Well, in my case, it walks! It’s still good though.

Today is the first Sunday in way too long that I haven’t been under lockdown quarantine rules. I celebrated by taking a long (13K) morning walk out to the old Navy base and back via the National Highway.

And the freedom has only just begun! More announcements of bar openings today, including one of my favorites–Cheap Charlies. I’ll be popping in for a cold one (or two) later this afternoon.

And speaking of memories, two years ago my rescue dog Buddy was rescued yet again.

Yesterday I had some girls over to the house. Made up a batch of spaghetti with meatballs. Served it with broccoli and cornbread. Sorry, for some reason I neglected to take any photos of the food. It was all fine I think although I was a bit surprised that the most popular dish was the broccoli. Go figure.

Jessa spent the night with me again but her Aunt Flo from Redlands was visiting so all we did was sleep. She seems like a nice young woman. I’m not sure why I don’t have a stronger attraction/connection with her. As I walked her to the trike stand this morning she asked me how I was feeling. I told her I was feeling okay. She clarified “I mean, how are you feeling about me?” Yikes! I just told her I was taking things a day at a time and we’d see where that takes us. Yeah, it was a sucky answer but it really is the best I’ve got right now. Something in my gut is telling me that I’m destined to spend my life alone and maybe I should just accept that.

I’m not quite ready to give up though. Jessa may not be the one and if I determine that’s the case I’ll need to let her know so she doesn’t waste her time on me. I can already tell she is thinking of a future with me and that’s something I’m not ready to seriously consider at this point.

Maybe I just love my freedom too much.

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose,
And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free,
Feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues,
And buddy, that was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

Here’s wishing all my American brothers and sisters a Happy Independence Day! The freedoms we have fought to defend and preserve these past 244 years are once again under attack, this time from within our borders. Have we lost our will to stand against tyranny and oppression?

I reveled in some newly regained freedoms last night. First stop was the Hot Zone bar. It was me, two other customers, and the owner, Jay. Two waitresses, no dancers. Still, it’s a start. I had one beer and headed out.

After leaving Hot Zone I made my way down the highway to my “new normal” regular hangout, “Gomans”. Except it is not Gomans anymore. The business has now met all current quarantine requirements and is legally open once again. I can now reveal the real name of this establishment: Mango’s. I enjoyed some dine-in food with my beers but pretty much had the place to myself. I told the manager I’d help spread the word about their re-opening on social media. Wishing them well as we move forward.

For yesterday’s hike, Scott drove us out ten kilometers or so to Castillejos for a trek up to Balon falls and through the Aeta (Filipino indigenous people) resettlement village.

It turned about to be a pretty arduous day. Glad to have got through it with just a few scrapes and scratches. Things don’t always go they way you intend, but I guess that provides an element of adventure.

Monday I’ll be Hare along with Scott and Jim for the Hash trail. We are pretty much just going to use what we scouted on our Wednesday hike this week.

This afternoon, Jessa is coming over along with some of her girlfriends. I’ll be serving spaghetti and meatballs for our meal.

And that’s how this free man is living his free life. Such as it is.

A challenging hike today but I’ll write about that tomorrow. The big news around here is that under the recently implemented modified quarantine standard things are beginning to open up, including–wait for it– some bars!

Obviously, this is big news for a guy like me. Although honestly, I’ve come to understand that a place like “Gomans” fulfills my needs just fine. In the past, it was always just a nice restaurant I’d visit a couple of times a month. Now I enjoy a seat on the back patio with a cold beer and sweet views of the bay. That’s been enough to get me by.

Yesterday I got a message from the manager of the Outback bar (the Speakeasy as I used to refer to it) that they are officially (legally) open for business again. That’s great to hear. Did I visit there last night? Nope, I went back to “Goman’s”. Partly out of loyalty for taking care of me when no one else would. And in part because the manager who wants me back is the same guy who kicked me out without just cause. You didn’t want my business when you claimed to be closed, you won’t get it now that you are wide open.

Today I’ve learned that Hot Zone has also opened again. It is or was a girly bar. I plan to drop by for a quick beer tonight to check it out and say hello to the owner. I’m hoping that my other old haunts and hangouts will soon be following suit–Cheap Charlies for the views and Alley Cats for the darts. After the hike today we popped into The Pub, which is more of a restaurant than a bar, notwithstanding the name. It’s open again under its food license but we were served beer–in plastic cups. Hey, the Philly Cheese Steak was good and the beverage was cold. What else matters?

Anyway, it is good to feel like at least some aspects of my life are getting back to normal.

