Another unexpected brownout today. I saw the power company trucks working on lines in the neighborhood, so I guess I’m at their mercy until the job is completed. My battery is at 32% and fading fast, so I’ll be back when the power is.

Here is a quick update on my visit to Dr. Jo. She is happy with my progress and wants me to keep on keepin’ on. The liquid retention issue appears to be in retreat, and she wants me back in two weeks to monitor the situation. She now suspects my earlier lung issues were also associated with the fluid buildup, which makes sense now that I think of it. Anyway, I’m feeling better and stronger. I’ll continue on with my weight loss efforts which will also have a positive impact on my overall health.

Royal hasn’t had sugar-free pudding in stock for months, so I ordered these from Lazada (the Philippines Amazon). Eight boxes cost me thirty bucks, but what are you going to do? When I shared this info with Dr. Jo, she said she had just bought sugar-free pudding at Royal. Turns out, Royal moved the pudding to the candy section for some reason. The Jell-O gelatins are still on the shelf with the baked goods, and that’s where the pudding used to be, too. It makes no sense why they’d move it, but I’ll search again on Tuesday.

Alright, I have lots of photos to share from yesterday, including the Friday group hike.See you when the lights come back on!

I’ve got to make this a quickie post. Follow-up appointment coming up with Dr. Jo this afternoon. I can at least report that I lost 4.7 pounds since Sunday. My lower legs look less swollen as well. We’ll see what she thinks of my progress.

For my “long” walk yesterday, I decided to hike the Govic Highway (Subic bypass) from one end to the other. I’ve done it in bits and pieces over the years, but never the length of it all at once.

In the evening, I took Swan to dinner at John’s place.

After dinner, I decided we should change things up and visit a bar I used to frequent regularly but hadn’t been to for several months–Whiskey Girl. My, how things have changed. One of my favorites, Kim, was still there but obviously a few months pregnant. My other favorite seemed to be ignoring me, but I called her over since I had a coupon for a free beer with every lady drink. It was hard to get reacquainted because the music was loudly blaring, and it was some crap disco-rap shit. I used to really enjoy the quality mix of songs here, but it has gone in a whole other direction. I finished my beer and told Jenn I won’t be back.

We crossed the highway to make Queen Victoria our nightcap venue. And damn, they were playing the same bullshit music, albeit at a more reasonable volume. I’ve been a semi-regular here for years and know the bartender, so I called him over to ask what was up with the music selection. He said that’s what the dancers want to hear. And I responded, but what about the customers? He just shrugged. He did put a different song on, but a few minutes later, I saw a dancer change it back. Oh well. I might come back for some live music someday, but this is no longer a venue I care to go to to chill out over a beer.

Yep, that grumpy old man last night was me. Play what you want as loud as you want. I’ve got fifty other bars to choose from. The thing is, the clientele in this town is primarily old fuckers like me, and we don’t want to hear that young peoples crap. So, if you don’t want my business, keep playing that shit. Rant over.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What would you do if you were retired and discover that the Social Security trust fund will be insolvent in 2035?

A: Well, I don’t draw Social Security, but I do have a Federal pension. If for some reason Uncle Sam defaults on the promise of providing my monthly stipend, I’d be pretty much screwed. I don’t see that happening though. My bigger concern is that inflation will make my pension worth much less in terms of buying power. Also, since I live overseas, a weak dollar will impact exchange rates compounding the problem. I have money in savings accounts but that won’t last long if the above scenarios come to pass.

Yep, I’m at the mercy of my Uncle Sam. Let’s hope the American people rise up and prevent the bloodbath that four more years of Biden will surely bring to the economy.

On a lighter note:

All right, off to see Dr. Jo, and from there, I will attend the 1000th SOB dance competition.

The day began with the Wednesday Walkers group hike. Later came saying goodbye to an old friend. And finished the day with sucking down some beers at Wet Spot.

We began the hike on the far side of Subic town, in an area we hadn’t visited in several years. Fences constructed since our last adventure in these parts stymied us several times. Still, we made the best of it, taking circular routes and retreating as necessary. It was a good day to be out and about with my fellow travelers.

After some R&R at home, it was time to head into town for some evening fun.

I had a couple of beers with Chris and his gal at Sloppy Joe’s, then moved over to It Doesn’t Matter to say goodbye to Bhel. Swan joined me there.

Swan and I visited Wet Spot for our nightcap, and naturally, she hooked up with her pal, Aine, there.

Another day is in the books. Or at least here at LTG!

Today’s Quora Q&A is a bit special. My most popular answer with 2.7 MILLION views, 2,951 upvotes, 551 comments, and 202 shares. That’s probably about as close to famous as I’m going to get!

Q: Am I lucky living in the Philippines?

A: There is no place else I’d rather be at this time in my life. No, it is far from perfect, but what place is perfect? I’m an American, but there is no way I’d want to be living there with all that craziness going on. Do I get frustrated sometimes with things that happen here? Of course I do. But then I take a walk in the mountains or on the beach, and I remember what’s important in life.

This just happened today—I watched a documentary on Bangladesh and realized that even the poor people in the Philippines live a much better life than many people do elsewhere in the world.

Yes, I feel lucky to be here.

As true now as it was then, but not particularly profound. For some reason, the Quora folk liked it more than anything else I’ve had to say by a long shot.

