…of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. I was a co-Hare, but had virtually no input on the trail selection. The other Hares, Pubic Head and Blow My Pipe, knew what they wanted to do and did it. I was basically there to carry the powder as it were. No complaints, it was a good trail. Only hitch seemed to be that no one found the trail through the rice paddy. We suspect the farmer erased our marks as he didn’t appreciate the traffic. Oh well.
Here’s some photos:
An easy 6K mostly flat trail.Off loading the truck. I HATE having to travel to the trail head in the Hashmobile. I was overruled by my superiors. Well, seniors. On-On!Low hanging fruit.On the road.One of the nicer vistas on our trail.Another angle…Unusual clouds at our On-Home at DaKudo’s on Baloy Beach
That’s it for now. Time to do the Wednesday Walkers group.
Our Lady of Lourdes International Health Center that is.
Finally got to see a doctor about my eye this morning. I wouldn’t call getting that done an ordeal, but it did qualify as a pain in the ass. It’s Tuesday and that’s my grocery shopping day. Figured I’d take advantage of having a driver and get the medical chores out of the way as well.
Well, we left my place at 0900 and the domestic helper advised that the Lourdes eye clinic wouldn’t open until 1000. Okay then, let’s head out to Baypointe Medical Center for the third of five rabies shots. Maybe I can see a doc there about the eye. Nope, no one available until late afternoon. Did the song and dance that is a prerequisite for getting my shot: pharmacy for meds, supply room for an invoice for the needle and shot paraphernalia, cashier to pay, back to supply to pick up the stuff I paid for, then upstairs for the actual shot. Even my helper was shaking her head at the hoops this poor patient was forced to jump through. The next shot is due on Christmas Eve and the clinic is closed, so I get to use the emergency room which bypasses everything but the cashier. Woot!
After shopping, I had my driver pop into Lourdes. The clinic was open but the doctor was not in yet. Clinic hours are 10:00 till 12:00 on Tuesday, it was after 10:00 and the doc was “on his way”. Hmm, well I had frozen food in the car so home I went. After the groceries were safely stored away, I took a trike back to the hospital, the doctor was in, and after a short wait, it was my turn to be examined.
The swelling is down quite a bit but the eye is itchy and sore. I showed the doc a picture from yesterday. As others had speculated, he immediately declared it a sty, most likely from an infection. So now I’ve got ten days of four times a day eye drops to add to my daily medication regimen. And a boiled egg.
Doctor said as hot as I can stand it, several times a day. I went to bed with ice on the eye which turns out was the opposite of what I should do to reduce sty swelling. Who knew?
That’s actually a pretty nifty trick for applying heat, lasts a lot longer than a hot rag and you get a tasty snack afterward!
What else? Well, on the walk back home from Lourdes I saw this shop selling rice:
Maybe it’s just my love of puns, but I found the signage worthy of a photo.
I was hungry when I got home so I got busy in the kitchen.
It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a tasty burrito… Oh, and Buddy and Lucky in the background is just a bonus. I used ground beef. Honest!
And finally, Facebook reminds me that I posted this five years ago:
Damn, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Well, I am sleeping alone these days.
your life is your life don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission. be on the watch. there are ways out. there is a light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness. be on the watch. the gods will offer you chances. know them. take them. you can’t beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes. and the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. your life is your life. know it while you have it. you are marvelous the gods wait to delight in you.
@Charles Bukowski
One of my favorites, I’m sure I’ve posted it before. That’s the nice thing about poetry. It’s always there to remind you of the lessons you’ve already learned.
It seems to be more of a sty than something like pink eye, although I do have some itchy irritation in the corner of my eye. I figured it was best to get it checked out by a doctor. I asked my helper to call the eye clinic at Lourdes hospital. She said we could just go there at 9 a.m. I told her no, I want to be sure the doctor is available. So she calls and we leave. Get there, and the clinic is closed. She hurried off to the information desk, probably as much to escape my wrath as anything. She came back and said the clinic had changed their hours and the receptionist she had spoken to on the phone didn’t know. Bottom line, they are closed on Mondays.
Deep breath, relax and accept the Filipino way. I’ll go to Baypointe Hospital tomorrow and have it looked at. Need to get my rabies shot there anyway.