I’ll leave you with a little taste of political humor:

Risk is always better than regret.

I’m not so sure about that but I guess I’ll find out soon enough. Meeting up with Jessa today for a late lunch and…well, who knows where things might go? It’s probably too soon to be starting a relationship but according to Jessa, we are just dating. Whatever in the hell that means. We shall see I reckon.

Got rained on during the Hash yesterday. That’s not so unusual this time of year. But the water turned the dirt to mud and the mud made the trail a slippery mess. The downhills were especially risky. I did manage to keep on my feet, no regrets about that!

Now it’s time to prepare for my date. I hope I don’t regret it, but that’s the risk I’ve got to take.

Well, not recently. The massage places are all still closed after all. And the bars. But two years ago I posted this:

It took a couple of days, but I got a call from a trike driver saying Buddy had been located. There was some adventure in completing the rescue (he was out in the middle of a pond) but we were reunited at last.

Hmm, maybe a wanted poster for a girlfriend would work? Eh, never mind. She’d have to be pretty desperate and desperate girls are nothing but trouble in my experience. Besides, I have a tentative date with Jessa tomorrow. I say tentative because I’m as likely to cancel as she is. Starting to wonder if she’s a good fit for me. Well, I guess I won’t know unless and until we do it. Decisions, decisions.

In the meantime, I’ve got a Hash to attend to today starting at twelve o’clock high. Hope it’s a good one.

Here we are on another lockdown Sunday. At least it’s raining this afternoon so the imprisonment is a little easier to take. Anyway, here’s what’s been going down since my last update.

Jim and I had talked about him bringing another gal along on the hike to do an informal introduction. Alas, she was a no show. He told me later the girl in question is Anne’s niece and she nixed the meeting. I was a little offended by that frankly seeing as how I’m quite the catch and all. Anne told me later it was because she is friends with my ex and it made her uncomfortable introducing me to her niece. Whatever.

Besides, there’s always Jessa, right? Well, not so fast. She’s not here with me today. I can cut her some slack on that because of the lockdown. But things might have gotten off track somehow last night. I drank my share of beers at the gathering then Jim, Anne, and I took a Jeepney back to Barretto and popped into “Goman’s” for a few more. While there I got a message from Jessa asking if she and a friend could join us. I told her sure, come on out.

I was feeling no pain by the time she arrived but it seemed to go alright. We had us some pretty tasty quesadillas and what seemed to be a nice chat. We left just before curfew and went to our respective residences. And I’ve not heard from her at all today. Well, except for some cryptic message asking whether I’ve talked to ex recently. That struck me as a bit of a red flag.

Today makes four weeks since the breakup and that’s the longest I’ve gone without taking her back on some pretext or another. Honestly, I think I’m ready to just move on and put it all behind me, despite the two years I invested in her. But what I don’t need is bullshit from Jessa questioning me about that status. After all, she actually has a boyfriend and is “dating’ me as a placeholder until she breaks up with him. Or not. Anyway, more and more I’m thinking I’m better off alone. Yeah, I talk a good game I know. Let’s wait and see what happens.

Speaking of anniversaries, today marks two years since Buddy came to live with me.

And as you regular readers may recall, he ran away the next day. We found him again a couple of days later and he’s been glad to call my place home ever since. He’s a good boy!

So, as a couple of my commenters pointed out those steaks I bought to grill for Jessa didn’t go to waste. Well, to my waist perhaps.

And that brings you up to date on my so-called life. I’ll be watching some episodes from the Timeless series recommended by one of my readers (thanks, Thirsty!) to pass the hours this evening. Life can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I’ll take it over the alternative any day!

Looking forward to finding out what will happen next!

The rare morning post here at LTG. I figured I better provide my readers their daily dose of boring drivel now as my plans for today may well preclude blogging later.

After the morning dog walk, I hoofed it over to the ex’s place to give her some money for the trip to Manila. It was a little strange and uncomfortable when her mother tearily told me in broken English how sad she was that the relationship ended with her daughter. I just told her things happen and let it go at that. She wanted a picture with me before I left so I posed beside her. Ah well.

Today we are doing a special hike that will end up at Hunter’s Jo Inn in Calapadayan. The owner is a Hasher and we’ve done On-Homes there in the past. He’s hosting us for some beers and a barbeque on the beach. The Saturday group is led by Günter and those hikes are just out of my league these days. Instead, Jim and I are going to do our own trail and then join the group at Hunter’s. That’s the plan at least.

