And not altogether wrong. Just one of those days that was a little bit off. Hey, you need the not-so-good to fully appreciate the good ones, right? And if yesterday is as bad as it gets, I am indeed a blessed man. Here’s the story of my Bluesday.

Headed out for the weekly grocery shopping excursion at Royal. My first stop is always the ATM at the nearby Harbor Point Mall, where I stock up on cash for the coming week. Except this time, the ATM was offline, requiring a detour to the ATMs on the other side of SBMA (I use the BPI bank machines because they allow 20,000 peso withdrawals). I extracted the needed cash, and we reversed course back to the Royal supermarket, where the shopping took place without further incident. No big deal, but still not quite right.

So, now that the floating bars are no more, Swan and I need a new Tuesday evening routine. If we can’t be on the water, we at least want to be able to view the bay from our seats. We weren’t that thrilled with the Kokomo’s experience last week, so I thought we’d try something new. On the far end of Barretto, there is a floating island resort. I’ve never been, but there is a sign out front saying the restaurant is open to non-guest customers. I was thinking it might be similar to the Kon Tiki experience, only closer. Only one way to find out, right?

We had the typical afternoon rain shower (I’m not complaining about the rainy season–yet), but the rain stopped just before we left home. We did carry umbrellas just to be safe. It’s a little over 2K from my house to the venue, and I was tempted to grab a trike using the weather as an excuse, but I persevered and got in the steps. We arrived and walked through the front gate. A guard stopped us and asked where we were going. Swan did the talking in Tagalog. So, despite the signage inviting guests, the restaurant wasn’t open. It seems that if the resort has no customers, they don’t open the restaurant at all. And on a rainy Tuesday, the floating island had no guests. Swan asked the guard if we could walk through to the beach, but he wouldn’t allow it. So, guess what? You can keep your fucked up resort, we won’t be back. It was a disappointment, though.

So, I didn’t really have a Plan B, but as we walked back to “downtown” Barretto, it occurred to me that I hadn’t dined at the Arizona Resort for quite some time. Back in my tourist days, I often stayed there, and early in my expat life, I dined there frequently. I’m not sure what happened, but after a change of owners and the COVID scamdemic, the place seemed to go downhill. Oh well, we wanted to eat on the beach, and Arizona fit that criteria, so in we went.

Our waitress dropped off the menus, Swan ordered red wine, and I asked for a San Mig Zero.

Swan ordered a steak sandwich, and I went with a chef salad.

After our meal, we continued up the highway and popped into It Doesn’t Matter. There was nothing to complain about here, but we moved on after one drink. We chose Wet Spot for our nightcap. It was early, and the place was not very busy. Swan’s friend Aine wasn’t at work, but I kept our regular waitress Irene from going thirsty. I used my “buy one, get one” SOB coupon and drank my money’s worth. The Sit-n-Bull waitress came by, so we ordered some pecan pie to bring home with us.

When we got home, Swan was feeling a bit tipsy, so we went to bed early. Later, after some exercise, I had a breathing attack. My oximeter said my blood oxygen was at 89, so I opened my air tank for the first time in quite a while and breathed its contents until I was back to a comfortable 96 oxygen level. A suitable ending to a day that was not quite right.

There’s an election coming up, and Facebook is back to playing it’s censorship game.

I reposted it in a group of non-political hiking pictures, but the Facebook censors found it again and sent a message threatening to restrict people’s access to my future posts. Heil Zuckerberg, mien Fuhrer!

Speaking of Facebook, here are some memories from this day in history:

What a world.

Oh, that Aeta video I posted yesterday wasn’t the one I intended. This one is much more interesting and now (I hope) the closed captioning is working so you can understand what is being said by the natives.

And now for some not quite right humor:

Keep ’em coming! Two Barretto expats died last week and that serves as a timely reminder to live each day to the fullest. It may not be an exciting life I’m living, but it satisfices and beats the hell out the alternative. We’ll see how that works out for me, hopefully in the long run.

The Sunday sweetness began with our weekly candy walk. We added a couple of kilometers this week and put smiles on some new faces.

We were blessed with good weather on our walk. A couple hours after we finished, it looked like this outside:

The rain stopped before it was time to leave for the Hideaway feeding. I carried an umbrella for the first time this year, just to be on the safe side. I didn’t need it, though.

With the Hideaway feeding completed, it was time to feed Swan. John’s place is almost directly across the highway from Hideaway, and Swan was waiting for me when I arrived. Red wine for her and Zero for me while we awaited our dinner to be served.

As usual, the food at John’s was good. We had our nightcap at Green Room and ran into a couple of our neighbors, so that made a nice ending to the evening. Oh, and Sit-n-Bull had pecan pie in stock, so we brought home our dessert. A sweet ending to the day!

I’m one of the Hares for today’s Hash, so I was out marking the trail at 0800 today. Hot again, and I’m whupped right now. I’m sure I’ll recover in time to enjoy some cold beers at the Hash Circle. I’ll give the rundown on how it all goes tomorrow.

Today’s YouTube features some tough talk from President Marcos of the Philippines. I guess you could sing it to the tune of “This Land Is Our Land.” Actually, the Woody Guthrie song I’m thinking of is “This Land Is Your Land,” which wouldn’t be good to sing to China. Never mind!

And here’s the daily dose of humor:

Okay, I really need a nap. Back tomorrow.

And no man is an island. So, what better place to spend a Saturday evening than Treasure Island?

The day began with my Standard Saturday Solo Street Stroll—pretty boring, actually. I’m happy to report that I overcame the near-constant urge to shortcut during the walk, so there’s that.

I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Jo, and she seemed satisfied that I was progressing in the right direction. So, we will continue with the same drug regimen for another couple of weeks anyway.

I asked Swan if she wanted to spend the evening at The Rite Spot On The Roof or go to Treasure Island to hear the band. You already know which one she chose. The nice thing is that the band starts around four. Most venues don’t have live music until after my bedtime. Bar bands don’t usually impress me for a variety of reasons, but mainly because the music tends to be loud and distorted. That wasn’t the case with Engine, a popular local group. I quite enjoyed their performance. We also had a nice meal during our visit.

After a pleasant evening at Treasure Island we stopped at Snackbar for our nightcap.