Otherwise, I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately. I’m sure it will pass. Just need to maintain my patience and wait for the next big thing to come along. In the meantime there’is always:
Sunday dinner at Sit-n-Bull., probably my overall favorite restaurant in town. First time I’d tried their roast beef and it was outstanding.Sunsets on the water to enjoy…And the full moon shining down on my house to guide my drunken feet home.
Up and out early this morning to lay trail for Monday’s Hash. My co-Hare’s, Pubic Head and Blow My Pipe, picked the trail. I merely carried the powder and marked the path the Hashers will hopefully follow without getting lost. I know what I like to see on trail and that’s what I tried to provide. We shall see how it works out.
We also marked the trail with chalk. This is on the sidewalk right in front of my house.
It’s a relatively easy hike of 6K with only one real climb. The only thing I don’t like is that we have to be trucked out to the starting point in the Hashmobile. I am a little worried that the number of Hashers present on Monday could exceed the capacity of our vehicle. Oh well, nothing I can do about that.
Speaking of the house, I’ve taken measures to further secure the place from break-ins. One of the weak points was my open-air downstairs bathroom. There was a gap between the ceiling and the wall large enough for someone to climb through.
Not anymore!Maybe it will make climbing up on the roof more difficult too.
Anyway, the upstairs windows have also been secured with wood blocks in the window tracks. No one is getting in that way without breaking glass. I have a new neighbor moving in catercorner from me in a house that has been vacant for years. Not to be an ass about it, but if my house is a tougher nut to crack I’ll be a less inviting target. Just saying. And of course, once they are here I’ll give them a heads up about what I’ve learned the hard way.
That’s the news from here. Oh wait, I’ve been meaning to get around to this:
Methinks he’s not as smart as he thinks he is.
Kevin Kim had recently posted on the Dunning-Kruger effect, or as the accompanying YouTube video put it “why stupid people think they are smart.” Now, Mr. Yglesias is a very educated man. I’d argue his biases and arrogance makes him stupid about many things though, especially politics. And his grammar and comma usage? Oh my!
That’s what time keeps doing. Take the last 24 hours for example:
Went to get a haircut at my usual place. Barber had one in the chair and two more waiting, so I nixed that plan and walked on up Baloy Beach road to see what I might see. What I didn’t see was the Blue Rock floating bar which is apparently still in storage. So I moved on down the beach and ventured onto the Kokomo’s floater. I know a couple of gals working there, Arcel and Julica, both former Hashers. Alas, Julica was busy with a customer and Arcel wasn’t working. I had also “met” a gal on a dating site who works on Kokomo’s but I didn’t see her either. So I wound up drinking alone.
Julica and Arcel from a hike earlier this year.
One of the things I enjoy most about the floaters is watching the sun go down.
One view……and another.
After three or four Zero’s I headed back into Barretto and popped up to Bar Celona. Found me a seat, ordered a beer, and watched the moon rise.
I did all my talkin’ to the moon because I didn’t know anyone else in the bar.
After a couple of bottles, I decided to move back down the highway and see what was happening in Alaska Club. Turns out nothing was, me being the only customer. And the one gal I like there was nowhere to be found. Oh well. Two more beers and out.
The last bar on the strip as I make my way home is Queen Victoria. Why not? Once again, I had the place to myself. Chatted with the bar staff a bit and then Sean, a fellow Hasher, came in. He was in as foul a mood as I was. So we drank our beers and told Dad jokes for a bit, although they went completely over the heads of the Filipinas present.
While I was finishing my beer I got a message from a woman I know who lives in the squatter town outside my subdivision. She mentioned her water had been out for two days so I drunkenly invited her to come by and use my shower. To my surprise she accepted. And then to my further surprise, she decided to spend the night. Even woke me up during the night to do it again. So there you go. Even the lonely nights here can end well.
She left early and I got about my routine. Walked the dogs then took a quick hike to get my morning steps in. Showered up, then hit the barbershop. Only the customer in the chair ahead of me this time. Afterward, I caught a Jeepney into Olongapo and went to the hospital for the second of five rabies shots.
Instead of the emergency room, I was directed to the outpatient clinic. After checking in and a short wait an RN came to me with some papers and told me I needed to go downstairs to the pharmacy to get my medicine, pay the cashier, then come back to her for the injection. Geez, seriously? So, I did as instructed, got to the cashier and was told I needed to go to billing to get an itemized statement. Grrr. Got the bill, paid the P2000 ($40) and headed back upstairs. The nurse then gave me my shot and I was on my way.
