’s an indulgence I can no longer afford. But I’ll give thanks next Thursday for pumpkin pie!
Eight years ago, I purchased this book from my friend Choonae Kim, the author. She’s just back from another Cuba tour—sweet woman, by a socialist through and through.

Today’s YouTube video is about people even dumber than I am.

Probably better to laugh at stuff like this:

Sounds racist
That’s something I’m trying. Swan doesn’t seem to appreciate it, though.
He’s got a point.

Alright, then. Gonna do the SOB tonight at La Oficina. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Righting a wrong

This week, the mission of the Wednesday Walkers group was to find the portion of the Hash trail I missed on Monday and hike the bastard. My plan was to start at the finish and walk the trail backward. Ed, who hadn’t missed the turn, advised against this, saying it was a steep and long down that would not be much fun to climb. I didn’t argue the point, and after hiking it myself, I was thankful we had followed his wise advice. We weren’t ready to stop once we’d hit bottom, so I led the group on a path I had recently discovered. We finished the hike with a little over 6K behind us, and then some of the group did a bit of R&R at The Rite Spot. It was a good morning on trail!

This week’s edition of the Wednesday Walkers
Heading for the hills
A pause to refresh at Four Corners
Into the grass we go
Thankfully, it was a brief interlude
That’s better
The Easter Mountain view
The turn I missed. I can’t blame it on the lack of trail marks.
In my defense, I’d never come down this way before and didn’t know there was even a trail here.
The view from here
Much better going down than climbing up
At the bottom
Back in the familiar territory of Marian Hills
Now, it was my turn to show the group a new path.
This is the route I discovered when the temporary bridge was gone, and I wanted to avoid wading the river or retreating the way I’d come.
Goat block ahead
Through a field of yellow flowers
Standing proudly upright, even in death
Ed didn’t realize he’d lost a sunglass lens until I pointed it out
The final climb up to my street
Guests at The Rite Spot
A Rite Spot view
The route we walked

When it was time to head into town for some evening entertainment, we kicked things off at It Doesn’t Matter. I was thinking we’d have some liquid refreshments, then head over to Myleen’s for dinner. Oddly enough, when the dinner hour arrived, neither of us felt particularly hungry. So, instead, we paid a visit to Alaska Club. The place was pretty busy with a pool tourney in progress and several other customers. One was a big spender who called all the dancers down from the stage for lady drinks—saved me from my usual fifty peso tip per dancer, so thanks for that! We treated our waitress and the new mamasan (someone Swan knew from years ago) to a lady drink, and I had cookies and lollipops for the other gals. One unique aspect of the Alaska Club experience is they provide a free bowl of freshly popped popcorn at the table. We all snacked on that until it was time to go home, and I was able to successfully skip dinner calories. I did enjoy my pudding dessert, though.

My best day of dieting so far

And now for a stroll down memory lane:

I don’t believe I’ve topped that step count since this day four years ago.
This from six years ago remains my unbroken record for steps in the Philippines. I wasn’t sure how I managed that, so I checked the blog archives and saw that I had done a three-hour hike that day with the now-defunct Sausage Walkers.

These two memories are significant based on something that happened today. But that’s a story for tomorrow!

And seven years ago, back when my life had purpose and meaning, I was doing this:

The SOFA negotiations between the US and Korean governments
What’s that say?
I represented the Americans dealing with issues related to our Korean workforce at USFK.

It was cold that morning, too:

What a dripping faucet does below freezing.

Good times!

Today’s YouTube video is a little different. It talks about why, after three hundred years of Spanish rule, the Spanish language never took root in the way English did after the Americans took over. It’s less than five minutes long, but it explains something I’ve wondered about since moving here. Spanish is my second language (well, I passed the required courses in college), but it is as useless here as my limited Korean vocabulary. Actually, because of the love of K-dramas/K-pop and the influx of Korean tourists, my “kamsamnida” is recognized more often than a “muchas gracias” is. Oh well, I’ve learned to say “salamat” as well.

And now for some humor:

I guess the jokes on me
They actually have a word in Tagalog for when Filipinas give you the silent treatment: “tampo”
Sounds right!

I’m going to take Swan along for a foot spa and a haircut (for me). We’ll have dinner at Myleen’s, and then we’ll see where the beverages are flowing. Come back tomorrow for a report on my solo walk this morning.

Lock out below!

I’ll get to that. But let’s start from the beginning, shall we? It wasn’t a bad day for a Tuesday.

Shopping day at Royal. Christmas carols playing and some pretty impressive decorations.

But I’m still thinking of that other holiday…the one we Yanks call Thanksgiving. And I impulsively decided to prepare a feast at home this year.

I bought this frozen 11-pound bird for “only” fifty bucks

I also bought the fixin’s to make candied yams and my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad. I’ll pick up some additional things next week after I’ve finalized the menu planning. It has been over a decade since I prepared a Thanksgiving dinner. Looking forward to it.

My box freezer died, so on the way back from Royal we stopped at the Savers appliance store. I decided a big side-by-side fridge/freezer was a better option than replacing the box-style freezer, and this big beauty was on sale:

Hopefully, that’s seven hundred bucks well spent.

I didn’t use to walk on Tuesdays, but every step counts in my quest to lose weight, so for the second week in a row, I strolled through the neighborhood.

Just a little over 3K, but better than nothing.
A warm walk under beautiful skies

We spent our Tuesday evening on Baloy Beach.

We weren’t far from the house when I realized I’d forgotten to bring my phone. Swan waited while I went back and fetched it. This event would become slightly more significant when we returned home after our night out.
Swan is happiest with her toes in the sand
A nice longish walk on the beach
And then we arrived at Kokomo’s

No other customers this time, and none of that cursed videoke crap.

We pulled up a seat at the bar and took in the view
Yep, the sun was going down in a blaze of glory
It never gets old for me.
It was a gin and soda night for me

So, the bar staff invited me to plug into the Bluetooth speaker and play whatever I liked from my Spotify app. The music was extra special last night! I caught myself singing along with some of my old favorites and noted the hypocrisy of my karaoke complaints. It’s okay when I do it!

Thank you for your service, have a lady drink
Good times!

When it was time for some grub, we took a beach walk back to Treasure Island. I was getting a little tired of ignoring my favorite dishes and settling on salad instead. So, I perused the menu and checked the ‘net for calorie content. I found one item I rarely eat, but it seemed like a bargain at 325 calories.

So I enjoyed me some chicken parmigiana. I gave the fries away.

During our Treasure Island visit, our neighbor Mike came by and joined us at the bar (he ate my fries). We attended the same high school, so we share the commonality of a Westminster, California upbringing. I invited him to join us for the Thanksgiving feast I’m plotting. When it was time to go home, we had a comfortable ride in his automobile.

Once inside the house, I set about making a batch of sugar-free pudding for my dessert. And that’s when Swan discovered the keys to the bedroom were missing and the door was locked.

I always lock the door when we leave the house as an added layer of security for my laptop and hidden-away cash reserves. I always leave the key in a cup on the kitchen counter. Swan emptied the cup, but there were no keys to be found.

I had unlocked the door when I returned for my phone and locked it again when I left. It didn’t make sense that I wouldn’t leave the keys in the usual place, but maybe in my rush, I left them in the room. Now what? We grabbed a hammer and screwdriver and thought about breaking the lock, but we didn’t really have a clue about how to proceed with doing that. Swan then said she would borrow the neighbor’s ladder and climb in through a bedroom window. Nope, that was way too risky for my thinking (and I’m way too big to crawl through a window to do it myself). So, we fetched my part-time helper’s boyfriend up from the basement. The new plan was for him to climb the ladder to the bedroom patio and then cut through the screen door to unlock it from the outside. Let’s do it!

That’s the view from the patio looking down to the ground. Not much margin for error.
The torn screen is evidence that our plan worked!

Once inside the newly unlocked bedroom, the keys were nowhere to be found. Had I put them in my pocket and then lost them somewhere on the beach? The mystery was solved when my helper Teri returned home. She had gone into the bedroom to finish cleaning after we had left and then taken the door keys with her by mistake. Thanks for that, Teri. Well, I now carry a bedroom key on my keychain, so an event like this will never reoccur.

And I also just realized that I have posted online a method for breaking into my house for the world to see. Oh, well, I’ll take my chances.

Progress continues…

In other news, today was the viewing of John Kim’s body before his burial tomorrow. I didn’t attend because I prefer to remember people as they were, not their dead bodies.

I didn’t know he was only fifty-eight. Way too young to go.

Today’s YouTube video tells the story of a guy who got caught with a married woman. I guess I’m in no position to judge. Swan has never been married. I think this guy goes too far in his criticism of dating married women. Many have been abandoned. I met one whose “husband” was working overseas and had started a new family there. But divorce is not legal in the Philippines, so she was stuck. Anyway, unless the spouse files a complaint, you can’t be charged with adultery. So, be aware and do what works for you.

Alright, how about these?

Like me trying to have a conversation with my driver…
I wonder if his job is blocking searches that have conservative viewpoints in the results?
If at first you don’t succeed, fry, fry again.