And that’s how our Saturday went down. This evening, I’ll do the feeding at Hideaway. With the Arizona floating bar gone for the season, our new Sunday tradition will be dinner at John’s place. Looking forward to that!

Seems like only yesterday that people said I looked like Magnum P.I. Well, that was thirty-five years ago.

Today’s YouTube video gives you a tour of Treasure Island if you’d like to see more. I love the beachfront setting and the food. It’s a great pool, but I’ve never used it. I stayed there a couple of times as a tourist but never liked the rooms. There are better lodging options nearby, but I’d still come back to sit at the bar and take in the view.

To the humor, then:

Until we meet again.

Only Erik and I turned out for the Friday group hike. We walked out to the end of Baloy Long Beach Road, then took the boat across the river to Matain and continued our walk there. Circled back around through Calapacuan and then on to Barretto. A little over 8K. I brought home a Big Mac for lunch, likely canceling any benefits derived from the hike. I guess that’s just the way I roll.

Swan was back at the barangay in San Isidro for the follow-up meeting with the vicious dogs’ owner. He was a no-show. Another summons will be issued for a meeting next week. When I walked by this morning, they were out in attack mode. I carry a stick with me, and I will go postal on them if they get within range.

We attended the SOB last night at La Oficina. It was the same old, same old routines but it was a decent venue for watching the show. I reckon I’m going to become a once-a-monther.

I saw this on Facebook, and it brought back some memories of my days as a youth.

Today’s video talks about money transfer issues. The big one I hear about is missing the “proof of life” letter from the Social Security folks and losing your pension. Luckily, that’s not a requirement for my retirement, which is deposited on the first of the month into my credit union account in the USA. I pay my helpers through wire transfers from my account to their Filipino bank. I make my charity allowances via Western Union. I do weekly ATM withdrawals for my pocket money. Hopefully, I won’t encounter the problems these folks have had to deal with with.

And on to the jokes:

Alright, that’s all I’ve got for today.

A very nice day in the life yesterday. During the dog walk, Swan mentioned needing to go to the Subic marketplace to buy candy for this week’s candy walk. She then surprised me by suggesting we walk there together. Works for me! Here’s how we did it:

Not a bad walk on a sunny and warm day. Some R&R at home, and then I asked Swan out on a date. When I told her my plan for dinner and drinks at the Kon Tiki beach bar in Kalaklan, she enthusiastically agreed. So, we headed down to the highway and grabbed a Jeepney for the Samba Resort, about 3K away.

We were the only customers during our visit, but I got to meet the owner, Paul. He’s a nice guy—Swedish, I think. He is partners with the owner of Harley’s on Baloy. On weekends, they offer a buffet menu, which he says is very popular. They have plans for opening similar venues in Barretto and on SBMA. Swan and I both enjoyed our visit, and I expect I’ll be back on a bi-weekly basis for my beach bar fix. Oh, another thing I liked about the place was the laid-back music played at an appropriate volume. I complimented the owner on that, and he said there is a set playlist that the staff is not allowed to alter. Good on him. It was cool to be sitting on the beach listening to The Beach Boys’ hits from the ’60s. Although, the thought did occur to me that in the 1960s I never heard music from the ’20s being played.

It was seven-ish when we finished and walked back out to the highway to catch a Jeepney back to Barretto. I was surprised that the first several to pass by were all full. I thought the commute from Olongapo would be over by then. A trike pulled up and dropped a passenger, so we happily filled the vacancy and rode in comparative comfort to Wet Spot for our nightcap.

It was good to see owner Daddy Dave back after his recent hospitalization. We had a nice catch-up chat, and he’ll be holding court at tonight’s SOB after a two-week absence. I’ll see him there later.

And so ended a better-than-average day in my neck of the woods.

Of course, the big news is the jury verdict in the political trial of former and future President Trump. I’ll confess to being disappointed in the outcome. My money was on at least one juror standing up for justice despite personal animosity towards Trump. I hope this travesty serves as a wake-up call for the American people, but I have my doubts. I guess we’ll know soon enough.

I’m glad to be living in the Philippines, where I don’t have to observe the destruction of America up close and personal.

Today’s YouTube video is of the SOB dance team from La Oficina bar. They will be hosting tonight’s event.

And now, for some laughs:

Today’s song is one I probably haven’t heard in fifty years or so. I saw it mentioned on Quora and had to go check and see if it was the same one I remembered from those long ago days. It was. It is the only Japanese language song to become a top forty hit in the USA.

Yesterday, the Wednesday Walkers group made our way out to Tibag to commence our hike. We only do this a couple of times a year, so it always feels fresh and new. Since the first time I visited the Tibag community, I’ve had a good vibe about it. It’s small and remote but surrounded by beautiful scenery. I sometimes find myself imagining what it would be like to live there, but then the reality of its inconsistency with my chosen lifestyle slaps me in the face. So, I reckon it will just remain a fantasy.

We hiked under mostly cloudy skies but only had a few sprinkles near the end of our journey. It was nice to catch a break from the heat, especially since we walked more than 9K, which was a lot for us. I was feeling whupped at the end, that’s for sure. Here are some photos to give you a feel for our trail:

A good hike and we avoided the rain.

Swan chose to stay home, so I had an evening on the town by myself.To kick things off, I visited Cheap Charlies. A beer into my visit, Erik came to join me. Just when we were getting ready to depart for a change of scenery, the skies opened up once again. So, we ordered food from the Foodies restaurant downstairs and had some more beer.

The rain let up a little, and we headed down the highway to Whiskey Girl for our nightcap. It was nice to see my old waitress friend Jhen again. It turns out today is her birthday, so I left her a 500-peso gift tip. It was raining again when I went outside to leave, but luckily, a trike pulled up to carry me home. And so ended a rainy night in paradise.

That post about the Rite Spot I made on the Westminster Facebook group page is still getting a lot of attention. A couple of commenters added a picture:

Speaking of Facebook memories, today brought more of my scamdemic rantings:

And I’m going to go political for a moment or two now:

Alright, I learned a long time ago that most minds won’t be changed by anything I post here.

So, let’s move on.

On YouTube today, George visits the Margarita Station restaurant where I dined on Saturday night in Angeles City.