Now for the funny business:

My weekly excursion to the supermarket was enhanced by my efforts to read the content labels on the foods I purchased. It got to be quite the strain.

I purchased some San Miguel Zero beer for use at The Rite Spot. I checked that label too:

Anyway, I didn’t purchase any of my normal temptations like ice cream. So far, so good.

My other Tuesday routine is the walk to Baloy Beach to visit the Kokomo floating bar. As I walked along Baloy Beach Road I came upon this disconcerting sign:

Yesterday’s experience was not a good one. The music was blaring when I arrived, which I despise. I asked the bartender if she would turn it down, and she did. I was the only male customer, but a group of women at one of the tables were partying loudly, and their shouts and screams were pretty annoying. One of them got up and raised the music volume higher than its previous level. None of the bar staff said a word, so I just waited for Swan to finish her wine (she is a notoriously slow drinker–I drink three for her one), and we departed before sundown.

Since it was still early, we walked up the beach to McCoy’s. There was definitely a much friendlier vibe there. No music was playing (we were the only customers), and I asked if I could connect my Bluetooth to the speaker, and they agreed. So, I had no complaints about the playlist!

I noticed that the Wild Orchid Barefoot Beach Bar had reopened next door following extensive remodeling. They had no customers, but a live acoustic band began playing anyway. I turned off my Bluetooth and listened to them from McCoy’s. Damn, they sounded great. And they were playing some of my old favorites from the sixties. Swan went next door to have a closer look.

When Swan returned, I asked her what she thought of the Barefoot Bar. She said beers were 150 pesos (the most expensive I’ve seen in town), and a glass of wine was a whopping 360 pesos. No wonder they don’t have any customers. It’s a shame because otherwise, it appears to be a nice venue.

I was feeling no pain when we got back home and I went to sleep early—and woke up to another beautiful day in paradise. Keep ’em coming!

The Quora Q&A for the day:

Q: Does it get lonely after you retire?

A: I’m not sure “lonely” is the word I’d use, but I definitely missed the daily interactions with my co-workers. It turns out it was the people I worked with that mattered more than the actual work I did. Go figure.

Your daily dose of humor:

Oh well. That’s all I’ve got for now.

Another Sunday has come and gone. I guess I am of Scottish blood because I didn’t give a thought to wearing green or otherwise celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. Still, I took comfort in my familiar routines and appreciated the joy of living the life I have chosen. It may not be perfect, but it satisfices.

Swan and I began our morning with the weekly candy walk. I had planned an 8K route, but the candy (and there was a lot of it) was gone after only 5K. We are doubling up on our candy purchase for next week.

Later in the day, I took care of the feeding at Hideaway. Five dinners this week.

With my Hideaway mission completed, I headed for the beach.

We were the only customers. There were eight girls and the two raft drivers. After an hour or so of watching them sit with nothing to do, I had the cashier make some change and give me ten 50-peso notes. Then I announced, “Is anyone here bored?” Everyone raised their hand, and I gave them some pesos to cheer them up. Hey, it’s cheaper than buying everyone a lady drink.

After departing the floater, I took Swan to Jewel Cafe for dinner. I am a regular Sunday customer for takeout, but I rarely have a sit-down meal there.

Life is good. I’m going to try to hold onto mine for as long as possible.

Alright, let’s do the Quora Q&A for the day:

Q: Is Joe Biden the most feared world leader?

A: He scares the hell out of me. Nothing good can come from his level of incompetence.

I answered that two years ago. It has only gotten worse since that time.

Speaking of jokes, how about these?

Okay, another Hash Monday is upon me. Guenter (Vienna Sausage) is the Hare, so I know I’ll be doing a modified version of his trail. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

The Friday group hike and the SOB filled the hours of my day. More of the same old same old, but then, a good same is never bad. That seems to be the story of my golden years.

We started the hike in Subic Hills and made our way to Castillejos. A couple of wrong turns and wading across a river were the interesting events, but we hadn’t been out that way in over a year, and it was a nice change of scenery. I didn’t mind that we didn’t do much hill climbing either.

I hadn’t been to the SOB for awhile, and last night was the 22nd Anniversary for the event.

So, I drank too many beers and enjoyed the show. I came away with a pocketful of discount tickets, which I reckon will motivate me to go out and spend money in the bars for the next week or so. And that’s how I ended another Friday.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Retirees, when you first retired did you have any trouble adjusting to the new version of your days?

A: I really didn’t. At the conclusion of my final day at work, I hopped on a plane and flew to the Philippines to begin my life of leisure. In the beginning, I was kept busy with making the transition—finding a house to rent, exploring the area, and discovering my soon-to-be favorite bars and restaurants.

Now, three years on, I’ve totally adapted to my new environment. The oddest thing is that I actually start my day EARLIER than I did when I was working the old office hours. Now, I’m almost always in bed by 9:00 p.m. and up every morning at 4:30. It’s all good, though. I’m enjoying my days and my routines.

It’s been almost six years now, and I’m still carrying on. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, even when everything is pretty much always the same, day in and day out, it’s better than a life of routines would be for me back in the USA. No regrets!

Okay, a couple of these are actually funny I think:

Anyway, back to Dr. Jo for a follow-up this afternoon. Not sure what’s going to happen after that. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

…it remains stationary. It doesn’t stop me from trying, though.