Nothing specific in my plans for tonight, but it is likely to involve bars and alcohol. We shall see.

Nothing stays the same

You live until you die and make the best of the time you have. Well, at least you fill the hours, however comfortably and well. I’ve got my routines, and they wouldn’t be routines if I didn’t enjoy them. Perhaps it appears that I am wasting the gift of life, but I’m exercising the right to choose my path unless and until I choose a different one. I guess the recent passing of John Kim triggered these moments of self-reflection. Of course, there is no resolution until the final one that death brings. In the meantime, all we can do is keep moving forward and hope for the best. Way back in those wild and wooly 1970s, I was a big fan and reader of what we called “underground comics.” R. Crumb was one of my favorites. He answered the age-old question of the meaning of life in a way I’ve never forgotten:

Good to know (and remember)!

So, I just had a little adventure as I searched for that comic cover above. One of the images in the search result included a link to an old post here at Long Time Gone:

Wow! That was a first. I’m practically famous!

That link referred to this post from 2010, in which I was doing a similar navel-gazing session. All these years later, here I am, reaching the same conclusion–it don’t mean shit!

On with it, then. My Sunday morning featured the Candy Walk with Swan. Pretty much the same as always, although we carried additional treats this time and serviced a record-setting 250 children. Hmm, maybe “serviced” is the wrong word, but you know what I mean.

There she goes again
The additional candy volume required me to carry a bag and a full backpack
The walk of life
And so it begins
The Marian Hills group
More regulars
Special delivery
The most popular gal in town. At least on Sunday morning.
Crossing the river on Bridge #3
An Easter Mountain Sunday shot
Muddy roads won’t stop her from her mission
Come and get it!
5.5 kilometers of sweetness

Typhoon Pepito thankfully proved to be a dud, at least in this neck of the woods. There was a heavy downpour in the afternoon, and that was about it. Nothing I couldn’t resolve by carrying an umbrella when I headed out to Hideaway for the feeding.

Hideaway is decorated for Santa (not me, the other one)
The staff was happy with their gift of food. And lady drinks.
Down the hatch!

And then, it was time to pay my first visit to John’s place without John being present in this world. I felt the sad vibe that permeated the restaurant when I walked through the door. A “remembrance” with lighted candles and this photo of John was positioned on the counter near where he used to sit in his recliner:

It was sad being there without him

John’s wife, Lin, was not around, which is understandable. John’s memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday in Olongapo. I was hoping to ask Lin whether she needed any assistance, but there was a donation jar set up, so I was able to contribute.

I don’t know how things will be going forward for the restaurant. Rent has to be expensive for two floors on the National Highway. Perhaps a smaller venue can be found to save money. Some potential warning signs that John’s absence doesn’t bode well for the future included being out of gin and discovering that the Korean-style chicken wings I’ve always enjoyed were “unavailable.” Anyway, I understand the focus for now is on mourning, and I’m withholding any judgment and hoping for the best possible outcome.

Swan had the crunchy chicken wings
And I did the tenderloin steak, which was delicious as usual. I gave the fries to Swan, of course.

We did our nightcap at the Green Room and had a pleasant enough time. Then, it was home to my sugar-free pudding, and then off to bed.

And I managed to stay under my calorie cap

And now, some memories. I participated in the ill-fated Hash run in San Antonio five years ago.

The last picture I took on the Hash trail that day
The next thing I knew, we were being captured by the Philippine Navy.
After two hours of confinement, our captors decided to set us free. We had mugshots taken and were required to sign a statement that we had not been mistreated.

The area where we were accused of trespassing had no fences or keep-out signs. I wrote about the experience here.

Today’s YouTube video features Reekay advising folks to “keep it simple.” I agree, and as regular readers know, it doesn’t get much simpler than the life I’m living. I also go out of my way to avoid drama. That’s the sweetest part of my relationship with Swan; she doesn’t play those games.

And now those funny things:

I’ve done enough river crossings on my hikes to attest to the truthfulness of this statement
You can’t save those who don’t want to be saved
Just follow the Hash trail markings

Speaking of the Hash, it’s that day again. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and he is known for both his well-marked trails and their difficulty. I am sure today will not be an exception because I’ve seen the map. I’ve already pre-planned my shortcut! I’ll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.

And the “first time hearing” reaction video:

Live it while you got it

Another day in the life successfully completed. No complaints and no apologies. What passes as a good time for me may not seem that meaningful, but I know I’ll miss these days when they are gone. So, as we used to say back in the day, Keep On Truckin’! The irony that the name of the group that made that saying popular was Grateful Dead just hit me. Jerry Garcia died at age 53, so I’m grateful to be still alive!

The Friday hikers traveled to Castillejos and did a river walk to Balon Falls. We did this hike several months ago, so I was not disappointed to discover that what has been deemed “falls” is basically water running downhill. Still, it was a scenic and pleasant journey and we all agreed it is worth the trip a couple of times a year.

The Friday adventurers
It’s all upriver from here
Looks like a nice place to hangout. Who’s bringing the beer?
Passing by a Preda Foundation home, we saw that it was laundry day, and the children were working hard in the river. I made a donation of two cookie bags and some lollipops. Maybe they should offer Preda Tours. Hmm, maybe not.
That path ain’t gonna walk itself
The first of three water crossings
Time for a climb
There’s a story in those steps…just no idea what it might be.
And now to figure out how best to get to the other side
That worked
And soon enough, it was time cross again
Doesn’t look like falls to me
A rocky uphill path to traverse
Eventually, we reached this isolated Aeta (native) village
A tree I rather liked
This scene gave me a peaceful, easy feeling. Didn’t see any Eagles, though.
Native children like cookies, too
There are worse places to live.
Starting one more long climb
Scattered dwellings along the way
This photo doesn’t do them justice, but those bushes are covered in pretty yellow blossoms.
A view from the top
Passing through a small village on the way back down
I’m not sure what religion this crucified glove represents
It felt longer than 5K but was a very pleasant hike.

When I got back home, Swan served me lunch.

A tasty ribeye with broccoli and brussel sprouts

I’m included in a Facebook Messenger group called “Usual Suspects.” It’s some of the neighborhood folks and other friends. Matt had just returned from a two-week tour of Vietnam, so a welcome home gathering was convened at Thumbstar bar. The fellas and their gals clustered around a large table (guys on one end, girls on the other, of course), and the beer and beverages flowed. We raised a glass in memory of John Kim, talked some politics, and filled the hours until it was time to depart for dinner. A consensus was reached to visit the nearby Hops and Brews, and off we went.

There was a lovely full moon last night. And yeah, the weekend traffic on the National Highway sucks. It’s definitely a game of Frogger trying to cross.
We were nestled in our private Karaoke room. This photo was taken before the gals had their wine delivered. The patriarchy dictates that beer be served first!
And a little bit later, as everyone satiated their thirst for alcoholic beverages.
I had this small serving of pulled pork with a side of cole slaw.
The Hops and Brews owner has this HUGE dog. He and Swan became good friends.

Yes, some loud karaoke broke out during our visit. I didn’t participate; perhaps I wasn’t drunk enough. When it was time to go, most of the group headed to Red Bar. I was out of calories, so we hitched a ride home with neighbor, Mike, for the usual early ending of my Friday night.

When I woke up early this morning, I saw that the moon had followed me home and was peeping through my bedroom window. Pervert!

For those of you following along, here is yesterday’s report card:

I just made it under budget.

Another day, and another typhoon is headed our way.

It is very late in the year for a large storm like this. It is a good thing the floating bars are not out.
We had some rain this afternoon, but tomorrow is supposedly the big day. I do love the name “Pepito” for a typhoon.

And now for the memories:

Seven years ago, I was hiking in Pyeongtaek on a snowy day. Don’t see much of that these days.
Six years ago, I opened one of my poetry books to the page bookmarked by this old rose. That’s a Richard Kavanaugh poem. In an interesting twist of fate, Swan enjoys reading poetry. It warms my heart to see her sitting on the couch with a book of poems in her lap. Yes, it took me long enough to find her, didn’t it?

Today’s YouTube video is more news about Pepito. Could be a wet Hash on Monday.

Let’s give ’em something to laugh about:

Nothing beats being tied up
I’m not so sure about that
That’s a shitty barber

Well, the rain stopped, at least for now. I’ll take that as a sign to escape from the house for a bit this evening. Not sure where we will go, but I’m thinking we’re overdue for a visit to Kon-Tiki. Never been there on a Saturday, so it might be interesting to see how different that vibe feels, if at all. We’ll see how it goes as I keep on truckin’ through the day…

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been

And the “first time hearing” reaction video:

John’s gone

You will be missed, my friend. Rest in Peace.

John Kim, of John’s Sushi and Steak fame, passed away yesterday. He had been dealing with kidney failure and dialysis for the past year. Last Sunday, he suffered a stroke. Word on the street was that he had been comatose ever since, and the end came shortly after they removed him from life support. Tough way to go, but at least his suffering has ended. I’m not sure what the future holds for his restaurant, but I expect it will not survive without him at the helm.