And a little humor to finish things off here:

Today’s song is an oldie I grew up with (one of my dad’s favorites). I picked this version because it was performed live at the Grand Ole Opry on my tenth birthday in 1965.

Nothing to get down about. Nothing to write home about, either. But this is a blog, so here I go anyway.

The weekly excursion to Royal for groceries went according to plan. Another week with no ice cream in the cart, but thems the breaks.

Swan and two expat neighbors visited the barangay office. There are some aggressive dogs down the street from us who go into attack mode whenever we walk by. I carry a stick when I pass, and they back off when I fight back, but it feels like being in a bar brawl. One of the neighbors was bitten recently. So, the complaint has been filed, and the dog owner has until Friday to respond to a summons from the barangay. We’ll see what happens.

Our Tuesday ritual of visiting the Kokomo floater is on hold, but we still headed out for Baloy Beach at beer o’clock. First stop was the Kokomo Resort bar, a venue I’ve never visited before. Not surprisingly given the threatening skies, we were the only customers. And during our brief stay the clouds opened up and the wind and rain forced us to retreat to the backside of the bar.

Kokomo’s doesn’t serve food, so we moved next door to DaKudos (which is apparently changing its name to Foxhole) and had a bite to eat. We took a trike to Snackbar for our nightcap, then headed on home. Around one in the morning, the power went out. I woke up when the fans stopped blowing the comforting air. When the power was restored an hour later, I was a sweaty mess. Not the best start to the day!

In other news, I got invited to join a Facebook group called “Westminster, CA Residents Past-Present.” I grew up in Westminster so it’s been kind of fun exploring the old memories of places I’ve been. One post was about Blinky’s Pizza, a place I worked as a teen. Anyway, I posted that picture of my dad doing his thing at The Rite Spot and was shocked at the response from people who remembered the place as a popular hangout with good food. One commenter said they have the old Rite Spot menu board being prepared for display at the Westminster museum (I didn’t even they had a museum, but I’ve been gone since 1978.) Another commenter asked my permission to use the photo of my father for display next to the menu in the museum. I was happy to oblige.

Today’s video is a morning walking tour of Barretto that features the newest bar in town. I stopped in there after the Hash on Monday and it was packed with bikers (not that there is anything wrong with that). I don’t know if that was a one-off or if it will be the local hangout for motorcycle clubs. Anyway, good luck to them!

And now a moment of humor:

That’s all he wrote. (Cue the applause)

Back from my weekend in Angeles and need to rush this post because I’ve got the Subic Hash to attend to soon. Yesterday’s Hash went well, I suppose. After a forty-minute Jeepney ride to the starting point, we had two options–6K with a hill climb or a flat 3K walk. I opted to play it safe and took the short route, but it was too easy and a little boring. The skies had been threatening rain, and the cloud cover finally provided some relief from the oppressive heat. That was nice. Just before the Hash circle began, the rain came down hard, so we retreated to the Premier Hotel (the AC Hash home base) and finished the Hash there.

After the Hash business was done, Swan and I joined my fellow Subic Hashers, Dave and Jo, for a mini-bar crawl on our way back to the hotel. That was the most fun I had all day. Especially the last bar, a hole-in-wall place down a side road near our hotel. The kind of place I’d never venture into on my own. But it was very friendly and welcoming and we rewarded all the gals with lady drinks, lollipops, and cookies. A good time was had by all!

This morning, Swan and I walked to Walking Street, a couple of kilometers away, for breakfast at Kokomos (which is not affiliated with the Baloy version).

Made it back to Barretto safe and sound and ready to Hash!

I’d mentioned that both floating bars were put away in storage this weekend until late in the year when the storm season ends. Here’s why:

Today is Memorial Day, and I always remember the only family member I’m aware of who died in the service of our nation, my great uncle Frank.

Here dead we lie
Because we did not choose
To live and shame the land
From which we sprung.
Life, to be sure,
Is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is,
And we were young.
–Alfred Edward Housman

Meanwhile, this scoundrel is destroying the nation so many died for:

Today’s YouTube video takes you on a stroll in Cebu for a taste of life in the Philippines.

Humor me:

Gotta run. Well, I’m gonna walk, but you know what I mean.

A busy day yesterday. How busy? I skipped the morning group hike and passed on attending the SOB. I had other things to do to fill the hours. Here’s how it went:

I needed to go to Olongapo to pick up my blood work results. The plan was to take a Jeepney, but on the way out of the neighborhood, my neighbor (and Westminster High School classmate), Mike, drove by. It turns out he was on his way to SBMA, too, so we got a much more comfortable ride with him. Mike is one of the more interesting guys I’ve met here, and not just because he comes from my hometown (what are the odds of that?). Professionally, he was a record producer who worked with some of the biggest rock groups of the 70s and 80s. He showed me some really cool photos from those days at the rooftop party. Speaking of which, at the party, he reminded me that he had been to the original Rite Spot–the burger joint my dad managed in the early 60s. What a small world.

Anyway, I picked up the blood results, hit a couple of stores in the mall, and then we started the walk back home. I didn’t get far in the blistering heat before saying, “fuck this,” and grabbing a taxi. I got home, blogged, showered, and then walked back into town for my appointment with Dr. Jo. When Dr. Jo and hubby Chris reviewed the blood work and compared it to my previous results, they were shocked. In a good way. Almost all my high readings, including the ones predicting future diabetes and kidney failure, had dropped back into the normal range. So, I guess ignoring my sweet tooth has paid some dividends. I still miss ice cream, though.

We discussed my recent breathing issues, and it appears I’m retaining fluids again, which is likely impacting my lung functioning. Also, my blood hemoglobin level is slightly lower than normal. As I understand, hemoglobin carries oxygen through the bloodstream, and the low level could be a factor in my feeling short of breath. I received an injection of vitamin B1, which should help strengthen my hemoglobin levels. Dr. Jo also tweaked a couple of my prescriptions to address fluid retention and my recent bouts with high blood pressure. Overall, though, I left her office feeling encouraged.

It was still early, around 2:30, and we had initially planned to return home after the appointment. Since I’m going to be out of town on Sunday, I asked Swan if she would mind my taking care of the Hideaway feeding before I went home. She was fine with that, so we parted company for the time being. On my way to the bar, I ordered a pizza and a roast chicken. The girls were surprised to see me two days ahead of schedule, but they were hungry.