I did one of my long (for me) solo walks yesterday, taking the highway to SBMA and then strolling around parts of the old Navy base I rarely see. It was nice for a change of pace and I managed eleven kilometers, almost double what I normally do. I broke my rule about not losing my cool when I decided to take a taxi back to Barretto. I always ask how much (the cabs are not metered), and the driver didn’t want to give me a straight answer. The last ride was 300 pesos, but this driver gave me the “up to you” routine. I wasn’t in the mood for playing games, and I gruffly told him to tell me how much. He said, “500 pesos,” and I told him to stop the car. Then he said 400 pesos, and I yelled again, stop! I exited the cab, walked across the highway, and caught a Jeepney back to Barretto for 20 pesos. Got out at Sit-n-Bull and had a great lunch.

The evening hours felt a little like old times. Swan had plans early, so we agreed to meet up later for dinner. I filled the hours with a mini-bar hop, spending time in Green Room and Roadhouse and spreading some lady drink cheer. Later, Swan joined me at John’s place for a nice dinner. It was my waitress friend Em Jhae’s last night there, so we bought her dinner, too. She almost cried when I gave her a nice tip as a going-away present. Then, after our meal, we met some of Swan’s friends at Voodoo for a couple more drinks. It’s been a while since I’ve done the night on the town routine. Good times!

Here are some photos from the day:

Facebook memories reminded me of the last family gathering with Mom and Dad back in 2009.

I follow politics but no longer engage in much debate. Still, sometimes I come across something too good not share.

Moving along, here’s today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Is Angeles City in the Philippines a good place to live? Is it as bad as people say?

A: I personally wouldn’t want to live there. It is a city that has all the modern conveniences—shopping, an international airport, nightlife—and not much else, in my opinion. Angeles was one of the first places I visited in the Philippines, but I’d find myself bored and depressed after a few days. Not much to do during the day, and the girly bars get old before long.

I chose to live a couple of hours away in Olongapo. Here I have beaches to walk and mountains to climb. I can find most of what I need here, and Angeles is just down the road should I need anything that it offers.

That doesn’t mean that Angeles is bad, it is just not for me.

I am OK going to Angeles for a day or two, especially for an event like the Hash. But I prefer places like San Antonio/Pundaquit when I need a quick get away. In fact, I’m about ready now.

Alright, you knew these were coming:

Time to get ready for tonight’s SOB dance competition. Haven’t been to one for several weeks, so it should feel fresh again. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Wednesdays come and Wednesdays go, but you can always enjoy them while they are here.

A challenging hike up to Kalaklan Ridge with the Wednesday Walkers group. We changed things up this time with a Jeepney ride out to Olongapo City and then climbing to the top from there. Lots of stairsteps added to the misery, but I took comfort in the fact that my fat ass had the lung capacity to get it done. I wouldn’t have made it halfway a month ago.

I had a doctor’s appointment at 2:00. Nothing significant to report from my visit with Dr. Jo. She took a blood sample to check on some kidney function issues. The fluid retention in my lower legs and ankles is the concern du jour, but before I start taking meds for that, we need to reduce or eliminate other types of medications I’m taking for other issues, like blood pressure. So, we’ll see what the blood work results suggest as the appropriate course of action.

It was still too early after the appointment for the bars and once I was back home, I had no real desire to go back out again. It was the perfect evening for some time at The Rite Spot. Todd and his lovely wife Sheila joined in the fun and Erik dropped by as well. A nice ending to a good day.

A hard but enjoyable morning on the ridge.

Later, I was once again climbing steps–this time up to the roof.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What is the best way to learn about a distant area you think you want to retire to before investing a lot of money to move there?

A: Well, the obvious thing, I guess, is to visit as often as possible before making a commitment to move. I came to the Philippines two or three times a year for several years, exploring different parts of the country before deciding where to call home in retirement.

If someone doesn’t have that luxury, don’t make any permanent commitments until you’ve been in the country enough to know it is a good fit. Don’t ship your furniture or car, don’t buy or long-term lease a house. Make sure it is where you want to stay before investing a lot of money.

Maybe I’m having a bad day, but I couldn’t find anything funny to share. There will have to do for now:

Today’s song bears no relevance to the post. I heard it for the first time in many, many years while having lunch at Sit-n-Bull, and it just brought the memories flooding back.

That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I did engage in a shopping spree yesterday morning. The usual full shopping cart at Royal ($300+), and then Swan and I walked to the mall to do some shoe shopping. Also, for some strange reason, my shorts have been shrinking, so I wanted to get a pair or two that fit more comfortably.

I wound up bringing home three new pairs of shoes. That’s a real challenge because a size 11 is hard to find in these parts. I did score a pair of the coveted Merrell hiking shoes but paid a premium price of over 6000 pesos ($120.). I needed to replace my everyday Sketchers, too, but alas, my size was not in stock. So, I’m trying a new (to me) brand called “Basekamp”. I got two pairs at the more reasonable price of 1700 pesos each. We’ll see how that works out. My shorts size is also in the high range of fit here, but I finally found a couple of pairs I could button around my waist. I always get a little nervous about running out of clothes before the weekly laundry wash is completed. The new duds will provide some leeway in that regard. I also found three new shirts I liked with an ample cut sufficient to accommodate my large belly. So, it was a successful outing.

My Tuesday tradition also includes a journey out to Baloy Beach to enjoy some time on the Kokomo floating bar. Here’s how that looked:

Next stop was DaKudos for a bite to eat.