Meanwhile, I’m inspired to continue living my life to the fullest as long as I am able. Swan was getting her driver’s license in Olongapo, so I did a long-neglected solo street stroll through the streets of Barretto. In honor of the event, I took a photo at each milestone:

One mile in, I stood in front of Barretto’s Catholic church.
Two miles found me on Abra Street
Three miles took me to the narrow passageway leading to Gomez Extension
Four miles found me taking the slummy backway into Alta Vista
And Buddy was there to greet me when I arrived back home
7.11 kilometers door-to-door…heh, my own 7-Eleven Hash trail!

I had a 3 p.m. appointment for my first chelation therapy treatment with Dr. Jo. It went fine once she found a vein willing to be poked with a needle. She said the standard is thirty-plus weekly sessions at 2000 a pop. Hey, if it keeps me alive a little longer, it is worth it. I haven’t noticed any adverse side effects thus far. I had been experiencing some body aches and foot pains during sleeping hours, but they weren’t in evidence last night. I’m not saying chelation had anything to do with that, but I hope it is more than a coincidence.

It was still early when my session with Dr. Jo was completed, but there was no point in going back home to wait for beer o’clock. My helper Teri had never visited the Central Park Reef hotel rooftop before, so that is where we started.

The rooftop bar and restaurant are decorated in the style of the 1950s. I love this ’54 Corvette! The girl is nice, too.
And when was the last time you saw a jukebox?
At eight stories, Central Park Reef is the tallest building in Barretto. It affords great views like this one looking towards Baloy (that peninsula is part of Baloy, and the actual beach is on the other side).
The bay from here
Teri and Swan taking it all in…I hadn’t been up here in over a year, so it was nice to see again.
The pool to infinity
And Barretto Beach. That large white building at the base of Kalaklan Ridge is the hospital where John died. I wondered how he was doing as I sat there, taking in the view. I had a bad feeling this would be the outcome.

We finished our glasses of wine and headed down to the beach.

Swan’s paradise. That’s the Central Park Reef Hotel in the background.

We continued the beach walk until we arrived at the Papagayo Resort and stopped in for dinner.

The view from our table at Papagayo
And the sundown shot

So, I usually go for the enchiladas when I dine here, but I overcame my urge and explored other options, settling for a grilled chicken breast dish.

I’ve never eaten chicken breast on a stick before, but it tasted okay. I gave Swan the mashed potatoes.

That photo seems to capture my new dietary lifestyle. But fewer calories on my plate make room for more alcoholic beverages. And we made Green Room our next stop. It was my gin and soda night, and I intended to stop at five. But Daddy Dave joined us at our table and bought a round, so I ended up imbibing six for the night.

Oops! I exceeded my daily calorie goal, but not by a lot. I can and will do better!

Commenter Kevin mentioned something called “Intuitive Eating.” I joked that it reminded me of the seafood diet—I see food, and I eat it. I honestly don’t see how eating intuitively would work for me. My hybrid plan (reduce calories and burn more while making healthier low-carb menu choices) forces me to think about what goes in my mouth. Relying on my brain to tell me to eat when I feel like it is the reason I’m fat now.

Speaking of which, today is weigh-in day, and here is where things stand:

  • Weight on November 15: 250.2 lbs
  • Last week’s weight: 258.7 lbs
  • Weekly weight loss: 8.5 lbs
  • Beginning weight on November 1: 267.1
  • Overall weight loss: 16.9 pounds

My belly circumference is at 49″, down from 52″ on November 1. My waist remains unchanged at 44″.

I’m surprised at the pounds lost and doubt I will continue to lose weight at that rate. Still, I’m progressing and will continue working towards my goal.

To the memories courtesy of Facebook:

I posted this five years ago, and I am still working hard!
One year ago, I was still suffering from pulmonary dysfunction. What made me sad when seeing this today was a comment from John Kim: “Please get a checkup before it’s too late.”

Today’s YouTube video almost brought tears to my eyes. The vlogger is from Manila and is exploring the Barretto nightlife scene. But he starts out with dinner at John’s place. You won’t be forgotten, John. I’ve never watched this guy before, but he drinks Zero and loves Barretto. We have that much in common, at least.

Let’s lighten the load with some humor:

Too soon? Well, I tried to pull this off verbally with Dr. Jo yesterday before I knew about John, not that he would care.
The joke’s on you!
Hmm, that’s what Swan says when I ask for dessert…

I’m skipping the SOB tonight. Instead, Swan and I will attend a gathering of the neighbors at Thumbstar Bar and take it from there. I hope to be back here tomorrow to share those stories.

The path less traveled

I took some steps in a different direction yesterday, and this is where they led me:

Kicked things off with the Wednesday Walkers and the rare trip out to SBMA for a walk around.

This week’s fearless four
Um, if you say so…
That’s the Navy supply ship I saw anchored in the bay yesterday. Don’t know if it is loading or offloading at the dock
Here we are!
Peace be unto you
I guess I wasn’t invited
Over the river. Let’s get a closer look at those riverside dwellings in the distance
Now we have departed SBMA. The river here smells like shit, so I’m guessing the sewage from these shanties goes straight into the water.
On the backstreets of Olongapo City
The route we walked. And no, Google, that’s not where Barretto is. And not how you spell it.

When it was time for a walk on the beach, Swan and I walked to Baloy Beach. I planned to start at the new Drunken Sailor bar we visited last week. I messaged my friend Jessa and asked if they had stocked beverages other than beer, and she assured me they did. When we arrived, the waitress said, “Sorry, only beer is available.” Well, it was supposed to be my gin night, so we demurred and departed. I messaged Jessa again, and she was surprised—apparently, there was some miscommunication with the staff.

Well, there are always other options, and Swan was ready for her walk on the beach. Let’s go to Kokomo’s!

Sun in the clouds
Swan in the sand
Ship in the bay

When we arrived at Kokomo’s, other customers were occupying the bar area. That’s unusual–we are usually the only ones there when we visit. No problem, we could sit at one of the beachside tables. But as we prepared to do so, someone at the bar began singing in some godawful loud karaoke music. No thanks, I wasn’t going to sit and be subjected to that noise.

Now, what? Time for a different path. We continued up the beach to a place called Laharnyz. I’d been there once years ago and didn’t care much for it. I walked by lots of times since and never saw anything to change my mind. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I STILL hadn’t had an adult beverage!

Yeah, it’s a beach bar, so there’s that.
The innards
And the outards (no offense intended, guys)

Well, I’ll be damned. The place is as dumpy as ever, but something has changed (or I have). A really friendly and laid-back vibe. Good music played at low volume. The Baloy expat scene differs from Barretto’s, so almost everyone there was a stranger, but we all got along just fine. Later, my old dart teammate Mark came in, and it was nice catching up with him. I had a great time at Laharnyz, and we will definitely be back.

When it was time to grab some grub, we walked up the beach to Treasure Island

And encountered a beach bonfire on the way.
My fifth and final gin and soda of the night
Chicken cordon bleu for Swan
And a chef salad for me

Things didn’t go the way we planned, but sometimes that results is a pleasant new experience. It made me think of this story from my past life for some reason. Nothing that dramatic, but I did discover a new beach hangout, so there’s that.

A good day on my health journey as well. Got my steps in and kept the calories below my threshold.

It’s weigh-in day tomorrow, so we’ll see if the effort is paying off.

No updates on John Kim posted as yet. I’m worried the news won’t be good.

Eight years ago I was enjoying my first visit to Bangkok. Played some darts while there and got recognized as the tournament MVP. Ah, the glory days.

Hmm, maybe I should consider playing again.

I’ve been seeing posts and comments saying I’m stupid because I support Trump. Well, I love my country, and if that makes me dumb, so be it. Then again, looking at all the red on the election maps, I’m in the majority, so maybe it is stupid to call me stupid.

Or so it seems

Today’s YouTube video features a visitor to the Subic Bay area and his impressions as he explores the area. He spent some time in Barretto and even mentions meeting some Hashers. I don’t recall seeing him (the video is a year old), but you might enjoy watching his experience.

And now the jokes:

Love is grand
I killed cereal from my menu
I wouldn’t bet on it!

I am in a bit of a rush with today’s post because I have an appointment with Dr. Jo today. I’m going to begin chelation therapy to improve my heart health. The little bit I’ve read on the subject implies that the science of this treatment for this purpose is unsettled. Well, the FDA doesn’t approve it, so that is a good sign that it works. We’ll see how it goes.

7-Up

Or should I say, seven downed? I report, you decide.

Welp, Tuesdays tend to be a bland day for me, but yesterday was at least bland in a somewhat different way. Did the usual, then added some tweaks. Here’s how it looked:

My Tuesday morning routine is to bake a batch of muffins. Yesterday, it was the blueberry variety. Alas, I can no longer partake (each muffin is worth 385 calories, plus the carbs). My driver, the helpers, Swan, and Mama all enjoyed them, though.
On the way to grocery shopping, I spied a Navy ship in the bay. Not a warship, but one of the bigger supply vessels I’ve seen.

I wasn’t in the mood to dodge traffic on the National Highway again this week, so I refrained from walking home from Royal. Instead, when the groceries were unloaded, I took a stroll through the neighborhood.