I stayed for an hour or so, then headed back down the highway. I thought about stopping somewhere for one more beer but decided I’d rather be at home with Swan, so I grabbed a trike. When I arrived, Swan was surprised to see me. She had sent me a message I hadn’t seen yet saying she was going to attend a memorial service for a recently deceased friend at the Palm Tree Resort. Well, damn, if I knew that I would have stayed in town. I didn’t want to go to a remembrance for someone I didn’t know, but I walked back into town with Swan and waited for her next door at Mangos.

There were quite a few lightning bolts flashing over the water, and I decided to move next door to Palm Tree to enjoy the show from the upstairs balcony.

Swan saw me come in, and the service had just concluded, so she came and joined me at my table. She introduced me to some of the other attendees, but I still felt awkward, having not known the honoree. When I finished my beer, we said goodbye and departed. We decided to do a nightcap at Outback before heading home.

So, the day turned out to be another good one.

It’s a big weekend in store, as we are traveling to Angeles City this afternoon. Swan and I will be participating in the ACH3 anniversary Hash on Sunday.

In other news, today is the last day of the season for both floating bars.

Today’s YouTube video is the latest from The Filipina Pea and covers a topic I’ve often wondered about–why don’t Filipinas use birth control? It’s insane. I’ve met two different gals working in the bars trying to eek out of living, and I was gob-smocked to learn that each of them has SIX children. Much of the poverty in this country is self-inflicted.

Today’s funnies:

I will be back with a change of venue report tomorrow!

The good, the bad, and the ugly. On my street walk yesterday, I observed that it was trash day, and the garbage trucks were doing a brisk business. This triggered me to document some of the litter that isn’t subject to collection. Hey, you gotta find something to keep a familiar walk marginally interesting.

And the next thing I knew, it was party time! I had some chores to complete in the kitchen before the festivities began, though:

It was a swell time on the roof. The chili received lots of compliments, and the cornbread muffins were also very popular. I’m looking forward to the next gathering at The Rite Spot.

Another sad Facebook memory today:

In happier news, my youngest granddaughter, Sydney, finished sixth grade and begins the middle school journey this fall. Not to brag, but she’s one of the smartest kids I’ve ever met.

This is no joke, it is our president:

Sometimes you come across a meme that just totally resonates. This is pretty much what I see in the mirror these days:

Todays YouTube is another one from Reekay offering some words of wisdom on relationships in the Philippines:

On to the humor, then:

Alright, I’m off to see Dr. Jo soon. Hopefully, I can get back on track.

A Sunday candy walk through the streets of San Isidro was a sweet beginning to the day. It has become our semi-regular route, and I noticed yesterday that many of the kids seemed to be waiting for us to arrive. That’s nice in some ways, but it also makes me feel guilty on the occasions we elect to change things up and visit different neighborhoods. So much goodness to share, so little time! The other limiting factor is capacity. We start with a large bag filled with various candies, and we stuff our backpacks with enough to refill the candy bag twice. It never seems to be enough. Still, we turn what candy we have into smiles, and that makes the effort worthwhile.

And the feeding continued later at Hideaway.

With my weekly good deed complete, I headed for the beach.

Swan was hungry and said she was craving a pulled pork sandwich. Luckily, the best one in town was right up the street at John’s place.

We did our nightcap at It Doesn’t Matter. We were the only customers sitting outside. The music was crap rap bullshit, but at least it wasn’t being played overly loud. We left after one drink anyway.

I made smoothies when we got home, which was a sweet ending to a sweet day.

Sometimes, the memories hurt. Like this one:

Seven years ago, I was finding my way around after moving to Pyeongtaek.

Today’s YouTube is from Reekay, who does the Life Beyond The Sea vlog. Prior to making the move to the PI, I was a regular viewer and learned a lot of useful tips about do’s and don’ts. I don’t follow many vlogs now as an expat, but Reekay almost always has good advice for those willing to listen.

And now for today’s dose of so-called humor:

Another Hash Monday lies ahead. I’ve already got my shortcuts plotted out. I did an elongated dog walk this morning, and it seemed to go well, so hopefully, I’m on the road to recovery from whatever has been ailing me. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

My yesterday didn’t begin well. For the first time ever, I had to abort my dog walk. By the time I got to the end of my street, less than 100 yards and slightly uphill, I was breathing hard. I didn’t feel like I could make it the rest of the way, so Swan took over and gave Buddy and Lucky their exercise. It did freak me out, though.

My agenda for the day included taking my new phone back to the Samsung store at the mall to see about getting it repaired. We walked to the highway without any issues (it’s all downhill) and caught a Jeepney to the Kalaklan gate at SBMA. From there, we walked the 1.5 kilometers to the SM Mall, again without a problem. I didn’t expect I’d be able to get the phone repaired at the store–it is manned by sales clerks, not technicians. Still, I almost laughed when the guy helping me held a small fan up to the charging port in a lame attempt to dry it out. I told him I had placed the phone in front of a fan for hours three days ago without success. He kept trying for a while but eventually called the repair facility in Pampanga and did the paperwork to send my phone there for a fix. So, my hopes that they would just replace the phone with a new one were dashed. They told me the repair process would take one or two weeks. Whatever. I had brought my old phone with me and had them change out the SIM cards so I could put it back in service until my new phone was ready.

We exited the mall and caught a cab for the trip back home. A few blocks later, Swan gets a call from the Samsung store. A late-arriving female employee had managed to fix the phone. So, we had the taxi driver turn around and take us back, and he agreed to wait for us while we retrieved my phone. I was very curious about what she had done to get the phone to accept the charger. She explained that I should leave the phone connected to the charge, despite the warning message to immediately unplug it, then turn the phone off using the button on the settings screen. Hmm. I wasn’t convinced that was a “real” fix, but the phone was taking the charge, so I shrugged, thanked her, and headed back to the taxi.

I had no problems with the phone or my breathing for the rest of the day. This morning, I was able to complete my regular dog walk route, with only some heavy breathing on the uphill portions.

Back home after completing the dog walk, I plugged my phone into the charger and guess what happened?