Not bad for a Tuesday, eh?

Commenter Kevin asked about my life as a father; here’s a post I wrote a few years ago about raising my kids. I got a surprise when re-reading it this morning to see that a couple of spam hyperlinks had been added to my commentary. I’m not sure how that is done unless someone hacked my admin login. I deleted them, but it’s still scary to think that someone could modify a post I’ve written.

Ready for today’s Quora Q&A?

Q: What are some of the relevant professional bodies to join as an HR officer or professional?

A: I was a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) for most of my career. They also offer certification exams to earn the designation of Senior Professional in Human Resources Management (SPHR) and the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR).

I was an SPHR, not that it matters now.

Some humor before I go:

Like this one:

I joined Swan for our weekly candy walk yesterday. She wanted to visit the village of Alabang, located between Naugsol and Tibag. I’d passed through there once or twice, but it had been a while. Swan was involved in a charity food distribution effort in Alabang at Christmas time and wanted to brighten the day of the kids she saw there. It’s a pretty hefty hike from here, but I’m all about the walk, so off we went.

After some R&R, Swan went to see her family before they headed back home to the province, and I paid a visit to Cheap Charlies. Later Swan met me at Mango’s for a dinner on the beach.

After our meal, we visited a couple of bars we don’t patronize much due to their inconvenient location on this side of town.

We had our nightcap at Queen Victoria. I was a little surprised that Swan was acquainted with the bartender and one of the long-time waitresses there. Then I remembered that she and her deceased man would frequently visit here for the live music. We didn’t stay long enough for the music to begin last night, though.

Back home and on the couch for episode #6 of “Blue Eye Samurai.” That’s the one where our hero (heroine) single-handedly kills most of the castle’s security forces despite some pretty severe injuries. The evil Irishman residing there proved his point about guns trumping swords, regardless of the skill of the sword bearer. She’s not dead yet, however. We’ll see how the next episode resolves the issue.

I woke up to another day of life and got down to taking care of business. I’m one of the Hares for tomorrow’s Hash, and we went out this morning to mark our trail. Next on my agenda will be taking care of the Sunday feeding at Hideaway, then meeting up with Swan on the Arizona floating bar. Yep, it is good to have routines you enjoy.

Facebook memories made me sad today. Ten years ago, I played in a dart tournament in Augusta, Georgia. I don’t remember much about my performance, but the memories were of the friends who joined me there.

Bridget and James died within the next year. I died in a different way when Jee Yeun dumped me. I was reborn to live this life in the Philippines, but I can’t help but be saddened when I look back at what was and what is gone. May you both rest in peace.

The daily Quora Q&A:

Q: A shooting at a convenience store in Missouri left 3 people dead. People these days don’t seem to care about the loss of innocent lives. America has now become a nation of death. Why won’t the Congress or the government ban guns?

A: Three people were killed in a traffic accident outside a convenience store. More innocent lives lost in this nation of death. Why won’t the Congress or the government ban automobiles?

Kevin Kim had a post linking to a place where your political leanings can be measured. Here’s where I stand:

Alright, enough of this seriousness, let’s have some fun!

Alright, that’s all for this time.

I’ve got the power! Now, about last night. Well, actually, it was yesterday afternoon that I attended the wedding reception for Swan’s sister Charm and her hubby, Jack. The festivities kicked off at noon and lasted until five or so. So, yes, I was drinking beer, and no, they didn’t have Zero available. I didn’t do anything stupid, but I was feeling no pain when I departed.

This was my first time at a Filipino post-wedding gathering. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but there were some things I’m not accustomed to seeing at a reception. For one thing, they had a female master of ceremonies shouting into a microphone, which was pretty irritating. She also sang a few songs but had a nice enough voice. I’m familiar with the bride and groom doing the first dance, but yesterday, several wedding party members were also called down to the dance floor, including Swan. Luckily, they played a country song when we danced, so I used some of those swing steps I learned during my time in Oklahoma. Swan followed along quite well.

The food was good, I knew a couple of the other attendees, and I met some new folks that I enjoyed chatting with over the course of the afternoon. I was also reminded of why I make it a point to avoid drinking until beer o’clock. When the reception was done, so was I. Even by my early bird standards, going to bed before 6 p.m. can be problematic, like waking up at midnight after a full night’s sleep. I wound up completing my morning routines by 2:30 and then managed to take a nap until my regular wake-up time. Still, I felt out of sorts in a helter-skelter kind of way.

Good luck to Jack and Charm. They’ve been together as a couple for nine years or so–I’m sure this next step will be an easy one for them.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: I have lived in 5 states in the USA and I am 22. How about you, how many states have you lived in within the USA or the country that you reside in? Which one is your best?

A: I have lived in California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Virginia. I also lived in South Korea, and I now call the Philippines home.

My favorite state was Arizona, although I could say something positive about all of them except California.

Korea was a great experience, and I’m enjoying my retired life in the Philippines.

Maybe these will make you smile (or cringe):

And that’s that. A nice long candy walk with Swan this morning that I’ll tell you about tomorrow.

So, my big plan for yesterday was to expand my hiking horizons by adding some additional length to my strolls. My bright idea was to do the backroads hike to Waltermart on the far side of Subic town and then walk the highway back to Barretto. I typically tire out around 8k, and I estimated my plan would require a 14k jaunt. Could I do it? Only one way to find out. Let’s go!

