A good reminder to enjoy it while you can. Here’s how I kicked things off in 2025:

Just before we departed San Narciso yesterday, we took a quick tour of a beachfront property for sale.

So, the price is 3.5 million pesos or around $60,000 USD. It is not currently up to my living standards, so more money would have to be invested to make it a possibility. We’d also want to construct a place where locals and tourists could sit and enjoy beachside beverages and food. At this point, we are still in the dreaming stages, but you never know. Foreigners can’t own property here, so the purchase would have to be in Swan’s name. (UPDATE: I just checked with Swan, and she says it is too expensive for an untitled property. She also prefers to find something closer to home.)

It was good to be back on familiar turf after being gone since last year. Having missed our Tuesday routine of visiting the Kokomo’s floating bar on Baloy Beach, we made up for lost time last evening.

One of my goals for the new year is to create a revised Wednesday routine that includes a seldom-visited bar during my night out. We kicked things off last night with a visit to Harley’s for our nightcap. And we killed a second bird by having some dinner while we were there.

Back home again and enjoying my pudding when a big dogfight broke out between Buddy and Lucky. Apparently, there is some jealousy over Swan’s female dog. It was hard to break them up, and both dogs had battle scars. That was my last straw with Lucky. He will live out his days in the yard downstairs as he is no longer welcome in my house. I considered having him put to sleep, but I can’t quite bring myself to take his life. Yet.

Speaking of starting things off right, I wanted to make my first solo walk of the year a good one, so this morning, I pushed myself to see how far I could go. I documented the effort with a photo every one thousand steps. Here’s what it looked like:

Fourteen kilometers is about twice the distance I usually walk. I don’t think I’ll be doing this on a regular basis, but I do want to up my game some. My fantasy of walking the 29K to Mope in San Narciso got a reality check this morning. I would have been only halfway there and out of gas. Maybe an hour or two of resting would have reinvigorated me, but I doubt it.

And that brings you up to date on how I’ve kicked off the newest year I’ve had the pleasure of living in.

Nine years ago, I was doing what folks do when in Itaewon:

And here’s a timely reminder as we begin a new year:

Alright, we’ll lighten things up with today’s YouTube video. We haven’t heard from Mikey Bustos for a while. Enjoy!

And some more of my so-called humor:

The rest of Day 2 awaits. We’ll be meeting the neighbors, Jeff and Vina, for dinner at Hops and Brews later. And I haven’t been to Barretto since 2024, so I’m looking forward to see if anything has changed. I’ll be back tomorrow with more of this goodness. You are welcome!

And the “first time hearing” reaction:

I’m glad to be alive! On a whim, I decided to welcome in the new year on the beach, so when the grocery shopping was done, we dropped off the goods and headed for San Narciso.

We took a short nap, then got ourselves ready to celebrate the coming new year.

We took our seats at a table fronting the stage. The only other customers there departed shortly after we arrived. As we perused the menu offerings, I was surprised to see this:

Interestingly, Mula only sells wine by the bottle, not the glass. So, naturally we ordered the cheese platter and Swan got her two glasses of wine for not much more than we would have paid in Barretto, plus all those snacks. Best bargain I’ve seen in quite a while.

The band started playing, and we had their full attention as the only members of the audience. The female lead singer teased Swan a little and sang a good mix of romantic songs during their first set.

We went back to Mope after Mula, enjoyed some more beers, and chatted with Matt, the Aussie owner of Mope. I also met another guest named Jim, who has Hashed in Subic in the past and hopes to do so again soon. Anyway, I was in high spirits by now, but not so high that I didn’t remember some awesome-sounding dessert selections on the Mula menu, particularly the ice cream sundae and the brownie a la mode. Our plan was to go back to our room and set the alarm to wake us shortly before midnight. And seeing as how it was the last night of the year, I detoured back to Mula for some takeout dessert. I couldn’t decide which one I wanted, so I ordered both, thinking Swan and I would share. But she went to bed as soon as we got back in our room, so I had no choice but to eat them both myself.

When the alarm sounded, we got out of bed, dressed, and headed for the beach to watch the fireworks.

When the fireworks were done, so were we. Back to the room and back to bed. I didn’t wake again until 6:30, which is sleeping in for me. Swan wanted to head to the beach and look for a sunrise, and I told her I would join her a little later (I had to see what I’d been missing on the internet).

When Swan had finished satisfying her toes in the sand urge, she joined me, and we shared a breakfast (I ate the bacon and eggs; she had the toast and jam). Owner Matt stopped by our table to greet us. I’d met Matt on my previous Mope outings, but something has changed with him, and not for the better. A couple of months ago, he had a crash on his motorcycle, and his injuries resulted in him losing a leg.