I used the method of shutting it off that the salesgirl had demonstrated, and it did work. I carried the phone on the longer candy walk this morning and had no problems when I plugged it in when we got back home. Still, I’m not comfortable having to do a Mickey Mouse fix whenever this happens. A $500 phone shouldn’t be such an inconvenience. Swan called the store and is going to take the phone back for a proper repair tomorrow.

Swan and I walked back into town a little after four. I had a 1500 peso voucher from the SOB to spend. The plan was to start at Alaska Club and go from there. I baked a batch of brownies to share with the Alaska crew. We arrived a few minutes before opening time, so we took a seat at Sloppy Joe’s for a drink while we waited. Our waitress, Vanessa, used to work on the Kokomo floater and she recognized my brownies container. I promised to bring her one after we did the cutting at Alaska. I drowned her disappointment with a lady drink before we departed.

Sitting outside at Sloppy’s, I saw all my regular Alaska servers heading into work. We followed them in shortly thereafter. What was weird was that my two favorites ignored us despite us being the only customers. Now, the gal who served us was fine and friendly and enjoyed her lady drinks. She also cut and distributed the brownies to the dancers and wait staff, so good on her. Owner Jerry greeted me and bought me a beer, so I felt very welcome. We left after an hour or so, and as we were leaving, the two who hadn’t even bothered to greet us came by our table. I asked what happened, and they said they were shy to sit with us and get drinks since we had brought them all a treat. There is a word in Tagalog for that–bola bola. It loosely translates to “bullshit.” Anyway, I wasn’t upset about it, just confused. As I noted to them both, they saved me money, but since they work for commissions, it wasn’t a good deal for them. Oh, well.

We went next door to Wet Spot to expend the remainder of my voucher coupon. Aine wasn’t working, but a friend of Swan’s was in town, and she came by to join us for a drink. Owner Daddy Dave has been hospitalized and the manager told me he had just been released that afternoon. That was good news, I was very worried we were going to lose one of the biggest icons in town, not to mention a great guy. Get well soon, Dave!

We ordered some takeout from Sit-n-Bull and called it a night.

In the news from back home, my first-born granddaughter Gracyn graduated from high school.

My pal Scott attended a birthday celebration yesterday and he sent me a picture of the cake:

Today’s YouTube video is a tour of the S&R store, the Philippines’ version of Costco. The nearest one is over an hour away, so I only go there every few months for those hard-to-find items.

I discovered a depiction of the hierarchy of humor:

Here, I’ll prove it to you:

Anyway, that’s enough of this nonsense for today. I’ve got the feeding at Hideaway to attend to and then the Arizona floating bar, assuming it remains open. Only one way to find out.

A fun-filled Friday, by and large. Well, except for that going to the dentist part. A nice morning group hike and swell dinner at The Rite Spot were the bookends that held it all together. I’m going to change it up and do the day in reverse order this time. Let’s get to it!

Speaking of rocking, I connected the music box to my Spotify app and looked for the evening’s playlist. Neil Young has recently put his politics aside and rejoined the Spotify family (he quit in an ill-fated attempt to cancel Joe Rogan). Now, back in my glory days, I was a HUGE fan of Young’s music, and I owned all of his albums from the 70s and 80s. Back then, we shared the same political viewpoints, primarily being anti-war. The hit CSNY song “Ohio” was my high school protest anthem. Anyway, I grew up, and my politics changed; Young’s didn’t. So, I don’t like hearing him spout his bullshit these days, but I still enjoy his music. Last night, listening on the roof was like a trip back in time.

Meanwhile, Swan went downstairs to prepare some dinner, and my basement dwellers all came up to join us for the meal.

It was a fine night to be at The Rite Spot On The Roof.

In the afternoon, I visited my dentist, Dr. Barrera. Fortunately, I don’t see him often. At my cleaning last week, he spotted a couple of cracks in some old fillings, so yesterday, he restored them to their original glory.

I’m sorry to report that I’ve been experiencing some shortness of breath issues these past couple of days. Nothing like before, when I check my oxygen level, I haven’t been lower than 95. That said, my normal remedies, like the nebulizer, don’t seem to help much. It seems to occur mostly in the mornings during the dog walks. Hopefully, this, too, shall pass. Anyway, I’ve got to keep pressing on, so I overcame my reluctance and attended the Friday group hike. The plan was to take a trike out to Naugsol, then walk a trail that is rarely traveled and involves a climb of unknown difficulty. As we exited the village of Naugsal, I saw a path we’d done before and suggested that as an alternative. I was relieved when my fellow hikers concurred. So, we had a mostly flat hike through familiar territory, which provided some relief to my troubled mind.

And that was how my Friday began.

Here’s a quick update on that “fuck you, China” mission. The objective was achieved. Supplies were delivered, and China defied.

As I mentioned yesterday, my old Quora posts have all been shared here, so we are done with that. I think what I will do to fill that space is occasionally share a Philippines-related YouTube video from some of my favorite vloggers.

And now it is on to the humor:

We’ll leave it at that for now. It’s time for me to get on with my Saturday. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Comes a time
when you're driftin'
Comes a time
when you settle down
Comes a light
feelin's liftin'
Lift that baby
right up off the ground.

Oh, this old world
keeps spinning round
It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down
There comes a time.

You and I we were captured
We took our souls
and we flew away
We were right
we were giving
That's how we kept
what we gave away.

Oh, this old world
keeps spinning round
It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down
There comes a time.

Not the greatest day and not the worst. It’s all about taking the bad with the good, I suppose. Thursday is my day for a longish highway walk. My new Merrells handled that task well. Swan came along for the journey, which is always nice. We made it a dual-purpose hike, with our final destination being a phone repair shop at the Subic Marketplace.

I had a similar problem with a previous phone, and the repair ship was able to resolve it while I waited. When we arrived at the shop yesterday after more than 8K walking, the guy briefly looked at the phone, then told me to take it back to the Samsung store. He said the phone innards are very sensitive, and he didn’t want to open it. Damn. Looks like I’ll be going back to Olongapo tomorrow. At least the phone is still under warranty.

I chose not to take any pictures, but Swan couldn’t resist taking one of me:

Back home for some rest and afternoon routines, then at beer o’clock, Swan joined me for the walk into town. The heat still hasn’t relented, and although I prefer outdoor drinking venues, we opted for the refreshing aircon at the Green Room. I also had a “buy one, get one” coupon. Swan sipped her red wine, and I downed several San Mig Zeros. With our thirst satiated, we went up the highway for dinner at Myleen’s.