I’ve also got steaks marinating now in anticipation of a dinner date this evening with Jessa. Baked potato, a vegetable (probably cauliflower), and cornbread to round out the meal. With brownies and ice cream for dessert. That’s the plan anyway. But plans can change. Just now Jessa messaged that my planned arrival home this afternoon is “late”. I told her I thought she was spending the night and she responded she is worried about the Sunday lockdown. I thought we had discussed all this last night and decided the only issue was getting transportation back home. Jessa said then that her friend Kat could provide a ride on her scooter. So, as I write this Jessa is checking with Kat. Perhaps I’ll be dining alone tonight.

And maybe just staying single is my best option anyway. I find myself giving that idea more and more serious consideration. Am I man enough to live alone? I wouldn’t bet on it, but you never know.

Ah, and then Facebook shared a memory from ten years ago with me this morning.

Onward!

Things may be getting ready to open up a tad more around here soon. One cause for hope was this:

We do have a couple of places opening up here in Barretto under the current rules. On my afternoon walk yesterday I moseyed over to the recentý reopened Arizona Resort to see where things stood. So of course the temperature thing was done as I entered (36.2). Four other customers inside and the waitress recognized me and seemed genuinely happy to see me. That was nice. After such a warm greeting I felt obligated to order up a beer. As I drank it the receptionist handed me an Ipad like thing and asked me to complete some information. Name/address/phone/email/etc. It was a bit of a pain in the ass. I asked if I had to do this EVERY time I visited or if they would maintain the info–sorry every time sir was the response. I couldn’t help but think there was no better way to spread the virus than having everyone touching that Ipad screen. So I doused my hands in cleansing fluid, finished my beer, and left.

On the way home I stopped into “Goman’s” (still not legally open) for some more beer. I perched upon my usual chair on the back patio to enjoy the bay and beach views. It really does ease my troubled mind to soak up some of the beauty that surrounds me here.

She seemed like a girl with something extra and the waitress confirmed she was in fact bakla…the word the locals use for gay/transgender folk. I can usually tell right away, but this lass was pretty cute. Ah well, just passing the time.

This morning I had a nice hike with Scott and Jim. Scott drove us out to a new (for me) area and it was a nice change of pace.

As days go, this was a pretty good one. And that’s where things stand for now.

Or so it seems at least. To the extent I can overcome my inherent laziness I’ll get out and walk some. My goal of 20,000+ steps per day is only achieved lately when I have the motivation of fellow hikers out with me keeping me focused on the task at hand.

Evenings are spent engaged in my other hobby–beer drinking. Of course, with the bars all closed my options are pretty much limited to “Gomans”. I drink alone there though, out on the back deck by the beach with no other customers around. Alas, I long for the days when I could enjoy the company of a pretty young lass for the price of a lady drink.

Well, now that I think of it I did have a brief interlude with my waitress yesterday. She had a worried look about her so I asked what was wrong. Turns out the power company had let her defer payment of her bill for three months but now the piper wanted his due. I asked her how much and she said 3000 pesos (around $60.). I told her that’s a shame. Then before leaving I tipped her enough to pay the bill. She got a little emotional and offered to clean my house and do my laundry. I told her I have people for that already, adding “too bad you’re married”. She laughed at that and of course, I was teasing. Mostly.

And I need to stay on top of my health. It was encouraging to find this scientific study that may explain why I’m not a stupid drunk:

Beer hops are good for the brain and can actually improve concentration and speed up thought processes, according to a new scientific study.

The research, which will be music to the ears of beer lovers, found that consuming hops also reduced stress levels and improved mood.
And perhaps surprisingly, those who took supplements containing bitter hop extracts, displayed better memory recall and were better able to solve mental puzzles.

Well, I’m no Joe Biden but can you imagine trying to read this blog if I didn’t consume copious amounts of beer?

Speaking of Facebook, the latest rage is people using a face app that purports to show how you would appear as the opposite sex. I never engage in those games myself, but someone I know sent me this last night:

Alright, enough of that foolishness. I found a nice spot for a dine-in breakfast this morning even though the Sunday lockdown is in place.

So I did engage in a little weekend project yesterday. The boys enjoy hanging out on the downstairs patio but if I don’t keep an eye on them they can’t seem to resist the temptation to escape and roam about free. Then I had the inspiration to take the pen from the backyard and wrap it around the porch railing closing off all means of egress.