My original plan was to finish at Sit-n-Bull, another kilometer up the road. But that trike stand in front of McDonald’s proved to be irresistible, so I grabbed a ride back home instead.

Speaking of the bars, I went to Sloppy Joe’s while Swan did a foot spa. She joined me there when she finished. Feeling hungry, we paid a visit to Myleen’s. And we broke our streak of same-same orders.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I bought lady drinks for Aine and Irene, and Daddy Dave treated me to a couple of free beers. I was at my maximum capacity of alcohol intake when we grabbed a trike for the journey home. I deem it to have been a good day!

My pal Brian flew his drone over Kalaklan Ridge and posted some really nice photos.

Haven’t posted a photo of the boys for a while, so here you go:

And now it is time to shower up, put on my new duds, and head out to the wedding reception that starts at noon. It will be something different, at least. Me in long pants and no ball cap—who’d a thunk it?

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Do I have to know Korean to live in South Korea as a foreigner?

A: Not really, especially in larger cities like Seoul. Most of the signage is in both English and Hangul, and the subway stops are announced in both languages.

Having said that, I suggest you learn some common words and phrases, if for no other reason than being polite. Most Koreans appreciate the effort, even if you can’t master the pronunciation.

Yeah, like I’m one to talk. I still know more Korean than Tagalog, though.

And now for the funny business:

That’s it for today.

The Wednesday Walkers group hike proved to be quite the challenge despite being only 4K in duration. We traveled out to Tibag to explore some new road construction we’d seen posted on Facebook. Well, they may be roads, but even a 4×4 would have difficulty making it up some of those steep grades. Compounding the problem was the dirt, which was soft and sand-like, so each step was harder and produced a cloud of dust. I had promised to push myself to greater heights, and I succeeded for the most part. Admittedly, my brain was screaming, “Turn around and go back down,” and it was tempting to do so, but I managed to shove on. The section of the hike where we were off the dirt road was mostly pleasant, although some of it was through the dreaded creek bed with all that that entails. I was dead tired at the end, but the breathing wasn’t an issue, so that’s a plus.

And then miracles of miracles, just before the next climb started, we discovered a trail going in the right direction. Yay!

Of course, my day had just begun. My driver picked me up at 2:30 for my ophthalmologist appointment at Baypointe Hospital. I had the usual eye exam then waited to see the doc. Thirty minutes after my scheduled appointment, it was finally my turn. My vision is okay, although I have a cataract growing in my left eye. He said it wasn’t big enough to consider surgery. He gave me a prescription for eye drops and sent me on my way. I got a discounted rate of 1300 pesos for being an old man.

And then it was off to Harbor Point mall. I’m going to the wedding reception tomorrow afternoon and the only pair of slacks I own no longer fit. I figure shorts and sneakers might seem rude, so I went in search of some more appropriate apparel.

After the mall excursion, I decided to treat my crew to dinner. I know John’s place could use the business, so that’s where we went.

I was once again surprised that Swan (who I, of course, always allow to order first) chose the exact meal that I had in mind. I guess we really are on the same page.

As usual, the food was excellent. My favorite waitress served us last night, and she advised us she was leaving for a new job next week. That’s a bummer, but good luck to her working in a call center. It’s a step up for sure.

Then it was back to the house and time for some cold beers at The Rite Spot.

I really pushed my luck this morning, but I’ll share that adventure tomorrow!

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What’s it like living in the Philippines? I’m a 66 y/o man I went to Manila and cebu in 2016 but couldn’t stay long. I’m looking for any input I can get from anyone who knows first hand what to expect if I move there. Thank you.

A: I’m 65 and have been living here in Olongapo City for over three years now. So far, so good. I wouldn’t recommend either Manila or Cebu, personally, but then again, I’m not a big-city kind of guy. Cost of living for most things is cheaper, people are friendly, and most places are quite beautiful. I laugh sometimes because the part of town I live in is like a retirement community for expats. Nowhere else I’d rather be. Long Time Gone

The Philippines isn’t for everyone, but it is what you make it. It feels like home to me now.

Today’s lame attempts at humor:

Okay, I’m running late for my beer o’clock appointment. See you tomorrow!

This will be a quick post this afternoon. Just now back from the Wednesday Walkers group hike, and I’ve got to eat and shower, then head to Olongapo for a visit to the eye doctor. Not much to report anyway, just the normal Tuesday routines. Another grocery shopping excursion to Royal to restock the shelves and an evening on Baloy Beach.

Next stop was Treasure Island for some dinner. I was very surprised when Swan ordered a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. That’s what I was planning to choose as well. I guess great minds truly do think alike.

Swan’s sister Charm is getting married on Friday, so she needed to leave after our meal and attend a bridal party at the Klimax Bar in Barretto.

I finished my night out on Baloy with a beer at my old haunt, the Snackbar.

And then it was home and in bed shortly thereafter. Not a bad day at all.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Now that you have retired do you ever wonder about the “path(s) not taken” as you look back at your life?

A: Not really, because the paths I did take led me to places beyond my wildest imagination. It always seemed to me that the disappointments (like missing out on a job promotion) left me in a position for something even better later on. I don’t know; maybe I’m just lucky.

Having said that, if I could go back in time for some do-overs, there are definitely things I would have done differently. But that’s life.