We called it a night after dinner and headed back home without the customary nightcap. So much for Thirstday!

I came across an interesting article, “Not Your Grandfather’s Philippines,” explaining how well the Philippines is growing and progressing as a nation. I found it educational from both a historical and current events perspective.

It’s a crazy world these days. How crazy? This crazy:

Facebook memories took me back thirteen years to my heydays in Itaewon:

And there was this “joke” from twelve years ago:

Man: Haven’t I seen you someplace before?

Woman: Yes, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.

Man: Is this seat empty?

Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.

Man: Your place or mine?

Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I’ll go to mine.

Man: So, what do you do for a living?

Woman: I’m a female inpersonator.

Man: Hey baby, what’s your sign?

Woman: Do not enter.

Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Woman: Unferrtilized.

Man: Your body is like a temple.

Woman: Sorry, there are no services today.

Man: I would go to the end of the world for you.

Woman: But would you stay there?

Man: If I could see you naked, I’d die happy.

Woman: If I saw you naked, I’d probably die laughing.

Six years ago I used the urinal in the Hot Zone bar for the first time.

Anyway, I’ll confess that these memories from my past lives often make me feel melancholy with a sense of loss. And then I saw this today as I surfed the internet:

Let’s see what I had to say on Quora Q&A back in the day:

Q: Why is Route 66 famous?

A: It’s played a significant role in USA history and has also been featured prominently in the media over the years. Prior to the construction of the Interstate Highway System, U.S. Route 66 was the major east-to-west route as the population migrated to California, especially during the Great Depression. Route 66 was featured in John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath” and also the film adaptation starring Henry Fonda. Later, there was a popular song called “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” and also a television show bearing the highway’s name. It also passes through and near some of the most beautiful scenery in the American West.

Indeed, Route 66 is famous. There is even a bar here in Seoul, Korea, bearing that name.

I answered that one a lifetime ago, back in 2015. I’ll double-check later, but this may be the last answer I have to share from my Quora participation days. Now, I need to come up with a new feature to fill space here on LTG.

I’ll never run out of humorous memes to share. Here’s what I have for you today:

So, I had a morning hike and an afternoon dentist visit, and now I’ve decided to skip the SOB and stay at home this evening up on the roof. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Yesterday’s adventure with the Wednesday Walkers group really nailed me to the cross. Three of them, in fact. We journeyed out to barangay Santa Rita in Olongapo City and made our way up to the locally famous Three Crosses religious shrine. The climb was all concrete steps, but it still kicked my ass. Once our objective was achieved, we took a pleasant stroll through the woods until we were stymied by some newly constructed fences. We had to dismantle one to reach a path back down (we reassembled it after crossing). The down was steep and rocky in places, but all’s well that ends well. Here’s some of the scenery from our journey:

After the hike, we stopped at John’s place for lunch. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. John also has some shelves of food products imported from the UK. Some of them I’d never heard of.

I was still recovering from my over-indulgence at the floating bar on Tuesday, so I stayed home last night. I did engage in some R&R up on the roof.

What do I have to complain about?

The big news in these parts is the escalating pushback by the Philippines to China’s aggressive attempt to steal Filipino territory. Today, a flotilla of a hundred or more Filipino fishing boats and some Coast Guard vessels swarmed into the waters China is claiming. It even made the news back home in the USA. And here is a Filipino news account of what is going on. I’ve not seen any clear updates on whether the Chinese tried to stop them, but some accounts indicate that the Filipinos achieved their objective. The best news is that the country under the current President Marcos is not willing to bend over and take it up the ass from China like his predecessor. Interesting times.

Facebook memories reminded me of this bit of wisdom I posted twelve years ago:

He said.. I don’t know why you wear a bra; you’ve got nothing to put in it.

She said..You wear briefs, don’t you

He said.. Do you love me just because my father left me a fortune?

She said.. Not at all honey, I would love you no matter who left you the money.

She said.. What do you mean by coming home half drunk?

He said.. It’s not my fault.. I ran out of money.

He said.. Since I first laid eyes on you, I’ve wanted to make love to you in the worst way.

She said.. Well, you succeeded.

He said.. What have you been doing with all the grocery money I gave you

She said.. Turn sideways and look in the mirror.

He said.. Let’s go out and have some fun tonight.

She said.. Okay, but if you get home before I do, leave the hallway light on.

He said.. Why don’t you tell me when you have an orgasm?

She said.. I would, but you’re never there.

He said.. Shall we try a different position tonight?

She said.. That’s a good idea, you stand by the ironing board while I sit on the sofa and fart.

I guess that’s still as funny as it ever was.

Just because you don’t share my viewpoints doesn’t make you dumb:

Ready for some Quora Q&A?

Q: Do people of the Philippines have pale skin?

A: They run the gamut. Some are very fair-skinned, and some are very dark, notably the Aeta indigenous people.

The woman I’m dating is originally from Manila. I’ve introduced her to my hiking hobby, which she seems to enjoy EXCEPT for it turning her skin dark (or “negra,” as she puts it). She recently went to visit her mother in Manila, and her mom accused her of looking like a “province girl.”

Yeah, being light-skinned is a pretty big deal here. I remember being surprised when I first came to the Philippines and saw all the billboards and advertisements for “whitening cream.” I laughed to my girlfriend that in the USA, women pay money to go to tanning salons, and here, they pay to get whiter.

I guess it is a cultural thing. I have noticed that most movie stars and the elite are fair-skinned. Anyway, to each his own. I personally am very attracted to brown-skinned beauties!

Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I’ve turned a lot more brown than I used to be.

Today’s effort at humor:

Back with more of this goodness tomorrow.

An action-packed Tuesday. Well, more action-packed than usual. And I’m stretching the definition of action somewhat. Anyway, here’s how it went down:

I started things out with the grocery shopping excursion at Royal. That went as usual, although I did spend a little less this week. After the groceries were loaded into the car, I sent my driver and helper home. Swan and I walked to the mall to do some shopping. First stop: the Samsung store.