Since I was in town anyway, I did the twenty-minute walk over to the mall and got my head examined. Well, my eyes anyway. A little surprised my prescription hasn’t changed much in two+ years, but I ordered some new glasses anyway. The lenses on my old ones are scratched up pretty bad which is affecting my vision I think. That set me back almost $400.
Lunch at McDonald’s (I know, I know), another hike, and a Jeepney ride back to Barretto. And here I sit telling you all about it. Who says my life isn’t full of excitement?
Not bad for a Thursday. I’ll reach my goal of 20,000+ today as well.
Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool Got the twelve o’clock news blues And I’ve given up hope for the afternoon soaps And a bottle of cold brew Is it any wonder I’m not crazy? Is it any wonder I’m sane at all Well I’m so tired of losing- I got nothing to do and all day to do it I go out cruisin’ but I’ve no place to go and all night to get there Is it any wonder I’m not a criminal? Is it any wonder I’m not in jail? Is it any wonder I’ve got
Too much time on my hands? It’s ticking away with my sanity I’ve got too much time on my hands It’s hard to believe such a calamity I’ve got too much time on my hands And it’s ticking away, ticking away from me
Well, it wasn’t a dock but it was docked. The Arizona floating bar that is. Made my first visit of the season last night and it was a pleasant experience. I was impressed that the bartender called out “Zero?” when I boarded. Still remembered my beer of choice after all those months. Or maybe someone asked her how handsome I was on a scale of 1-10. Anyway, I do enjoy sipping a cold one while gently rocking on the water.
The bar…….and a view from the bar.Looking back at the Arizona Resort from whence I launched.There was also a beautiful full moon last night. Alas, my photography skills and/or my camera could not do it justice.
After drinking my fill, I ferried back to shore and enjoyed the Arizona restaurant’s nightly special–grilled pork chops.
Tasty they were too. That’s a bowl of French onion soup that accompanied the meal.
Today I did the Wednesday walk. Some of us did a safe and sane 8K hike. The others sought out additional climbs and distance, so we parted company. That’s how it’s gonna have to be for me in the future. When it stops being fun, I’m going to do it my way.
Scott will be my co-Hare next week for the Hash. We will be incorporating a portion of today’s hike into our trail.It is much more fun to skirt around the base of Easter mountain that it is to climb it.I make no apologies for preferring this kind of trail.Now, this area proved to be a real dump!
And that’s the way I roll. Thinking about doing some darts for the first time in weeks tonight. Or not. We’ll see how I feel when I get there. Damn, I might just get used to doing things my way!
Looks like nothing’s gonna change Everything still remains the same I can’t do what ten people tell me to do So I guess I’ll remain the same, listen
Sittin’ here resting my bones And this loneliness won’t leave me alone, listen Two thousand miles I roam Just to make this dock my home, now
I’m just gon’ sit at the dock of a bay Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh Sittin’ on the dock of the bay Wastin’ time
On the way to buy groceries this morning, I popped into the emergency room at Baypointe Hospital on the old Navy base. I told the doctor on duty I’d been dog bit, but the dog in question had allegedly been vaccinated. The doc said it doesn’t matter, I needed to be shot. For tetanus and rabies that is. Well, I had a tetanus booster last year after my encounter with barbed wire, so I just needed to take care of the potential for rabies.
It seems to me that back in the day a rabies treatment involved like 12 shots in the stomach. I nervously asked what regimen was in store for me? Well, the vaccine dose is predicated on weight and based on mine I need a series of five shots administered once every three days. Then I was asked if I had insurance, which made me a little nervous (I do, but I have to pay as I go and file a claim afterward). Turns out the total cost is $250 so I can deal with that.
Before they gave me the first shot a cute nurse came in and said she was going to test me for an allergic reaction. She scraped something on my arm which hurt more than I could let my male pride admit. After about twenty minutes she came back and had a look at the mosquito bite-like lump on my arm. Does it itch? Not anymore I told her. She had another nurse look, then fetched a doctor. And then another doctor. I guess they concluded that I was allergic so they wouldn’t use that medicine. I still got a shot of something though, and I’ll be back Friday for more.
Pretty exciting, huh? But wait, there’s more! How about some photos from yesterday’s Hash?