Along the way, I saw Easter Mountain towering above the rooftops
Clouds, mountains, and the bay
That place I call home
Over 4K and I was never far from home!

Tuesday was traditionally the day I don’t hike, but things change when you gotta burn off the calories. 12,000 steps is better than nothing.

Swan was not feeling up to going out last night, so Plan B was invoked. When I departed the house alone, I still didn’t know where I was going. A block or so away, I considered turning around and just hanging out at The Rite Spot, but my forward momentum carried me onward toward town.

I took this as a sign from God I’d made the right decision

I had once again skipped lunch, so I was feeling hungry. Hitting the bars on an empty stomach didn’t seem like a wise course of action, so I made Sit-n-Bull my first stop.

My traditional Sit-n-Bull favorites were too rich in carbs, so I opted for the Salisbury steak. I also passed on the mashed potato side dish, and had slaw and salad instead. And one San Mig Zero to wash it all down.

It had been a while since I’d been out on the town without Swan by my side. I missed her and didn’t feel like visiting our regular haunts alone. So, I changed things up by popping into one of my old hangouts that I seldom visit these days: Cheap Charlies.

The best view from a CR in town
And the view from my barstool of some of the bars I visit in The Maze complex.

A really different vibe in CC last evening. Just me and one other customer. Other than the bartender and cashier, there was no one there I knew. All my old regulars being gone, I drank alone and saved on lady drinks. After two Zeros, I was ready to move on.

I headed down the highway to the side of town I rarely visit these days. A bar has just opened in the space previously occupied by Adam’s Bar. So, I decided to pop in and see what it was all about.

Hangout Sports Bar is a second floor venue
Two pool tables, a dart board, and some big screen TVs. Only one other customer when I arrived, but a group of Filipino pool players came in a bit later.

I didn’t find the music to be to my liking, content or volume-wise. So, I moved my ass outside and sat in the smoking area.

Yes, I prefer traffic noise to crappy music

Two more Zeros and I headed out. I don’t think I’ll be making the Hangout bar a place I hang out.

I moved on to my final destination of the evening, Snackbar. I used to be a regular here, but times and circumstances change. The only two waitresses working were both friends from the old days, so it was nice to see them and catch up on things. A lady drink for each, two Zeros for me, and I was ready to call it a night.

It was only about 7 p.m. when I caught the trike for home, and only seven Zeros were consumed. I guess that means it was seven up and seven downed.

I can’t remember if I’ve posted this here before or not

Here’s the stats from yesterday for those following along on my dietary adventure:

Skipping lunch helps me to stay on budget!

And some sad news to report. I mentioned that I didn’t see John Kim when we dined at his place last Sunday. Yesterday, his wife posted this on Facebook:

Hello our Dear Friend’s,Customer’s & Followers

My name is Lin and I’m writing this post for my Loving life partner John Kim.

He was admitted last Sunday at Ulticare Medical Center ( ICU department ) here in Barretto. My partner had severe head pain and couldn’t focus and later on became disoriented. Bad condition had CT Scan and found out that he had STROKE BRAIN BLEEDING and need to undergo Brain Surgery as soon as possible. to add with his bad condition he also need a blood transfusion at least 6unit of Blood A+ to stabilize and 6 unit more if he undergoes brain surgery. Again our dear friends, Customer’s & followers. I’m calling for any donation & support I could gather for him to survive. Please Pray🙏 for him, Maraming Salamat Po.

The situation sounds dire, especially given John’s other health issues. I’m O+ and so can’t contribute to the needed blood donation. The word has gone out through several other sources in town, so hopefully we have some A+ folks willing to help. I’m hoping for the best.

Today’s YouTube video recites eight qualities that attract women to an older man. Alas, only #7 seems to apply to me, especially after I purchase a lady drink. I remember asking once, what attracted you to me? The girl replied, “To be honest, it was the bulge in your pants. ” I looked down proudly at my crotch, and she said, “No, not that one,” and then pointed at my wallet.

Well, maybe you will find these funny:

Indeed it is
What he said!
That one won’t fly.

And life goes on. An 8K trek on SBMA this morning was nice for a change of scenery. I asked Swan if she was feeling up to going out this evening, and she said she wanted to walk barefoot in the sand. So, Baloy Beach, here we come! I’ll have a full report tomorrow.

Here’s some Traffic noise to enjoy:

To those who served

Thank you for your service

It’s the one day of the year set aside to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served in the military defending our freedoms. Thank you for your service to America!

Swan woke up on Sunday morning not feeling well, but the thought of all those disappointed children provided the impetus to do the Candy Walk anyway. We did it slow and easy and cut it a little shorter than usual, but we still managed to hand out goodies to over 200 children.

Loaded up and walkin’
An umbrella to keep the sun off her head
The kids were the motivation to hit the road even when feeling poorly
One of the regulars
Laundry day at the creek
Sweets for the sweet from the sweet
Another stop along the way
And onward she marches
Come and get it!
Easter Mountain framed in flowering vines
On and on, she just keeps on trying, and she smiles when she feels like crying…
Crossing Bridge #3 as we near the finish
The abbreviated 3.5K Candy Walk

Swan took some meds and napped when we got back home and was feeling better later in the afternoon.

I carried out my weekly mission to Hideaway Bar for a feeding.

It was a gin and soda night for me.
This week’s grub
Joy seems pleased

Two gin and sodas later (one every thirty minutes), it was time to cross the highway for my dinner date with Swan at John’s place. I didn’t see John this week, but I did see this:

I wasn’t expecting a late afternoon rainstorm, but we got one
The clouds and setting sun put on an interesting show for us
Just passing the time
And the grand finale
I saw this at the sari-sari store across the highway from John’s place. I zoomed in to get a better look. That guy sure does look lonely…

I had a craving for John’s birria tacos, but my calorie counter said that would cost me 750.

That didn’t stop Swan, though. I successfully resisted the urge to eat her leftover taco.

So, what about me? I was thinking about doing pulled pork without the bun, but then I saw an item on the menu I’d never tried before.

I did the chicken version. I was a little confused, because the menu said, “sandwich,” but it looks like a shawarma.
And the confusion didn’t end when it was served.

I guess I’m not the only one wanting to know the difference. The link says gyros are usually served on pita bread, but the one I had was on a wrap, hence contributing to my confusion. Regardless, it was quite tasty and worth the 500 calories I expended.

We had our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I enjoyed my final two gin and sodas of the night (six total if you are counting). My neighbor Mike stopped in for a quick beer, and we snatched a ride home with him. Sugar-free butterscotch pudding for dessert was a sweet ending to my Sunday.

I still managed to stay under my 1800-calorie target. However, I didn’t make my daily step goal of at least 15,000. Still, when Swan hugged me this morning, she exclaimed that, for the first time, she could reach all the way around my midsection. That’s one way to measure progress, I suppose. The tape measure says my belly girth is now 49 inches, down from 52 on November 1.

Little by little, I just might get there

On this day in 2017, I was perusing the menu of a bar I frequented in Anjeong-ri, the village I lived in outside the Army base.

As I said when I posted this photo on Facebook back then: “Decisions, decisions. What to drink tonight? Started out with the red-headed slut. Then I had sex on the beach. Next, a blowjob with an orgasm chaser. I’m drunk but strangely satisfied.”

The photo below is also from 2017, the day we shut down our office on Yongsan Garrison and relocated to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. Today is Juyoung’s birthday (the gal next to me), and I posted the pic as a greeting to her from the good ol’ days. I am happy with my current life, but I also miss those days in Korea.

Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end…

This also came up in my Facebook feed today:

Well, I guess cattle is a step up from garbage, right?

Today’s YouTube video is a nice street show from Saigon. I really enjoyed my visit to Vietnam a few years ago and this brought back some pleasant memories.

And now for the funny business:

I can’t remember what I was going to say about this
Just like those angry carabao on our hikes
I’ll need to be careful I don’t stumble into one of those kind of bars

Another Hash Monday has arrived. The weather outside has been dicey this morning, but hopefully it won’t be too wet this afternoon. We’ll find out soon enough. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Eight was enough

And what I ate wasn’t bad either.

In what seems like is becoming a new Saturday tradition, Swan needed to go to the Subic Marketplace to purchase sweets for the Candy Walk. I needed to get some steps in, so this little piggy hiked to the market. I’ve had enough of highway walking, so to the extent possible, we took backroads through different neighborhoods. And Swan handed out biscuits and lollipops along the way.

They spot Swan and come running
Walk this way
Passing by Black Rock
Life on the riverside
Life goes on (except for the tree)
On golden pond
Wait for me!
Rest stop
There’s a bay behind those trees
Walk towards the light
Swan negotiating trike fare from the Market to Alta Vista. The driver said, “one fifty” but when I handed him a fifty peso note, he wasn’t happy. I was joking, of course.
The weekly candy supply
Our journey to the Market was right at 8K

And then evening rolled around. The plan was to do The Maze Bar Hop, so we kicked things off by having dinner at Jewel Cafe.