I guess I’m rough on phones. I’ve had an A53 and an A54 previously. I’ve been a back-pocket kind of guy and that eventually leads to damage. I’ve vowed to carry this one in the front pocket. I took it on today’s hike, and now I’m getting a moisture warning when I plug in the charger. Not a good start! I’ve got it in front of the fan now, and hopefully, it dries out soon.

Next stop, the SM Department Store. I’m a walking man, and those miles take a toll on my footwear.

After dark, I’m a sketchy kind of guy, but I like comfortable footwear for my walks to the bars.

Another $150 on the credit card, but I wasn’t done quite yet. I was off to the computer store next.

We also got Swan’s sister a cheap phone so she could do all the things teenagers do on their phones nowadays.

Once home, I dashed off yesterday’s blog post, and then it was time to hoof it back to town for a visit with Dr. Jo. This time, Swan was the primary patient–she’s been dealing with an itchy rash on her face and chest for a couple of weeks now. Dr. Jo gave her an injection of something and advised her to use a hypoallergenic soap for the time being. Hopefully, that’s all it takes. As for me, I just updated the doc on my current state of being, which is mostly the same but with some added muscle aches and pains, especially in the morning. Now, I’m taking Glucosamine along with my other meds. She also gave me the info I need to take to the lab for some updated blood work.

It was too early to stay in town, so we took a trike home and had a quick nap before heading out to the Kokomo floating bar. I had arranged to meet my hiking buddy Gary there at 4:30 and he was waiting when we arrived. Gary lives on Baloy, but this was his first time on the floater.

Another foreigner was on the raft ride out to the bar, and we exchanged greetings. He said he used to live in the area but has been residing on Bohol Island for the past few years. He was visiting family with his wife and staying at Treasure Island. When we arrived at the floater, I joined Gary on one side of the bar, and he sat on the far side, away from us. A few minutes later, he walked over and told Gary that he knew him. After some brief chat, Gary remembered him as well, and we invited him to join us.

It turns out that Gary used to own a couple of bars in Angeles City, and Chris was one of his regular customers. I really enjoyed hearing some their wild stories from back in the day, including one about Gary being incarcerated in a Filipino jail for several months. That’s my nightmare scenario, and his description of the hell-like condition put a shiver down my spine.

These days, Chris owns a resort at Alona Beach in Bohol. I perked up at that news because Bohol has long been on my bucket list of places to visit. And now I have a place to stay and a friendly host to show me around when I go. I’m thinking I’ll pull the trigger next month. Swan was excited about that, too.

One of the bar stories Chris and Gary told involved a customer who was known for drinking copious amounts of a beverage called Sambuca. Now, I’m almost exclusively a beer drinker, but when Gary (or was it Chris?) ordered up a round of shots, I was too polite to decline.

Last night was definitely the best time I’ve had on the floating bar. It may be the last for a while because it is scheduled to be moved into storage until the storm season is over.

We drank a shitload of beers before and after the shots, and I was feeling no pain when we left the floating bar. I was feeling a bit hungry, so we stopped into DaKudos for a bite to eat. I recall having a roast chicken salad and not much else. I know I made it home safe and sound because Swan sent me this picture from last night:

I’m staying home tonight, although I do expect I’ll visit The Rite Spot for a beer or two.

How about a nice political meme?

How about some memories?

And now for the Quora Q&A:

Q: Would you rather live in the Philippines or in Thailand? Why?

A: I chose the Philippines as my retirement home. It’s a beautiful country, and the natives are friendly. What sets it apart from other neighboring Asian nations is that English is widely spoken here. Going on two years now and no regrets.

I visited Thailand, and it is beautiful. What put me off was that it felt like a police state. They don’t make it easy on foreigners, in my opinion.

My Plan B if I ever feel the need to leave the PI would be Vietnam or Cambodia. I don’t even want to visit Thailand, let alone live there.

I wrote that four years ago and have subsequently softened my view of Thailand. I even visited Pattaya last year and enjoyed my stay. One of my issues in the past was vaping being illegal (that was before I kicked that habit once and for all). Also, during my initial visit, the King died, and the police came out in force and shut everything down. It was pretty freaky. Of course, having lived through the scamdemic, I now know that most countries can put on the police state hat whenever they want.

Time for some humor (as I define it anyway):

I couldn’t decide which of these two songs to use for the closing today, so I’m giving you both. Enjoy!

Another fine Sunday is in the books. Just the usual–a candy walk with Swan, a Hideaway feeding, and spending some time on the water at the floating bar. The pictures tell the story better than I can, so let’s get to them:

After the usual R&R at home, I headed out to Hideaway. Stopped at Jewel and ordered the grub on the way. Once again, I was the only customer in the bar. Five hungry girls sitting around looking bored. Well, they got fed, but the hour I spent there was almost painful. I don’t know how they stay in business. Worse, I don’t see any evidence they are even making an effort to turn things around. Then again, I’m only there for a brief time on a Sunday afternoon. Hmm, maybe that’s why people aren’t there–they’re waiting for me to leave!

With my duty done, I headed for the beach.

We did our nightcap at Green Room, then ordered some food from Sit-n-Bull to bring home. Buy one, get one on my drinks, and 15% off at SnB–putting those SOB coupons to work!

And so ended another day in paradise.

Five years ago I celebrated my 50th Run with the Subic Bay Hash.

And now, let me pause to honor the leader of the free world:

Speaking of jokes, here’s an old one from my Facebook memories:

A man goes to his doctor and complains that his wife hasn’t wanted to have sex with him for the past six months.

The doctor tells the man to bring his wife in so he can talk to her and hopefully determine what the problem is.

The following day, the wife goes to the doctor’s office. The doctor asks her what’s wrong, why doesn’t she want to have sex with her husband?

“Oh, that’s easily explained. For the past six months,” the wife says, “I’ve been taking a cab to work every morning. I don’t have any money. The cab driver asks me, ‘Are you going to pay today, or what?’ So, I take an ‘or what’.”

“Then, when I get to work,” she continues, “I’m late, so the boss asks me, ‘Are we going to write this down in the book, or what?’ So, I take an ‘or what’.

I take a cab to go home after work and, as usual, I have no money. The cab driver asks me again, ‘So, are you going to pay this time, or what?’ Again, I take an ‘or what’.