In addition to being a motorcycle enthusiast, Matt was an avid surfer (his resort was built to cater to the surfing crowd). He told me he would be fitted with an artificial limb soon, and he has every intention of resuming his passion for riding the board shortly thereafter. So much respect for this guy!

After breakfast, we headed out for a morning stroll.

And now I am back home and dashing out a blog post before heading out to visit the Kokomo’s floating bar. I haven’t been there since last year!

A special memory for today:

Today’s episode in The Story of My Life is a post from New Year’s Day twenty years ago called “Journey Through The Past.” I had just returned from a cross-country drive after visiting Oklahoma, one of the states I’ve called home. During the trip, I reflected on the life I had lived there and how I had failed to recognize all the things that were great about it, but I had never fully appreciated it until looking back all those years later. I resolved with my pending move to Korea; I would not make that mistake again. And, of course, I did blow it in a similar fashion while spending my final year before retirement, missing my past life in Seoul and looking towards my future life in the Philippines, while forgetting to fully appreciate the life I was living in Pyeongtaek. It’s a bit disconcerting when your own words come back and bite you in the ass.  

In today’s YouTube video, George takes you on a Sunday stroll through Barretto. I haven’t had a chance to watch it myself yet, but if you are curious have a look.

And now for some laughter:

Okay then, I’m running late. Meeting up with my pal Steve and his gal on the floater so time to get myself on the road. I’ll tell you all about tomorrow!

It was alright. Gonna be a quick report today, I’m in a sour mood and need work my way out of it. Anyway, here’s the story of my yesterday:

The weekly Hideaway feeding was once again accomplished. The bar was quite busy yesterday, and a couple of the drunks were loud enough to be irritating. I only stayed for an hour before heading for the beach.

The Arizona floater was busier than it was last week. That’s good, the girls were otherwise occupied and left us alone this time.

There was a bit of a snafu that I found irksome. As usual, we gave our waitress our drink order before heading up to the third floor. And after waiting nearly ten minutes, the drinks hadn’t arrived. So, we went back downstairs, and it seems the waitress had gotten busy with a takeout order and forgotten all about us. She apologized profusely, and instead of walking out, we just stayed on the second floor and let it go. A bit of a buzz killer, though.

Our nightcap was at the Green Room. Pudding before bed but still a sour ending to the night. I’ll leave it at that.

And here are some facts (well, facts according to the Facebook post I saw) about the Philippines:

FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

1. Most of people in the Philippines speak English! With a strong emphasis on English education, the Philippines ranks as the fifth-largest English-speaking country globally, making communication with locals a breeze for English speakers.

2. Filipinos ranked as the highest selfie-takers in the world! Filipinos have earned the title of the world’s most enthusiastic selfie-takers, embracing the art of self-expression through photography.

3. Philippines has 7641 islands – making it one of the largest archipelagos globally. Surprisingly, more than 5,000 of these islands remain unnamed on most international maps, waiting to be discovered. Sounds amazing, right? Just imagine huge number of islands right there!

4. There are over 170 dialects in the Philippines! One of the most remarkable features of the Philippines is its linguistic diversity. While the official language is Filipino, based on Tagalog, there are over 170 dialects spoken throughout the archipelago, reflecting the nation’s vibrant cultural mosaic.

5. The Philippines is the only Asian nation that is predominantly Christian. More than 86% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic and religion is still a big influence in the country.

6. The largest and most expensive pearl in the world was found in the Philippines! It was being found in Palawan, weighing a staggering 75 pounds and valued at an astonishing $100 million.

7. Filipinos celebrate Christmas longer than you think! The Philippines takes Christmas celebrations to the next level, beginning in September and lasting until January during the “Feast of the Three Kings.” The festive atmosphere includes decorations and numerous parties.

8. The Philippines has ‘best singers,’ ‘loves music most’ among 90 toured countries. Filipinos are so good at singing! Karaoke is their beloved pastime, showcasing their vocal talents at gatherings, turning any occasion into a singing festivity.

9. The Philippines has earned its title as the “text capital of the world,” with social media and texting being the primary means of communication.

10. Tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates can only be found in the Philippines. It is known for its enormous eyes relative to its body size, aiding in night vision.

11. Fertilised duck embryo is the famous street snack. Filipinos enjoy eating this, they call it as ‘balut’.

12. The Philippines has unique transportation modes, such as tricycles, jeep, and kalesas.

13. The Philippines is known as the largest supplier of nurses to the world, with over 25% of all nurses in the United States being of Filipino descent.