Jewel from the outside
Jewel on the inside
The jewel at my table
Dinner is served. I went with the filet mignon again. Next time, I need to remember to tell them no gravy. It also comes with mashed potatoes, but I asked for a double serving of veggies instead.

The steak was small, but tasty, and I ate it up with pleasure.

And now for the bar hop that wasn’t. The flyer said it kicked off at 7:00 p.m. at Sloppy Joe’s. We arrived there a bit after six and waited for things to get started. I passed the time with some beers. A little after seven, a group came in and went to a table in the back. There was no greeting or invite, so I went back to see what was happening. My presence wasn’t acknowledged, and I didn’t feel like I was welcome. Weird, I know. It turns out that the bar hop group had all met at Wet Spot, and then Sloppy Joe’s was the first stop. That was my misunderstanding. Since I hadn’t joined in at Wet Spot, they must not have known why I was there. Okay, well, I figured I’d go to stop #2, Green Room, and perhaps join when they arrived. So, more drinks while waiting. When it got to 7:30, and no bar hoppers had arrived, I asked the Green Room manager what was up. He told me they had changed the bar order, and Green Room was now the fourth destination. So, I shrugged and thought, oh well, it was just not meant to be.

Happy Birthday anyway, Dave. Sorry I missed it.

It was 8 o’clock, I’d had eight beers, and that was enough. We called our trike driver and headed on home.

Here’s what those eights added up to yesterday:

I still managed to come in under 1800

So, the calorie app I’m using set my goal at 2317 daily calories. One of my smart readers suggested 1800 as a more aggressive target. When I tried to change the goal on the app, it said this:

It says that 1800 is below my “Basal Metabolic Rate” and therefore unhealthy.

I found a basal metabolic rate calculator on the internet and plugged in my stats. It says my BMR is 1996 calories per day. My results are at the link above, but I’m honestly confused now. I’m feeling fine at less than 1800 calories per day. I guess I need to do more research.

You are what you eat. And drink.

A memory from this day in 2017:

Walking the streets of Pyeongtaek and enjoying the final autumn of my Korea life.

I posted this eight years ago after Trump was elected the first time:

Truer now than ever. Listen and learn, “Secret.”

And as long as we are talking politics, this seems apt:

Perhaps we can all agree on this

Saw a post today where Tucker Carlson claims Mitch McConnel is plotting a Senate leadership vote with the intention of undermining Trump. I’ll need to read more about that before weighing in, but it sounds like something a RINO would do.

Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I’ve never watched before, Smart Girl Philippines. She was kind of fun to watch, at least for this six minutes about avoiding “traps” in the PI. Nothing wrong with her advice, it’s all pretty much common sense.

Let’s see if I can get a laugh out of you:

It’s good that you can get pussy accessories
At least you weren’t aborted
Blimey mate, that would shiver me timbers!

Okay, on with the Sunday routines…hungry girls at Hideaway, dinner with Swan at John’s, and then, we’ll see. Read all about it here tomorrow.

I don’t recall watching this show regularly, but it is nice to see the 70s flashbacks in the video.

A walk on the mild side

I was feeling a little flat, so I convinced my fellow Friday hikers to take a pleasant stroll in and around Subic town. No hills or thrills, but a peaceful, easy feeling as we marched along.

Only three of us took part in the stroll
We kicked off our trek on Philseco Road
Then took a narrow path leading to a small village
A brief respite from the pavement
And passed by a leaning tree
A lovely pond
Making our way towards barangay Asinan Proper (I even checked the spelling and hyphenation).
Bridge posers. I hadn’t noticed that the center pillar is looking a little bit dicey.
The water in which we were not cast
Another mucky pond
Home of the dead
Another life shorter than mine
This was pretty solid for a dicey bridge
This one not so much
Laundry day and lollipops for the little one
And through a Calapandayan neighborhood near the end of our trail.
Right at 7K end-to-end

When beer o’clock rolled around, I took Swan to the beach.

A new owner and a new name for this Baloy Beach resort

It has a ground-floor beachside restaurant/bar that has not yet opened. My friend Jessa advised me that the upstairs bar was serving customers, so we climbed the stairs.

The Drunken Sailor. Technically open, but not quite ready for customers. No wine or alcoholic beverages other than beer available.
The staff outnumbered us (the only customers). Still, I understand it is a work in progress and the bar certainly has potential.
The bar affords the bay views Swan longs for.
And I like sundown

We only stayed for one beer, then hit the beach for a stroll. We’ll be back, especially after the food place downstairs opens.

Swan loves her barefoot walks in the sand
Ah, the beauty of the beach

We walked to Kokomo’s to see what was happening there. Still no floating bar, but we’re told it will be anchored late next week. We had a pleasant visit with the staff, bought them both a drink, and then headed over to Treasure Island for some grub.

Chicken fajitas for Swan
And a chef salad for me

Another early night, home by 7:30. Is that going to become the new normal? Not if I can help it! But the diet plan calls for a reduction in beer intake, and the easiest way to achieve that is to spend less time at the bar. At least for now.

I managed to keep under my new target of 1800 daily calories. Fitbit says I burned 4005.

Eight years ago, I was in Shenanigans, my favorite Itaewon hangout, celebrating the first time Donald Trump was elected President.

I captioned my Facebook post of this photo: “If Trump is President, I’m moving to Korea!”

Six years ago, I got a welcome back to the Philippines after my journey to the USA from my pals at Alley Cats bar:

Damn, I was almost skinny back then. I want to go there again!

Setting politics aside, it only seems appropriate to wish Kamala well in her future endeavors.

You may not be qualified, but I hope they give you a shot.

Today’s YouTube video from the Filipina Pea talks about the “Love Scam” industry here in the Philippines. It’s like all those Nigerian Princes on overdrive. There are actually call centers set up where Filipinas work to make lonely foreign men fall in love with them. And send money, of course. Back when I was living in Korea and “meeting” Filipinas from the dating sites, I got burned once or twice. The worst example was the time I sent a woman airfare to come visit me. The fact that I didn’t just buy the ticket myself shows how naive I was. Anyway, lessons learned the hard way. My rule after that was never send money to anyone you have never met in person.

Here’s something to smile about:

You might want to abort that diet
Don’t make a pig of yourself, Pooh
It’s a heartbreak

To the future, then! There’s a Maze bar hop tonight in honor of Daddy Dave’s 83rd birthday.

I guess it won’t be an early night this time…finishes at 9:00! OMG!

Swan and I will dine at Jewel Cafe before the aMAZEing fun begins. Check back here tomorrow for all the gory details!

It’s been a long time since I heard this song. Never saw the video until today. Let’s get something straight between us–there is nothing quite like a girl with something extra!

Pounding it down

Both the pavement and the belly. Let’s start with the roadwork. Oh, thank heaven for the 7-Eleven debut Hash. There’s a first time for everything, and we were the first Kennel in the Philippines to participate in this twice-a-year event. We started out on the seventh day of the eleventh month at 11:07 a.m. and visited seven 7-Eleven stores on our 7.11K journey. Okay, it turned out to be a little over 8K, but we tried! Here’s how it looked:

I bought some hats for the occasion
All dressed up and ready to go. Well, except for the shoes, but they are outside.
A Jeepney ride to the start of the trail in Manga Vacca
7-Eleven #1 in Subic’s Manga Vacca barangay

In Hash fashion, the tradition calls for having a beverage at each stop along the way. I had four beers and two Cokes during the journey (nothing at the last stop, I saved that beer for the On-Home at IDM).

The Gash drank soju at each stop
Twelve in attendance for the debut of the Subic Bay 7-Eleven Hashers
Cheers!
Heading out to store #2
And there it be! Downtown Subic near the market place.
Everybody’s here
Tagay!
Then on to our next stop
To B or not to B? Ay, who cares!
It’s not the first time I’ve walked this stretch of highway
Store #3 in Calapandayan
Drink up!
Time out along the way for a cookie delivery
That’s my girl!
Store #4 in Calapacuan
An unexplained uptick in soju sales for 7-Elevens yesterday
This place needs to up its game to achieve 7-Eleven heights.
And onward we march!
A 7-Eleven sighting just ahead!
Store #5 in Matain
See you next time, Subic town
Store #6 on Baloy road in Barretto
Diet? What diet? The beer was cold and wet, just the way I like it
The girls were still going strong despite the soju infusions
And at last, the seventh and final stop on our convenience trek.
Not a bad way to fill some hours.

Right upstairs from this 7-Eleven is a videoke joint. Some of the gals headed up there to enjoy the aircon and sing some songs.

The rejoined us at IDM an hour or so later
I wound up ending my day at IDM. Originally, I planned to go home, nap, shower, and then head back into town. But I determined I’d had enough of a good thing, and we ended our day around when we usually start.  Again, not bad for a change.

Early to bed, early to rise. And it’s Friday, the one week anniversary of my diet. Time for a weigh-in to see how I’m doing:

  • November 1: 267.1
  • November 8: 258.7
  • Net loss: 8.4 pounds

Well, that was a bit surprising. I doubt I will continue to lose that much week-to-week, but it is good to know my efforts are paying off so far.