I wrote about one of the crossroads in my life that changed everything on my blog a while back. If you are interested, you can give it a read here: Blast from the Past-The Road Not Taken

One of those rare occasions where I link to LTG on social media. Speaking of which, Swan asked me for my blog address last night. So, I guess I have another reader now. Welcome, Sweetheart.

An extra dose of humor today:

Gotta go. A tough hike today to tell you about tomorrow.

Yesterday was the first day of getting back to my old ways, and it all seemed to go well. So, if you’ve been missing photos from my hikes, get ready to enjoy the ones I’ll be sharing in this post. Swan and I did our weekly Sunday morning candy walk and it was, dare I say it, a sweet experience. *ahem*

(sorry about the Galaxy watermarks on the photos. I hadn’t noticed that my phone settings reverted back, but I’ve turned off that feature again)

It had been days since my last bar visit, and I remedied that with my Sunday feeding for the Hideaway girls. They were down to three yesterday. Saves me money, but still sad to see this bar going downhill so fast. I’m not sure what the answer might be that would turn the place around. A classic catch-22; you can’t pay for staff without customers and customers won’t come to an empty bar.

My other Sunday tradition after Hideaway is to make a beeline for the beach.

We departed shortly after the sun did and made our way back home via a tricycle. I watched episode #3 of “Blue Eye Samurai,” and it was the most intense so far. An animated adult drama (this episode prominently featured brothels) set in Japan wouldn’t normally be my thing, but I’m enjoying this one.

Until yesterday, it had been a week since I’d managed to break the 10,000-step barrier.

I’ll have a hill or two to challenge me on today’s Hash, and it will be interesting to see how I handle those. I’ve been doing better on the neighborhood inclines and am feeling stronger, so hopefully, I’m on the road to restoration.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q:  Do people ever need to take out a loan to receive a new organ?

A: It depends on how expensive it is. I don’t have an organ, but when I was shopping for a piano, I went with a baby grand and I had to borrow the money to pay for it.

Yeah, I know. For a stupid shit I can be a real smartass sometimes.

How about these?

To be clear, in my professional life I didn’t bring my bad jokes to the office. Got in trouble once for something I said here on the blog (called Mohammed a pedophile), but I maintain that was historically accurate (he married a twelve-year-old). Still, I concede it was insensitive. Sorry, not sorry.

Back tomorrow with the Hash report. Thanks for coming by!

And now, I’ll take a 2nd to explain.

I didn’t walk again yesterday. Maybe I’m just making excuses, but I decided to give it a rest and hope the new meds kick in and start making a difference. I used my new pocket inhaler during the dog walk, and it did seem to help with the breathlessness attack I was suffering. I took today off as well, but I will definitely be out again tomorrow for the candy walk with Swan.

Yesterday was payday for my helpers and for a couple of others I’m helping. I’m able to use wire transfer services for this task, which keeps it simple–it’s never been easier to spread the wealth! My main charity projects are the mountain mama and her kids and Mary, the student I provide with the cash to continue her education. Of course, these days, I only get the satisfaction that comes from helping those in need, and that’s enough.

I didn’t leave the ‘hood yesterday, but I did go next door for a nice evening with neighbors.

I’d never been inside Martin’s place before and it was amazing. I was especially envious of his downstairs bathroom:

And my non-bar fun is not over yet. Tonight, I’ll be visiting my Dutch friend Max’s place to participate in a going away party. Max is heading back to the Netherlands for a few months. Look at me having an actual social life. Who’d a thunk it?

Oh, and it turns out my Aussie neighbor Allen reads my blog. Nice to see you again last night!

We talk about grammar and punctuation here (and my being a bad example for both), but spacing is important, too.

Let’s do the Quora Q&A:

Q: How would you prefer to die if given the choice?

A: Peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather did. The passengers in his car that day died screaming in fear.

Thousands of comedians out of work and I’m trying to funny? Ah, well. How about these:

I’m planning on resuming my normal routines tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll be better than I was. Either way, I’ll do the best that I can do. Stick around and see what happens.

February ended with a leap, and I landed here in March. Here’s how I spent that extra day:

The doctor’s visit took place in typical Filipino fashion. As I’ve mentioned before, you can’t make an actual appointment. You call the hospital, find out what hours the doctor will be in, and get there early. Once you arrive, you get put on a list and wait your turn on a first come, first served basis. The pulmonary doc I needed to see was scheduled to arrive at 2:30. Swan has a friend who works at the hospital, and she kindly added me to the top of the list, saving me from having to arrive early to reserve my place in line. And yes, some money did change hands when we arrived.

Anyway, the plan was to leave the house a little after 1:00, walk to the highway, catch a Jeepney to SBMA, and then walk the two blocks to Baypointe Hospital. As we stepped out the door, our neighbor Martin and his wife were pulling out of the driveway. It turns out they were heading to Royal for some shopping, and they dropped us off right in front of the hospital. Much more comfortable than a Jeepney ride on a hot day. We did arrive earlier than necessary, but better early than late.

One of the procedures is having your vitals checked before seeing the doctor. When the clinician was surprised to see my oximeter reading of 92, I laughed and said it was 88 this morning. Anyway, I did the pursed lips breathing thing for a couple of minutes and got it up to 95, so he was satisfied. With the extra time, I went down the hall to see about getting my head examined–or at least my eyes. I have an appointment (yes, I was happy to discover they schedule appointments!) with the doc who did my cataract surgery for Wednesday.