14. Jeepney as the usual public transportation! It is distinctive and colorful public transportation vehicles, is ubiquitous in the Philippines, providing a unique way to explore its cities.

15. Philippines is the only country where the flag is flown upside down to indicate the state of war.

16. Filipino is the official language in the Philippines. It became the main language of the Philippines in 1987 under the constitution replacing ‘Pilipino’.

17. Philippines is one of the largest island countries in the world! It offers an incredible diversity of landscapes and experiences.

18. The Philippines is the second largest producer of coconut products in the world. Locally known as buko, coconut is a top export product of the Philippines. Each year, the country ships around 19.50 million tons or more of coconut fruit.

19. Filipinos are known for being polite, addressing each other with “ma’am” or “sir.” Respect for elders is deeply ingrained, reflected in terms like “ate” and “kuya” and use of “po” and “opo.”

20. “Filipino time” refers to the cultural phenomenon of Filipinos often arriving late for appointments or events, reflecting their laid-back, relaxed attitude towards time.

21. Two of the world’s largest shopping malls are located in the Philippines, offering an incredible shopping and leisure experience. One is SM Megamall, located in Mandaluyong city, with a total floor area of over 5.5 million square feet. Another is SM Shopping center of Asia (MOA) is a rambling shopping center in Pasay City, with more than 4.4 million square feet of retail space.

22. The Philippines founded Asia’s first basketball league, the Philippines Basketball Association, in 1975, making basketball a beloved sport in the country.

23. Jollibee is the top fast food chain the Philippines taking over McDonald’s! Jollibee was the leading limited-service restaurant in the Philippines in terms of sales in 2021. In that year, the restaurant chain generated sales of approximately 24. 53 billion U.S. dollars. Its closest competitor, McDonald’s, had total sales of about 786 million U.S. dollars in that year.

24. The Philippines has the largest underground river. Many people visit the Philippines because of its cultural history of famous water bodies. In fact, this nation is home to the largest underground river. It is located in Puerta Princesa Subterranean River National Park. There are many famous landmarks in the Philippines that will amaze you.

25. Filipinos can’t eat without rice! For almost 99% of the Philippine population, no meal is complete without rice, highlighting its central role in Filipino cuisine.

26. Filipinos usually have 3 to 4 meals daily!

27. There are three main island groups in the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, and Visayas. Luzon, the most populous, is home to the capital city, Manila.

And now you know.

Today’s YouTube video is from a fellow expat retiree who reflects on the challenges of growing old here:

Who could use a laugh after that?

Okay, Hash Monday is upon us once again. Today’s trail starts and ends on Rizal Extension, which means it’s gonna be a pain in the ass to get back to town afterward. Oh well, I’m already in a pissy mood, so why not sprinkle a little salt in the wound?

And for you “first time hearing” fans:

I mean the Christmas that was yesterday. I sure as hell hope it wasn’t my last Christmas! I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out. In the meantime, here’s how I spent the day of the dear Savior’s birth (hedging my bets, just to play it safe):

Christmas fell on a Wednesday this week, but that didn’t keep four of us from heading out for a walk. We took a 200 peso trike ride to barangay Naugsol and then walked the length of the bypass highway that is under construction. Then it was down into the valley and on home to Barretto. The good news is that we found the path into San Isidro that gets around the fence I couldn’t find last week. Praise the Lord!

Swan gifted me a new trekking pole and two ballcaps for Christmas.

My neighbor Mike was celebrating his 77th birthday this Christmas, and we joined the gathering at his place to celebrate.

After the meal and birthday song, we made a plan to reconvene at Thumbstar bar in Barretto. Mike sent me home with a generous helping of leftovers.

Mike’s an interesting guy who had a career in the music business as a promoter. He shared photos from his glory days with some of the biggest bands from the 70s and 80s. The stories he can tell!

Speaking of those leftovers, I had some of them for breakfast this morning.

So, Christmas is no time to be stingy, even with the calorie intake.

There’s another feast in store for tonight as Swan’s family invades The Right Spot. I’ll get back on track next year for sure.

In the memories department, ten years ago, I had this to say here on LTG:

Maybe I am crazy, but it occurs to me now that life is always just one big transition.  I suppose that state of perpetual transition might on occasion include adventure.  More often it just hurts.

I had no idea what lay in store for me just around the corner (my wife dumping me). And now here I am, still trying to make the best of whatever may come.