My belly circumference went from 52″ down to 50″. My waist remains at 44.

We can’t find anything keto locally, but Swan has had success ordering online:

Keto pancake mix, syrup, and cereal
And the almond flour finally arrived. We’ll see what Swan comes up with using this low-carb alternative.
My first-ever keto pancake
And with sugar-free syrup on top

It wasn’t bad. I can’t put my finger on what was different taste-wise, but it wasn’t the same flavor that I’m used to. Still, quite edible and better than no pancakes in the future.

And I rounded out the breakfast with bacon and fruits.

Onward and hopefully downward, I go!

Time for a stroll down memory lane:

Whenever you travel, Filipino culture dictates that you are to bring back pasalubong (gifts) for your friends and acquaintances. This is the bounty i bought two years ago in Cambodia.
And the Cambodian bargirl of the those long-ago days

I posted this one year ago, and I’m happy to report that the American people took heed:

Hoping for better days ahead

Today’s YouTube video is a short one from Joy of the Jungle. She’s not to good at vlogging, but bless her heart, she tries.

Let’s have some fun:

Did you hide him down under?
Can I hitch a ride? I’ve got some mistakes I’d like to fix.
Man, I hate when that happens

Alright, Friday evening has almost arrived. I’m going to give Swan her beach fix. There’s a new place on Baloy I want to check out. Plus, I want to see if the floating bar has made its reappearance yet. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

The Don of a new day!

Congrats to the majority of my fellow citizens who made the right choice for America’s future

Donald Trump has many flaws, but he was our best option. I’m hopeful that he learned from his first-term mistakes and that he appoints competent and loyal team members. I’m excited about the prospect for change that visionary non-bureaucrats like Elon Musk will add to the mix. Trump has his work cut out for him cleaning up the mess left behind by four years of Biden-Harris insanity.

It is great to be unburdened from what has been

What I hope to see sooner than later:

  • Borders secured, immigration laws enforced
  • Restoring energy independence–drill, baby, drill!
  • Reducing government spending to balance the budget and reduce inflation
  • Eliminating as much of the worthless Federal bureaucracy as possible
  • Stand strong against the aggression of our enemies (I’m looking at you, Iran)

That will be a good start to Making America Great Again.

Sorry to my friends on the left for bathing in your tears. It will get better, I promise. And in all seriousness, keep an open mind. If Trump succeeds, we are all better for it.

Enough of politics, here in my corner of the world, life goes on much as it always has. Take the Wednesday Walkers for example.

Only three of us ventured out for yesterday’s hike. We tackled a portion of Monday’s Hash trail that we had skipped. That included a hill climb, but not one of the massive ones.
I was bringing up the rear after an early pee stop.
Through the streets of Marian Hills. Oddly enough, there are no hills in this village.
But the one we climbed was nearby
It’s always nice to see what we missed on Monday
Such as a different vantage point to view Easter Mountain
And then we came down again
Our attempt to do a valley walk was stymied by a newly constructed fence. We could have found an alternative route, but that would have required wading across that stream you see above. I wasn’t feeling like getting wet feet.
My hike ended when we reached Sawmill Road. I despise that narrow and heavily trafficked street. The strap on my backpack broke so I had to carry it on one shoulder. Then a trike driver called out offering a ride. How could I refuse under those circumstances?
Not quite 6K for me

Swan was enjoying her “me time” with family, and I was trying to keep an eye on how the election was going. Late in the afternoon, it became apparent that Trump would re-assume the throne. It seemed to me a celebration was in order, so I went out in search of a beer.

BarCelona seemed as good a place as any to raise a bottle in celebration of MAGA.

One beer led to another and then one more. I got a message that my neighbors and other like-minded Trump supporters were gathering at Thumbstar bar to embrace America’s victory. I walked up the highway to join in the fun.

Our merry group of Trump fans

By my reckoning, the vast majority of expats who still care about politics in the USA are Trump supporters. In my admittedly limited circle of acquittances, I only know one who professed a preference for Kamala. His reasoning? Trump is a Nazi. Yep, he drank the lefty Kool-Aid and lost the ability to think for himself. Oh, well, sorry for you. But if ignorance is bliss, you must be one happy guy!

Trump didn’t cheat, but I did

We were in full-on party mode, and Maksil was buying rounds of drinks due to his excitement about the stock market surge. He expects to get richer thanks to our newly-elected President. In a sense, we all will once he brings inflation back down to earth. By my count, I enjoyed six more beers at Thumbstar before calling it a night. Alas, the dietary damage was not finished because I was hungry. Thumbstar was offering a “buy one, get one” food special, so I ordered a chicken shawarma and got another for free. They were both tasty and high in calories. Between the shawarma and beers, I exceeded my daily calorie allowance for the first time since I began my diet plan.

My Fitbit says I burned 4144 calories, so that’s still a good intake deficit.

The future looks brighter for America and I hope to become a lesser man. We’ll see how things turn out.

Lots of memories to look back on today:

Seven years ago, I was in the same building (8th Army Headquarters) as Donald Trump
Six years ago, I was wrapping up a family visit in South Carolina. I captioned this photo, “The Last Supper.” I had no idea that I wouldn’t be back anytime soon (my retirement plan was to visit once a year). Things change, not always for the better.

How about some more of those memories from Cambodia two years ago?

Dinner at my friend Dennis’ condo
The condo view
The last time I heard Dennis sing. I’ve been unable to reach him for months now, and frankly, I fear for the worst.
More Phnom Penh bars. “Step Wife Bar” is one of the best names for a girly bar ever!
My Cambodian step wife…
The Mekong River at night

I loved both of my trips to Cambodia. It was my second choice as a retirement destination. No regrets with the move to the Philippines, but I may use one of my “do-over” lives to see how things might have been had I chosen to live there.

One year ago, I was visiting the Kokomo’s floating bar for the first time of the season. It’s due to re-open this weekend and I plan to be there to welcome them back.

Today’s YouTube video comes from the Filipina Pea, who is doing what she does best: talking about some unique aspects of Filipino culture. She’s funny (and cute), and this is one I really enjoyed. It’s worth the watch!

I don’t know if the American flag top is just a coincidence, but she did post this video yesterday.

Maybe these will give you something to smile about:

Um, by the way, where’s Rudolph?
Don’t take the bait, Master!
I’d get dog-tired of that.

Alright, I have a special event to attend this morning: The 7-Eleven Hash Run. It happens twice a year (on seven November and July 7th. See how that works?). We’ll be the first Hash from the Philippines to participate in this international event. It involves a 7K highway hike during which we will visit seven 7-Elevens. Something a little different to enjoy. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Today’s song also comes courtesy of Facebook memories. I posted this ten years ago, and it is still one of my favorite songs from Korea. The video tells a nice story to go with the song. Hope you like it!

Twos day

It seems like I live my days in halves, walkohilic by day, alcoholic when the sun goes down. It is almost like having two days in one. Tuesday is usually my blandest weekday because I shop instead of walk, but that wasn’t the case yesterday. Here’s how it looked:

As usual, my homeless friend, Mama, was waiting for me at the highway intersection. It seems she knows my Tuesday morning shopping schedule better than I do.

The grocery shopping went the same as it always does, but then I changed things up–I walked back to Barretto.

See you next week, Royal
Let the journey begin!
Exiting SBMA
Over the river
Back in the Navy days, this was known as the shit river.
And now the dreaded highway portion of the walk begins
A bay view along the way…that’s the old Hanjin shipyard on the far side of the water
The hill of the dead
Another view…that’s Grande Island in the distance
The problem with highway walking is there ain’t much shoulder to work with. There were a couple of times vehicles got too close for comfort.
On the far side of the bay lies my destination–Barrio Barretto
This house being built on the hill is interesting. That’s an escalator-like contraption to carry construction materials up. Makes me wonder if the residents will convert it for pedestrian access once the house is completed.
On the border. Not sure what “drug cleared” means, but it ain’t drug free from what I’ve seen.
Hillside living
Back in “downtown” Barretto
John’s place, featuring a second floor restaurant and a third floor open air bar. We eat up there.
And this is where my journey ended. I had planned to walk all the way home, but then three things happened: I got a leg cramp, I had to shit, and an empty trike was waiting. So, I surrendered.
It’s just a tad over 5K. I have no idea why Google misspelled “Barreto” and located it in the wrong place on the map. It doesn’t inspire much confidence in their overall accuracy.

So, that was the morning adventure. When dinnertime arrived, the skies seemed angry:

I asked Swan if we should bring an umbrella, and she said no. She was wrong about that.
The front door of my place has now been decorated. At least they waited until November.
Since it was election day (Philippines time) I dressed up for the occasion.
We barely made it to Mango’s before the storm hit with all its fury.
The rain lasted about an hour
When I asked for a gin and soda in a tall glass I wasn’t disappointed. Biggest glass ever! I guess that’s Texas-sized. I had two of those over the course of our dinner.
Our grilled porkchop dinner is served. One chop for me, one for Swan. I took the veggies, she got the mashed potato.