It was a very nice 7 km trail. Very similar to the one I had hoped to use next week when I’ll be a co-Hare. Damn it!Although on my trail I wasn’t planning on squashing everyone into the back of the Hashmobile…And we are “ON-ON!”Hey, that’s me near the back of the pack. As usual.Through the rice paddy we go…The old dirt road.The Hares promised there was only one climb. That was mostly true and it was only moderately difficult. That’s something this old guy appreciates.A view from on high…We eventually intersected with My Bitch, a trail I hadn’t walked in quite a while. I was very pleased to see someone had hacked down the thatch grass…I guess they hadn’t gotten this far yet though. Burn it down!Probably the nicest view of the day…Made it back before the sun went down which is always my goal.And then we enjoyed the ‘”on-home” festivities from our newest Hash venue, Queen Victoria bar.
I’m not sure why, but I have the urge to lift my leg when I pee now. Just kidding. I hope.
I caught you knockin’ at my cellar door I love you, baby, can I have some more Ooh, ooh, the damage done.
I hit the city and I lost my band I watched the needle take another man Gone, gone, the damage done.
I sing the song because I love the man I know that some of you don’t understand Milk-blood to keep from running out.
I’ve seen the needle and the damage done A little part of it in everyone But every junkie’s like a settin’ sun.
Interesting morning here. Getting back into my regular routines which are all the more enjoyable after a brief hiatus for travel. The dogs seemed happy to have me back for our walk around the neighborhood, that’s for sure.
Afterward, I went to the new Divimart store and purchased 100 tins of sardines, 50 bags of noodles, and 20 kgs of rice. I found a local charity here that provides food baskets for the poor and that was my contribution. I also wired some money to a chat friend on Bohol to provide a Christmas meal for some school kids in her town. I have helped her out before and she sent pictures so I pretty much trust the money will be used as intended. Anyway, I’m all-in for three hundred bucks. That’s not exactly chump change, but it’s nice that a small donation can make a difference for those in need.
As I neared completion of my regular morning walk I passed by a house with a dog on a chain. I’ve gone this way many times and the dog always barks aggressively but his chain doesn’t reach my path. At least it didn’t until today. I hadn’t even really noticed him (had my headphones on) but as I was moving away he came at me from behind and bit me on the hand. It seems his chain had been tethered to a different post which brought me in range of those sharp teeth. Yep, he drew a fair amount of blood from my little finger.
This incident occurred not far from my neighborhood. So I cleaned the wound, applied disinfectant, and took my helper with me to talk to the dog’s owner. He wasn’t sympathetic, saying (to her in Tagalog) that I shouldn’t have been walking there. I had my helper ask if the dog had been inoculated for rabies and the translated response from her was “not this year”. Hmm. I think a dog normally just gets vaccinated once but I’m not sure. The dog’s owner also helpfully added that his dog has bitten many people and none of them contracted rabies.
So it looks like I’ll be going to the hospital tomorrow to get a rabies shot.
Sorry, Mary. I wasn’t intentionally mocking you last night when I took this photo of your minions blocking traffic on the national highway. Please call the dogs off!
Here’s hoping I have better luck at the Hash today.
No, not this kind. I’m talking about the Haggis Bash Hash. This was part of the food that was served after the event, but I did not stick around to partake.It was kinda interesting to see the reverence to which the Haggis above was treated. Brought into the venue on a platter accompanied by bagpipe music. Sorry the picture is so blurry, I might have been drunk.
Anyway, it was a mostly fun and interesting day. We started out with a 6.5K trail that was blessedly flat.
And it’s “on-on” in La Union!The trail meandered through fields of corn, grapes, and rice.As seems to be my bane, we had some water crossings on unstable bridges. That’s Slot Licker from Subic encouraging me on across a swaying suspension bridge.Now, this one didn’t scare me at all. Still, I almost lost my balance but made it over with dry feet.And these damn bamboo things just weren’t designed to support my weight. Well, I made it safely–praise be to the Hash Gods…That’s more like it!Where corn comes from.
Anyway, you get the idea. Typical Hash excursion, just in a new venue. Of course, the big event was still to come: the Haggis games.
Sorry the picture is fuzzy, there were 12 events in all. Sadly, I neglected to photograph most of them. We were competing against teams from Angeles City and of course, the La Union Hash.The Hash Bash Grand Master of Ceremonies…And I guess it wouldn’t be Haggis without bagpipes…The pole toss event…There were over 180 Hashers in attendance. Had to step back a bit to capture the enormity of the crowd.