So, it was a bit after 2:00 now and I settled into a chair in the hallway outside the doctor offices. 2:30 arrives, and still no doctor. I sent my helper to inquire about his whereabouts, and she reported back that “he was on his way.” Three o’clock and still no sign of him, so I’m getting frustrated. My helper reports back that he is finishing up his rounds at Gordon Hospital in Olongapo and will be here soon. I was frustrated and pissed, but had invested too much time and effort to bail out now. Dr. DeJesus eventually appeared a bit after 3:30. And I was the first to get in!

The doctor reviewed notes from my previous pulmonary visit as I recounted the symptoms I’ve been experiencing. His first words were a little disconcerting, “You do understand that COPD is a progressive disorder.” Um, yeah. That’s why I made the lifestyle changes to slow it’s progress. So, he wrote out a list of several new prescriptions that will hopefully clear the mucus from my lungs, and help open my breathing passages so I get more oxygen in my bloodstream. He also gave me script for a pocket inhaler to use in emergencies. I showed him the one I’ve been carrying for that purpose and he advised it was wrong because it takes too long to be effective during a breathing attack.

Dr. DeJesus also recommended that I purchase an oxygen concentrator for home use. It’s on my shopping list.

The visit was completed within thirty minutes of the doctor’s late arrival. He apologized for the tardiness, so I’ll give him that at least. We took a taxi to Barretto from the hospital and had the driver drop us off at Papagayo, a nice beach resort in town. They were having a celebration to commemorate the 71st anniversary of their founding. How often do you get to eat at a place that is older than you are?

I hadn’t been to Papagayo in quite a while, too fraught with memories of the times I spent there with my previous love at her favorite restaurant. Good food, beachside tables, and friendly staff is how I recall the experience.

Right when we sat down, here came Dr. Jo and hubby Chris and they joined us at our table. It was weird seeing my other doctor unexpectedly. I assured her I hadn’t been cheating. She laughed, and I shared the prescriptions Dr. DeJesus had provided. She didn’t see any issues but made suggestions for a couple of tweaks. Then we got down to the business we had come for.

The other shocking thing was the price of a beer–160 pesos, by far the most expensive beer in town. I don’t remember the beers here being anywhere near that much before, so I suspect they upped the price to help cover the undercharging on food.

My oh my, was I in for a shock. Served on paper plates with plastic forks. But the real issue was the quality was WAY down. There was more rice in my enchilada than chicken. It seems they weren’t reducing the price on their regular items, the made their regular items cost less to make. A Mexican-American Hash buddy was eating at a nearby table, and he declared it the worst Mexican food he had experienced.

People were rolling in for the big event, including neighbor Jeff and a couple of his friends. We were all disappointed in the overall lack of quality and slow service. I get the idea of the 71 pesos for 71 years promotion, but they probably lost future customers by cutting corners.

Anyway, I was not going to stick around drinking 160 peso beers, so we said farewell to our friends and headed out. Appropriately enough, we made Cheap Charlies our next stop (55 peso beer). Then we did our nightcap at Wet Spot. I saved money there, too, because Aine was “booked” by a customer. And that was how I celebrated the extra day in February.

Speaking of restaurants, John had a worrisome post this morning on Facebook:

need help

We’ve been surviving for 7 years in Barretto without any problem, but ever since I’ve been sick, it’s gone down hill. I spend little over $2000 USD per month for my medical overall and I don’t make that much.

I am designing lunch specials inexpensively hope I can sell my food in volume. We use very good materials and hope you can find value in our meal. All are p295 except steak. Also, I will continue Aussie steak at p495 for lunch special. P495 is really close to my cost and maybe I can make some by selling drinks. I’ll also add tenderloin pepper steak at p695. Lunch special is, orders received before 3 pm.

Within lunch hour, p500 or more, free delivery within Barretto.

Those who have our lunch special or any meals at our place, can get 5% off from meat & cheese department.

I am hoping you guys come by and dine with us or use our meat & cheese department once or twice a week. It’ll definitely save my life.

Anyone interested in running restaurant also welcome to talk to me. The restaurant is on sale as well. I might have to go back and fix my health problem in Korea.

I’m going to make an effort to eat at John’s more frequently than I have been. Would be sad to see him or the business go.

I didn’t even attempt the group hike today. Scott sent me a photo of what I missed.

I am going next door to spend the evening with my British neighbor Martin and the other hoodies tonight. These gatherings of the Bryce Street expats are always a good time.

Here’s your Quora Q&A for today:

Q: Since retiring, do you still set the alarm to wake up in the morning?

A: No, I do not. But oddly enough, I wake up earlier on my own than I used to when I was working. I go to bed earlier, too, so maybe that is why. I do sometimes set my alarm when I take my afternoon nap though.

Let’s give ’em something to smile about:

Damn, we used to sing that song during music class in elementary school. It’s funny the shit you remember in old age.

Other than the dog walk, I never left the house yesterday. I woke once more to low blood oxygen, and that set the tone for a day of listlessness. Same thing this morning. I hate feeling this way, and I’m hopeful my pulmonary doctor visit today will put me back on the road to normalcy.

We had already made plans for a rooftop gathering with the neighbors, and we spent the afternoon preparing for the arrival of our guests. My part in that endeavor was making a batch of chili con carne, some cornbread muffins, and brownies. The gals made kebabs and pancit. The fun began shortly before 5 p.m. and continued on until the beer ran out around 11:00. Yes, you read that right–I stayed up well past my normal bedtime. We were all a little drunk at the end, but it was a good time.