When the rain finally let up, we headed out to our next stop, Alaska Club. I had a buy one, get one coupon to expend there. I did my usual thing of tipping the Alaska dancers fifty pesos each, and I had brought along some Choco-Pies to share. When the Sit-n-Bull waitress came by, I called her over and requested three large orders of Shanghai lumpia. I had her deliver one each to Wet Spot and Green Room and bring one for the Alaska girls. Hey, I had a 10% discount coupon to use. And maybe those three gin and sodas I consumed during my Alaska visit enhanced my generosity.

Then Swan and I had a should we stay or should we go conversation, and the result was the decision to do a nightcap at Wet Spot. I made the determination that I had had my fill of gin for the night, so I switched to Zero beer. My good intentions to have just one were stymied when I got comped a second beer, but who am I to say no to a freebie? But it was two and out for us, and we made it home safe and sound. The leftover pudding was waiting for me to enjoy as a bedtime snack. All’s well that ends well!

Another day with an intake of less than 2000 calories! The snacks category is where I log my alcohol intake.

And it appears the USA is making a comeback: Trump has just won the election! I reckon a celebration is in order tonight!

To me, it all came down to whether the stupids were in the majority. I am so proud of my fellow citizens for taking a stand for truth, justice, and the American way. I’m not Trump fanatic, but I don’t think we’d have survived a Kamala presidency.

With the future secured (for now, at least), I can indulge in some Facebook memories:

Who is that masked gal leaving my house three years ago? I honestly don’t recall.
Two years ago, I was still enjoying the Phnom Penh bar scene.

Today’s YouTube features Reekay reacting to the election. I’ve never seen him talk about politics before. He identifies as a “Libertarian-Constitutionalist.” Again, given the options, Trump was the best choice for America. I’m looking forward to Vance in 2028, assuming I live that long.

Since I’m not in mourning for my country, I can afford some smiles:

My high school girlfriend’s mother always said to us before a date, “Those who play, must pay.”
AI can kill in many ways
Time travel is one of my favorite fantasies. I’ll have to incorporate this scenario into my planning.
Be careful of the unseen hazards on trail!

Alrighty then. Swan is taking a “me day” to spend with her family. And I’ve got some celebrating to do. I reckon a Trump victory is as good an excuse for some beers as any! Back tomorrow!

Thanks to commenter Rick for introducing me to this song. Old fashioned grunge rock!

A no sweets violation?

Well, I did have a pretty sweet Sunday. I report, you decide.

Does it get any sweeter than that?
Sweets for the sweet from the sweet. We handed out over 200 bags on the Sunday Candy Walk
Let’s get it done!
Keeping Easter Mountain in perspective
The dispensary is open
Marian Hills is next
Minnie Mouse hung out to dry
The temporary bridge was indeed temporary. And now it is gone for good.
We debated whether to wade across the river or take an alternate route. We opted for the latter.
A natural archway on our path
Crossing Bridge #3 kept our feet dry
At the foot of Easter Mountain
The route we walked was right at 6.5K

In the good ol’ days, we hit McDonald’s after the Candy Walk. Those days are gone now, but Swan fed me at home.

A small porkchop and veggies

It wasn’t long before it was time to make the trek to Hideaway Bar for the feeding.

The food ordered from Jewel Cafe has arrived!
The smorgasbord
Another hungry mouth fed

I satisfied my thirst with gin and soda water. Two in an hour, then I paid my tab and headed across the highway for my dinner date at John’s place.

The John’s view
My date has arrived!
The newest item on John’s menu is a shrimp cocktail. We had one for an appetizer. Damn, it was delicious and low-calorie to boot!
Swan had the birria tacos. I resisted the urge to ingest those carbs, but it wasn’t easy. John has the best birria in town.
I opted for the beef bulgogi and wasn’t disappointed.

After two more gin and sodas during our dinner hour at John’s, we moseyed up the highway to enjoy a nightcap at the Green Room. We were there for an hour, enjoying watching the pool players, and I imbibed my final two gin and sodas for the night. That made six in three hours, which seems to be my limit. Nothing untoward happened; I just knew that I’d had enough, and it was time to call it a night. Drinking gin is twice as expensive as beer, but I drink half as much. If my math is correct, cutting out the beer carbs isn’t costing much. A sixty-calorie pudding dessert at home and my sweet Sunday was complete.

Calories in: 1600 Calories burned: 3800

Two years ago, I was walking the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia:

Strolling upriver
It felt like a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie
It’s a great city

Back in the USA, there’s an election coming this week:

Let’s hope the Kamala trainwreck can be avoided

In today’s YouTube video, Reekay speaks to the skills required to live as an expat successfully. I’ve made it over six years so far. Yeah, there have been some missteps along the way, but luckily, no mishaps. Now, to keep it that way!

Comic time:

I’ll never forget the day the power went out and I was stuck on an escalator for hours.
The dead don’t get offended unless they are woke.
I’ve forgotten most everything I know

So, it’s Hash Monday once again. Vienna Sausage (Guenter) is the Hare and I’ve seen the trail map. I was going to just not go at all today because the trail ends out past the end of Rizal Extension. But Michael will have his car there and I’ve reserved a seat for a ride back to town after the Hash. As for the trail, I didn’t see any good potential shortcuts, so I’ll make my own way. The My Bitch trail will get me to the finish just fine. And yes, beer is the only option at the On-Home, so I’ll get to reacquaint myself with some Zeros. I have to keep count, so I’ll try and drink slow. Full report here tomorrow.

My salad days

Today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday. And looking back, I have no complaints. Here’s how it all went down:

We walked the dogs, then walked ourselves to the Subic marketplace to stock up on sweets for the Sunday Candy Walk.

Candy or dog food, Swan always has something to hand out on our walks. Just so there is no confusion, in this case it was candy.
Girl on a mission
A bay view along the way
Calapandayan street scene
A backstreet Swan showed me for the first time. She said she’d walk home from high school this way.
Almost 7K to get there.

With the buying spree completed, we loaded up two big bags of candy on a trike and headed for home. A small teriyaki chicken breast with broccoli for lunch, a nap, and a blog post. Then, it was time to get ready for the rest of the day. Swan wanted something to beach about so I gave her three options. She chose Baloy, and at the appointed hour, we commenced our walk. [Ha! I’m sure most readers got the “something to beach about” allusion, but Grammarly suggested I change “beach” to “talk.” Get your mind out of the gutter, Gram. I’m talking about the sandy places Swan loves.]

The view that greeted us when we arrived on Baloy Beach
Toes in the sand
I hope the beach is happy now. I know I am!
I made it a wine night. Four glasses in two hours. I’m getting better at pacing myself.
Swan enjoying her beach view time at Kokomo’s.

Kokomo owner Steve says the floating bar will be anchored on Sunday, undergo some maintenance, and open for business on Friday. Whoopee!

After my first two wines, we headed up the beach to Treasure Island Resort for some live music and food.

I enjoyed the hell out of this chef salad with Italian dressing.

Two glasses of Treasure Island wine, and we departed for home. It was only 7:30, but I’d had enough. I would have drank more beers during the amount of time we spent at the beach, but Zero is 3% alcohol, and wine is 14%. I wasn’t drunk or anything, but why press your luck? Once home, I whipped up a batch of sugar-free vanilla pudding, and that more than satisfied my sweet tooth’s cravings. It was a relatively short but nice evening out.

1590 calories in…(the wine is included in the dinner total)
…and 3,659 calories burned

And that is how day two in my new lifestyle went down.

Those pictures from the Halloween SOB I promised:

Queen Victoria: 4th Place
Green Room: 3rd Place
Alaska Club: 2nd Place
First Place: Wet Spot

And my favorite costume of the night:

One of the Wet Spot gals

In other news, we met a Hasher from Vietnam named Zach at the Subic anniversary Hash, and he told us about a special group of Hashers from around the world who are doing something called the 7-Eleven Hash. It’s basically an urban Hash where the group hikes through town, stopping at every 7-Eleven convenience store along the chosen route. Zach said no Hash from the Philippines had done this event. Well, the Subic Hash took that as a challenge to be the first; this coming Thursday (11/7), we shall march!

Something different for a change.

Speaking of something different, that trip to Cambodia two years ago was also a nice change of pace.

So much natural beauty in that country.

Today’s YouTube video is something different. Short and sweet (well, maybe sweet is the wrong word) sharing eight facts about farting you might not have known. And now you do. You are welcome!

Smile time:

Strangers call me Santa Claus
Don’t stick it in the wrong hole!
I need to steal me a copy of that book!

Back to the usual Sunday routines starting with the Hideaway feeding. I’ll be doing gin and soda there. Then dinner at John’s place. I reckon I’ll wash down whatever I eat with some wine. Got some SOB coupons to burn as well, so we’ll see what we’re in the mood for come time for the nightcap. Exciting shit, eh?

I ain’t afraid of no ghost

Happy Halloween!

That’s a nice trick…
…and here’s your treat!

Now that we have those annual niceties out of the way, let’s get on with today’s post.

I woke up to some scary skies this morning.

It rained just enough to scare me into not walking this morning. I’ll try not to let that happen again.

Swan made me breakfast. This is my last morning of being a bad boy. Promise!