Seven years ago, I was enjoying a stroll on the Han River in Seoul:

Today’s YouTube video was lifted from Kevin Kim’s blog. It’s just too damn funny (and true) not to share.

As long as we are laughing:

Assuming I remember what happens, I’ll be sharing how dinner with the family goes tonight. I’ve already made my Aunt Pat’s Recipe World Famous Fruit Salad. My other contribution will be candied yams. Yeah, another cheat day is in store I’m afraid.

So, the obvious song for today’s post is “Last Christmas” by George Michael. In an ominous twist, his last day on Earth was also his last Christmas–he died December 25, 2016.

Since I no longer practice the Christian faith, the alleged birthday of Jesus Christ doesn’t hold any religious meaning for me, but the spirit of Christmas—the giving, sharing, and loving parts—still resonates with me. My agenda for the day includes a morning group hike, followed by a birthday party for my neighbor and fellow Westminster High School alumnae, Mike, this afternoon. I’ll bring my usual brownies. After that, we’ll see. Swan’s family will gather at their compound in Subic for the Christening of her niece. I’m the ninong (godfather) and am sending my donation and best wishes via Swan.

In the spirit of the holiday, here are the lyrics to my favorite Christmas song (actually a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow set to music):

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And here is my Christmas Eve tale:

Later in the afternoon, we headed to Alley Cats bar for my belated Christmas appearance. On the way, Swan dropped some cookies and chocolate for a friend of hers on Gabaya Street.

I was surprised to see there was an early darts tournament in progress when we arrived. The place was packed, but it was great seeing some of my old dart buddies from years gone by again. I gave a tin of Christmas cookies and a batch of brownies and got a ballcap and shirt in the gift exchange. I provided a Shamboli’s pizza, a round of lady drinks, and a Hershey’s chocolate bar, making all the staff happy to see me again. It was a good time, and although I still haven’t rekindled a desire to throw darts again, I should try to drop by Alley Cats more often in the new year.

I have two 500 peso vouchers for Queen Victoria that expire tomorrow, so my plan was for both of us to drink for free after we departed Alley Cats. Alas, Queen Victoria was closed. I won’t be able to use them tomorrow because I’m having Swan’s family over to the house for an after-Christmas dinner. Oh well. I was a little hungry anyway, so we moseyed up the highway to Sit-n-Bull for dinner instead.

After dinner, we went next door to Wet Spot for our nightcap. That didn’t last long. Aine came over and said something to Swan that made her as mad as I’d ever seen her. It totally killed Swan’s buzz, and she wanted to leave immediately. And that’s just what we did. Needless to say, Aine will not be welcome at our table in the future.

Home, pudding, and bed. That’s good enough for me.

Thirteen years ago, my Facebook Christmas card looked like this:

In keeping with the spirit of the season, in today’s YouTube video, we watch the Filipina Pea playing Santa Claus to the less fortunate in her community—a similar undertaking to what Swan has been preparing for in Alibang this Friday. From my first visit to the Philippines, I’ve been impressed with the generosity of Filipinos toward those who have less.

Now for some Christmas cheer:

That’s all for now, time for me to get into the Christmas spirit. Hope all my readers (both of you) have a happy holiday!

And now, for some Christmas music. I said at the top of this post that “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was my favorite holiday song. I saw in today’s Facebook memories that I’ve posted several versions of the song by different artists over the years. Which one do you think is best?

Johnny Cash:

Suzy Bogguss:

Burl Ives:

And with some Civil War graphics (the era in which the poem was written):

I think the Ives’ rendition in my favorite, with Bogguss a close second.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas memories from my working life on Facebook today:

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

The joke is on me:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swan had a busy day doing good deeds.

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

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

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

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

Today’s weigh-in results:

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

Progress!

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

And on to the humor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now for some memories courtesy of Facebook:

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

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

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

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

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

Humor time:

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

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

And the “first time hearing” response:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question everything.

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

Laughing is free at least:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ain’t it the truth:

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

To the humor we must go:

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

A Letter From A Redneck Mother To Her Son

Dear Son,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love, Ma

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

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

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

And here is my gift to Swan:

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

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

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

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

And the Friday weigh-in results:

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

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

Today’s memories courtesy of Facebook:

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

I do have these tidbits of humor to share:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And life goes on until it doesn’t.

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

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

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

And now the jokes are on me:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is how I looked fifty years ago:

Gotta skip the YouTube video today…no time!

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

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

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

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

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

But you do what you gotta do, right?

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

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

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

And the daily dose of humor:

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

And the “first time hearing” video:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laughing can help, too:

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