Finally, I’m not really into all this PC nonsense. I was dismayed to learn that Aunt Jemima will be departing us soon, with Uncle Ben likely to follow. Today I read that Eskimo Pies are also not long for this world. So, I guess it was inevitable that the racist slur “cracker” was doomed as well. And sure enough, now comes this news:

And so it goes.

UPDATE: Hmm, I was dealing with another kind of new normal back in 2014 it seems. Little did I know where that was going to lead. Although I guess ultimately it led me here.

A long, hot, wet, and muddy trek to Tralala and home again yesterday. Four of us made the journey and four of us came back so I’d call that a success. One particularly steep and slippery downhill took the feet out from each of us, but other than some mud on our clothes and some wounded pride, we emerged from the fall unscathed. Here are the photos from our adventure:

On the way back to my house I popped into Sit-n-Bull where I enjoyed some chicken wings and coleslaw for a late lunch. Beers at “Goman’s” for my Friday evening treat. And some online chat with Jessa that made me do some thinking about where the future might be leading. But here I am, stuck in the present so I’ll have to wait to find out I suppose.

Such is life.

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

I know a man, he came from my home town
He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown
He said “Delores, I live in fear
My love for you is so overpowering
I’m afraid that I will disappear”

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

I know a woman, became a wife
These are the very words she uses to describe her life
She said “A good day ain’t got not rain”
She said “A bad day’s when I lie in bed
And I think of things that might have been”

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

And I know a father who had a son
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he had done
He came a long way just to explain
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping
Then he turned around and he headed home again

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

God only knows, God makes his plan
The information’s unavailable to the mortal man
We’re working our jobs, collect our pay
Believe we’re gliding down the highway
When in fact we’re slip slidin’ away

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

No, not the Filipina I have a tentative date with tomorrow (although she is indeed short and sweet). Just not a whole lot to share here today so let’s get on with it and get it done, shall we?

I got a haircut yesterday for the first time in quite some time:

I’m not entirely sure if there is a secret or if it is simply blind luck, but I look almost exactly the same as I did 40 years ago, don’t you agree?

A nice 9K hike this morning with Scott and Troy:

One thing is for sure, Filipinos sure do love their Red Horse beer. I’ve never finished one, it’s a tall bottle with a high alcohol content. We did apparently come across a local watering hole on our hike today though:

Scott took more pictures but hasn’t posted them yet. I’ll share some of those tomorrow perhaps.

Alright, I promised you short and sweet and so there you have it. I’ve got some beers at “Gomans” in my immediate future and some thinking to do about tomorrow’s potential “at home” date. I think I’ll make chili.

More to come.

UPDATE: So, I used the short and sweet title last year. That post was eerily similar to this one. But I repeat myself.

Today was grocery shopping day. My driver arrived at the appointed time and as we headed to Olongapo he asked if I wanted to shop at Royal. I told him “yeah, but it is not open to anyone who doesn’t live on SBMA” (the old Navy base). He told me that he knew the security guard so I shrugged and said okay.

We arrived and sure enough, the guard waved us inside (after taking my temperature of course). It felt like coming home again! Almost all the hard-to-find things I’ve been longing for were waiting for me on the familiar shelves. So I stocked up.

Oh, and about that security guard controlling access to the store? He’s not exactly a friend of my driver, my driver just knew how to get him to let us in. And that was 200 pesos (around $4.). I guess we can be polite and call it “a tip”. And of course, that’s just the way things work in this country, from top to bottom. Today I came across this short article from the USA talking about corruption in the Philippines. Give it a read if you are so inclined.

As I staggered walked home after the Hash yesterday, I popped into Sit-n-Bull for some grub. They are doing dine-in now, but I still got mine for take-out.

This morning my dogs brought a smile to my face when I saw this:

Alright, that’s all the news. And here comes the part I know y’all have been waiting for:

Here’s something a little different for you. Scott/Pubic Head took some photos of the locals while he was out marking the trail. I shamelessly lifted them for the SBH3 Facebook page:

And I will close this out with a couple of shots from our On-Home at Derelict’s place:

And I reckon that’s as good a place to leave things as any…

Good Monday morning! I’m dropping some words here now because with COVID Hash Run #5 starting at noon and knowing I’ll be downing some beers afterward, chances are better than good I’ll be in no condition to blog later today.

Not a lot to report though. Walked the dogs and had some bacon and eggs for breakfast. Pretty exciting stuff, huh?

Well, there is this potential development. It seems like I might start dating again. It’s all kind of weird and undefined at the moment, but we’ll see where it goes. I suggested a couple of restaurants that have reopened and she asked why we had to go out–your house is fine.

Hmm. Stay tuned.