Let’s talk about the goodness of yesterday instead. Starting with the Wednesday Walkers trek in the Naugsol countryside.

The group who made the journey to the start in Michael’s comfy car.
Heading out (I took a pee break so I’m a little behind, but I’m not an ass!)
There is a landfill at the end of this road, and occasionally, a truckload of Trump voters would pass by.
Those twin peaks are the breast!
The dogs were mostly friendly
Walkin’ the riverbank
The Matain River on its way to the bay.
Did I just fart?
The riverside became impassable, so we did a little trespassing. The residents were nice about it, though.
An encounter with wet feet
Tit-for-tat
A cookie delivery
Construction continues on what will one day be a bypass highway around Barretto. Will it be completed in my lifetime? Stay tuned.
I had no idea that Swan was carrying a baggie of dog food to share with the stray dogs (like that one in front of the steamroller).
On up we go
These are comparatively small hills. No one seems to know how and where the road will go up and over Kalaklan Ridge.
The Naugsol valley
It was a little eerie seeing this written in the dirt in the middle of nowhere.
Down in the valley, the valley so low.
A valley view
A tree I liked
Valley living
Every picture tells a story. Swan has been making monthly payments on this piece of land, and she was shocked and dismayed to see the ongoing construction. Hopefully, she’ll get it sorted, but I’m staying out of it. Foreigner intervention in issues like this is not welcome or appreciated.
We saw some cute chicks during our walk
Over Bridge #4 we go
And a stroll through the village of Naugsol near the end of our journey
And for you Easter Mountain fans
Just a tad over 6K on a very pleasant hike.

The cliffhanger on yesterday’s post was whether I’d journey out to the bars under the threat of rain. Those of you who voted “yes” got it right. A few sprinkles on the way, but we were safely inside the confines of The Maze bar complex before the heavy stuff came down.

The rainy view from BarCelona

Finished things up early (before 7:30!) at Green Room, and headed home with some food from Sit-n-Bowl.

I curbed my appetite with a ham sandwich

Then I baked a batch of brownies for an a la mode dessert. There’s a last time for everything it seems.

I was living large and spending generously yesterday. One more day to go this month, so why not?

  • Dinner: 1160 pesos
  • Snacks: 200 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 840 pesos
  • Charity: 7000 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Tips: 490 pesos
  • Alcohol: 885 pesos
  • Total for October 30: 10,775 pesos

Facebook invited me for a stroll down memory lane today and y’all are welcome to come along:

1974 or so. Rifle in hand, pistol in the holster. Both .22 caliber. This is on a plot of land my folks owned at the time in Perris, California we called “The Filthy Five.” (Five acres, five of us in the family)
In 2005 I was just beginning my working life in Korea. I was part of a great group of people, and the experience changed my life forever.

In the political realm, I’ve discovered that not only am I a Nazi supporter, but I’m also garbage.

So, I guess it is up to the garbage to take out the trash.

I had been planning to dress up as The Invisible Man for Halloween, but I couldn’t see how that would work. Instead, I’m going to try and go out tonight as a garbage bag. Swan is going to help me concoct a costume.

Today’s YouTube video from The Filipina Pea is a little different. She shows a clip from “The View” where those crazed lefties go off about how men need women, but women don’t need men. I know the thought of watching even two minutes of that bullshit show is scary, but hey, it is Halloween. Anyway, Pea interviewed Filipinas on the street, asking questions about needing a man, and they all answered affirmatively. And there you have the reason so many men are fleeing the USA to make the Philippines their home.

And now for the things I find amusing:

You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish
“Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale,
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.”
Those attention getters really work!

There is still a lot of iffy weather out there, but I reckon going out for some Halloween fun is something you can only do once a year. We have tentative plans to start out at It Doesn’t Matter, one of several bars having Halloween parties tonight. The question of the hour for me is whether I can find a way to look like garbage. Or find a bag big enough. Speaking of which, I’ve been doing a little foreshadowing about some changes on the horizon. That horizon arrives tomorrow. See you then!

Ha! It was nice to see and hear this again after all these years…

Munching on those sweet, tender loins

Make no misteak about it; it was good eating. The highlight of our night on the town was dinner at John’s place. We followed that up with a bit of a bar hop, visiting MacArthur’s, Red Stars, and Hot Zone before calling it a night. But first things first.

It’s Christmas time at Royal! Never mind about it not even being Halloween yet.

Speaking of All Saints Day, that’s also a huge deal here in the Philippines. Driving past the hillside cemetery in Olongapo yesterday, preparations were in full swing for the upcoming big day with the dead this Friday. Food stands were being erected, crypts were being painted and given their annual cleaning and refurbishment so when the families gather to pay their respects and eat in drink in memory of the dead, all will be in order. And the following day, everything will be a mess again. It’s just the way it’s done in these parts.

When the grocery shopping was done, I couldn’t help but notice the car parked next to ours.

It’s one of those EVs I’ve been hearing so much about. As you can see, it’s about half the size of a normal car.
But what really cracked me up was the name of this model: Ice Cream. Yeah, if that battery goes, it will definitely melt like ice cream.

Ah, I see now it is a low-priced EV from China. Good luck with that!

Alright, about those steaks at John’s place. Swan and I had both been craving some beef, and we went with the tenderloin special (750 pesos) to fill that void.

We were not disappointed. Very tender and tasty.
We had ours medium-rare.
Our dinnertime view from John’s

The first stop on the bar hop was the newest bar in town, MacArthur’s. The place was surprisingly full when we arrived. The music was blaring loud enough that conversation was difficult. They didn’t have wine in stock, so Swan ordered gin and soda water. They gave her a gin in lime juice. My beer was 120 pesos. It was one and out for us, and we are not likely to return.

Next up was the rarely visited Red Stars. Our waitress remembered me from the Blue Butterfly days and welcomed me back by pointing to my belly and asking when the baby was due. Thousands of comedians are out of work, and she’s trying to be funny! Anyway, I get that a lot and wasn’t offended. They had wine for Swan, and my Zero was reasonably priced at 80 pesos. We sat on the outdoor patio, and Swan engaged the two waitresses at our table in a Tagalog conversation. Naturally, I bought the girls a lady drink, then watched the world go by as I enjoyed my beer(s).

The last stop was Hot Zone. I can’t even remember the last time I was there. Nothing wrong with the bar, just not my kind of place anymore. I visited last night because I got a message from owner Jay telling me he had found a shirt of mine (Jay used to be the Grandmaster of the Subic Hash, so I assumed it was a Hash shirt). I was curious about both the shirt and its origins, so I found myself in the Zone. It turns out it was a special shirt designed to commemorate an ill-fated Hash in November 2019—the one where we got arrested by the Philippine Navy for trespassing. I wrote about it here. Apparently, it got dropped off for me and misplaced for almost five years. Better late than never. Thanks, Jay!

The front of my newly discovered Hash shirt. The name on the sleeve is how Jay knew it was mine.
And the backside tells the rest of the story. (bad photography: “subjected to tortuous boredom and had beer withheld…”

The Hot Zone mamasan still remembered me and gave me a poke in the belly greeting as well.

And that’s where the story of my yesterday comes to an end. All that fun came with a price:

  • Medications: 1500 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 360 pesos
  • Tips: 500 pesos
  • Alcohol: 1560 pesos
  • Dinner: 1500 pesos
  • Groceries: 14,700 pesos
  • Driver: 1000 pesos
  • Charity: 250 pesos
  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Total for October 29: 21,470 pesos

Eight years ago, I was walking the streets of Seoul.

The Han River in all her glory

And during that trek, I was surprised to see this old beauty:

And when I say old, I mean older than me. I believe that’s a 1953 model. And looking at it compared to the EV I posted above is a good reminder of just how far we HAVEN’T come.

Today’s YouTube video provides an update on the kidnapped American. Arrests have been made, but not sign as yet of the victim.

And now for some laughs:

I don’t want to know about DOA!
Damn, she must really suck!
Slick move, dude!

Alright, a good morning with the Wednesday Walkers and this afternoon the skies are looking angry. Will I stay or will I go? I don’t know yet either. I’ll let you know tomorrow!

No time

I’m going to be hitting the road soon for that four-hour drive home. I’ve got some nice pics from yesterday’s Hash, but they’ll have to wait until I have more time and a faster internet connection. So, this post is just a placeholder for now.

Waving goodbye to La Union. I’ll be back in December.

I’d paid my Hash fees in advance, so most of my expenses for the day were already covered.

  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Tips: 250 pesos
  • Alcohol: 360 pesos
  • Dinner: 700 pesos
  • Total for October 26: 1410 pesos

There’s always time for politics, right?

In keeping with the theme of today’s post, the YouTube video is only two minutes long. The vlogger’s voice is irritating, but the photos are good. Kristine was a bitch, but luckily the damage in this part of Luzon wasn’t so bad. We did have a muddy Hash trail to deal with.

Some quick humor:

Like Hash night
With every breath it takes!
A two for one sale?

Anyway, I’ll get back when I can. But at least this post gives me one less thing to worry about. Later, gators!