I sang my usual standards, Words by the Bee Gees, Patsy Cline’s Crazy, and Marty Robbin’s country-western classic El Paso. What can I say, I’m a 1960s kinda guy.

It turned out to be a good time. We will be reconvening on Friday at neighbor Martin’s house. We all agreed that getting together here on our street was more fun than hanging out in the bars. Easier to get home, too!

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: If you have retired from your career, are you glad you retired or are you miserable and feel like you don’t have anything to do?

A: Not miserable, no regrets. When it is time, it is time. Didn’t want to be one of those guys who die at their desk. You just let go of the old life and start a new one. Now, I do whatever I want whenever I want. If I’m bored, that’s my fault.

A couple of Star Trek memes I liked enough to share:

I’ll share the news from the doctor’s visit here tomorrow. I am hoping for some positive options; I’ve been getting worse, not better.

Well, maybe a giggle. But a yard-long Snickers?

That was the most exciting thing that happened on my weekly shopping excursion to Royal.

Later, Swan and I walked to Baloy and hung out on the Kokomo floating bar for a bit.

I’ll leave it at that for now. The neighbors are gathering at The Rite Spot this evening. Chili is brewing in the crockpot. We’ll also be celebrating my helper Inday’s 30th birthday.

The Quora answer I shared yesterday was from a couple of years ago. Somehow, I forgot back then that there were twelve inches in a foot. That answer had over two thousand views, and no one mentioned my mistaken ways. When I posted it here, I still managed to overlook the fact that my answer was embarrassingly wrong. My commenters set me straight on that right away, and I thank you all for that. Of course, the icing on the cake of stupidity was my linking to a webpage about erroneous usage of apostrophes while making the exact same error it was referring to in the paragraph above. Is this my Karma for mocking Biden?

Okay, let’s try the Quora Q&A again and see if I get it right this time:

Q: What is the right time to call HR?

A: During business hours.

As a retired human resources professional, I am confident I am correct on this issue and stand firmly behind my answer.

The joke is not always on me, so here are today’s offerings:

I skipped the hike today. Here’s hoping I feel better about things tomorrow.

Sunday is the day I join Swan for her candy walk. We did a tad over 7K yesterday before the goodies ran out. Counting my blessings that I’m still able to walk that far, although I do get more tuckered out along the way than I used to. I still have trouble with any elevation gain; even the neighborhood dog walk has me huffing and puffing, and that’s distressing. I’m hopeful that I’m experiencing a temporary respiratory infection that will resolve soon rather than a permanent exacerbation of my COPD. I will try and get in to see a pulmonary doctor this week for advice on the next steps.

I’m still fully functioning in the nighttime portion of my life, so there’s that. I did the Hideaway feeding, then spent some time on the Arizona floating bar. For our nightcap, Swan and I enjoyed a visit to The Rite Spot On The Roof. I’m fully in the mode of making the best of what I have while I still have it. No, I don’t mean to come off as feeling morbid, but the reality is that the older I get, the more I feel the looming specter of mortality. My goal is to top the 83 years my father achieved. That would give me fifteen more years to play with. Still, everything can change in a heartbeat (or lack thereof), so I appreciate the daily blessings, even if they are repetitive and mundane.

Anyway, I don’t dwell on this kind of thinking, and I’m a little surprised I regurgitated those words above. While on the floating bar waiting for Swan to arrive and taking in the views, I appreciated all the simple blessings that fill my life. As I admired the awesomeness of the Kalaklan Ridge, I recalled the many times I’ve hiked to the top and taken in those amazing views from on high. Perhaps my climbing days will come to an end, but the memories will not. As I sat on the floater, cold beer in hand, watching the beachgoers, jet skis, and boaters enjoying the late afternoon beauty surrounding us, I realized once again that despite the imperfections of life, I am a lucky man.

Some R&R at home, the Swan headed out to run some errands, and I made my way to Hideaway for the Sunday feeding.

Next up, the Arizona floating bar, conveniently located a block from Hideaway.

We walked down the highway a bit without a clear destination in mind, and then a trike driver pulled up and offered us a lift to the Rite Spot. Off we went, and soon we were up and at ’em.

And that’s how my Sunday went down. Now it is Hash Monday and I’ve got some deciding to do. The trail starts at Barretto High School on Rizal Extension. I can walk to the highway and catch a trike, or I can go the back way on the My Bitch trail. I already have a shortcut for the actual trail in mind, but even that will require a hill climb. The way I’ve been feeling that may be one hill too many. Well, damn, I think I will walk to the start and see how I feel. If I’m not up for the up, I’ll do a flat walk to the On-Home at McCoy’s on Baloy Beach. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

It could always be worse, I could be this guy:

Facebook memories carried me back to 1988 during my tenure as the Acting Director, Human Resources, for the Postal Service in Roanoke, Virginia:

And then there is this from six years ago–my last winter in Korea:

The dreaded Quora Q&A (don’t worry, I’m running out of questions I answered there):

Q: When a thrown dart gets caught in the flight or shaft of the preceding dart thrown, is it null, or does it qualify for the same score?

A: If the point of the dart is not touching the board, it does not score.

Now you know.

How about this:

And now we’ve reached the end of another post. Thank you for your patience.