So you see, doc, by the time I get home I’m all tired out and don’t want it anymore.”

“Yes, I see,” replies the doctor. “So, are we going to tell your husband, or what?”

It seemed funny at the time.

Alright, time for today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Why are you living in the Philippines now instead of staying in South Korea?

A: I lived in Korea for most of 2005–2018. Then, I retired and moved to the Philippines.

I loved my life in Korea, especially during the years I was in Seoul. The major factor in choosing to retire elsewhere was the cost of living in Korea. I can live like a rich man on my pension in the Philippines. I also like the fact that English is widely spoken here, which makes life all that much easier. Korea is wonderful, and so is the Philippines. Just in different ways.

Korea was another life, a lifetime ago, or so it seems. Seeing the old pictures from that life still causes pangs of sadness that it has come to an end. Still, I’m thankful that I could be “reborn” into the life I have found in the Philippines.

Ready for a laugh? Well, a smirk, at least:

Back tomorrow with a Hash report. Until then, paalam!

Come on! My sixth anniversary in the Philippines was a good one. Not unlike most other days I enjoy here, but Swan made it extra special by treating me to a foot spa and dinner. I believe that’s the first time a Filipina has ever insisted on picking up the tab!

We headed to the Angel’s Touch Salon at four p.m. for our foot work.

With our feet refreshed, we headed up the highway for dinner at John’s place.

The tab came to 2300 pesos ($45.), including our drinks. Thanks again, Swan!

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I had a “buy a lady drink, get a customer drink free” coupon. So, we kept Swan’s friend Aine and our waitress Irene happy.

It was another fine day in paradise. Here’s hoping for lots more anniversaries to celebrate in the future!

It’s Mother’s Day in the Philippines today.

Well, there have been some confrontations between the Chinese Coast Guard and Filipino vessels near the Spratley Islands. China says that’s her territory, but the UN Court said it belongs to the Philippines. Anyway, I saw this article today that seems to indicate things are escalating behind the scenes, and the Philippines has even raised the possibility of expelling Chinese diplomats. Things are sliding closer to chaos and possible war every day. Thank God we have a strong leader in Washington, DC, to keep the peace. Oh, wait.

Facebook memories took me back seven years to when I departed Seoul and moved to Pyeongtaek.

Let’s see what the Quora Q&A has for us today:

Q: What was the last thing you said to someone before they died?

A: I copied and pasted this blog post from 2008 about my friend Linda Ketner as my answer.

Damn, I just reread it now, and it made me cry again. It is probably the best thing I’ve ever written here at LTG. The answer got several thousand views and several touching comments, like this one:

How beautiful this is. and so well written…and how amazing is it that I found this answer after all this time.. Thank you, John! Not sure what you believe…but I believe Linda and you are old souls, and have been through many, many lifetimes together…She was (is) right. That was not Good-by. When it is time for you to step clear of your body, she will be the first person you see.

Thanks so much. I don’t know what I believe about the afterlife but I really hope it is as you say…seeing Linda’s smile again as I begin that journey would be a dream come true.

Okay, let’s have a dose of lame humor:

Alright, that’s all for today. I have a Hideaway feeding to attend to, then I’ll spend some quality time with Swan on the Arizona floating bar. And I’m paying this time!

I never really had a plan for life; I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroads, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose. No mulligans. But I have been extremely fortunate and blessed. The roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck, perhaps, but even though I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be, it has been a very nice ride. So it is time to look forward again. And it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure.

Long Time Gone, January 1, 2005

Today marks the sixth anniversary of my new life in the Philippines. Well, on May 11, 2018, I finished my last day of work at Eighth Army and headed directly to the airport. I landed in Manila and had a driver take me to Subic, arriving at Treasure Island on Baloy at three a.m. on May 12. So, maybe tomorrow is my anniversary. Or they both are. Not that it matters. Here’s the post for my last day in Korea and the one about my first day in the Philippines. I wrote the passage above as I was preparing for my big move to Korea almost twenty years ago now. I had gone back to Oklahoma to visit my parents before my departure. While there, I had the epiphany that I had never really appreciated the good life I experienced while living there because I was so caught up in looking back at the heartbreaks in my former life:

I have discovered that it is important to take the time to enjoy the life you are living, even as you chase rainbows. I think I missed the best part of Oklahoma, and it is only in looking back that I realize that I should have allowed myself to be happy there.

Of course, I have those same feelings when I reminisce about my time in Korea. So, I guess I didn’t learn the lesson I preached in 2005 after all. These six years in the Philippines have been, for the most part, all that I had hoped for, but not entirely without regret. Perhaps I’m getting better at focusing on the present and making the best of what I have. Having Swan in my life is certainly a big step in a new direction. Maybe I’ll get it right this time.

Well, the immediate future will include a foot spa and dinner for two at John’s place–Swan’s treat at her insistence. Sounds like a good way to spend my anniversary!

Four years ago, I was still raging on Facebook about the scamdemic by sharing posts like this one:

I had a “friend” back then who didn’t like the fact that a group of us was still sneaking off into the hills for hikes during the lockdown. I had also found a “speakeasy” venue where a select few were allowed inside to eat and drink. I made the mistake of posting a photo of one of my meals (when only takeout was permitted by the powers that be) that I thought was innocuous, but he somehow identified the location and then outed them on Facebook. I never forgave that asshole.

To the Quora Q&A then:

Q: What are some of the most unusual ways people were caught cheating on their partner?

A: Well, this happened to me (I was the culprit). I was having an affair with a co-worker. She was a big Chicago Bulls fan. I had a ton of frequent flyer miles, so I booked a flight from DC to Chicago for us as a surprise. There was an issue with our connecting flight in Pittsburgh, but a woman in the airline club was able to get us to Chicago in time for the game. I picked up a stuffed toy souvenir at the game and left it for the woman who’d helped us on our return trip through Pittsburgh.

It seems the airline club attendant thought my girlfriend was my wife. Because she called my actual wife to thank her for the kindness we had shown her with the gift. I was SO busted!

I never cheated on my next wife, so I may have learned a lesson.

Time for some humor:

I’m not sure how many more years I have to go, but I’ll continue to share the trials, tribulations, and adventures here at LTG. You’ve been warned!