We (Subic) were actually kicking ass in most of the early categories and had a comfortable lead in points. This was stuff like the races–dwarf carry (a guy carried a girl), sack races and the like. And then there came the dancing…
The Subic dancers performed brilliantly. The judges were all from La Union though and they saw fit to award us third place. Totally subjective and disappointing.
We dropped a couple of other events like pie-eating (meat pie that is). So it all came down to the tug-of-war at the end. Angeles City outweighed us healthy Subic guys on the rope by quite a bit and in the end, they proved unmovable. Ah well, it was all in good fun.
That’s me with the second place trophy. See you bastards next year for a revenge tug!
Back home in lovely Barretto again. I will say this about La Union: the women there are on average much more to my taste than what I find in my little town. The waitresses in both Bella’s and Blue Cat were just so damn cute! Not to mention, they provided outstanding service. That’s a winning combination anywhere.
That’s Anne, my personal favorite. What a smile! What an ass! She was really busy on Saturday morning and working alone. I got frustrated and went next door to Blue Cat for breakfast. She was still apologizing to me this morning. I don’t think I’d like living in La Union, but if I had a gal like this loving me there, I might just change my mind.I’m a Haggis Basher now! See you next year! You too, Anne. I hope.
Yesterday I got registered for today’s Haggis Hash. For my P1000 fee ($20) I received a bag full of Hash trash.
Said bag which contained my Hash gear…Including this ball cap……a sweat towel……these kilt-like looking shorts……and of course, the traditional commemorative Hash shirt.
I’m all decked out for today’s Haggis…
The shorts are ridiculous, probably the only time I’ll ever wear them…And I’m wearing my Subic shirt to represent my team in the Haggis events this afternoon.
Last night we did the “Full Moon Hash” which in actuality is a male-only bar crawl. Of course, there ain’t many bars here, but we hit three of them. What was unusual was the “entertainment” provided–dancing girls dancing. Then dancing without their tops. And finally dancing naked! I’ve seen that in Thailand, but never the Philippines which tends to lean conservative when it comes to sexual mores. I know these shows were specifically put on for our benefit, but still, it seemed pretty risky. The doors weren’t locked and there were non-Hashers in the bars.
And I guess I really am turning into a grumpy old man. I like women just fine, even tattooed prostitutes. Their pussies right up in my face? Not so much. Some of the other guys seemed to really be into it though, at least their tongues were. Yuck! Anyway, I find women more attractive when something is left to the imagination. That’s just how I roll.
At the third bar, we did a Hash circle. I’d had a few beers by then and just wasn’t much in the mood for the usual chicanery. At the La Union Hash, they don’t use ice for punishment. Instead, you drink from this:
No idea what the concoction inside truly is, but obviously it looks like shit. Didn’t get the opportunity to taste any either. I bailed before the circle was completed.
I’m just too old for that crap. Hope it is more fun today. Stay tuned.
Quiet night here yesterday. Just hung out at the hotel bar and watched the sun go down.
Down she goes……see you in the morning!
Once the sun’s entertainment was completed, I took some time to observe my fellow patrons at the bar. Damn, I’m old but these guys looked ancient to me! Lots of old fucks in Barretto too of course but I think the oldsters stand out here because there is no infusion of young tourists. Having said that, it appeared they all were making the best of their golden years, enjoying camaraderie and laughs with each other. I was impressed that one guy with non-functioning legs rode into the bar on an electric scooter. Another guy looked like something out of The Walking Dead, barely able to stand, unsteady hands, and a gnarly and wrinkled body. Must have been well into his 80s and yet there he sat enjoying a beer and watching the ocean. You know, I want to live for as long as I can do the things I enjoy doing, There will come a time when maybe some good company and cold beer will be all I need. Hell, maybe that time has already come!
And I’m not blowing smoke!
That’s vapor, not smoke! I was making an impressive cloud though, wasn’t I?
Breakfast in the hotel as well this morning. I must say I was impressed with the enormity of the meal:
Not shown is a heaping helping of beans served up in a bowl right after I took this photo. One of the better breakfasts I’ve had in a while.
I guess I’m doing alright for an old guy. Think I’ll take a nap.
Arrived safely yesterday afternoon after a 3.5-hour drive. The “safely” part is always in doubt, especially when my driver is in heavy traffic on a two-lane highway. He gets pretty damn aggressive; passing on the shoulder, tailgating, and cutting it close when passing in the face of oncoming traffic. Ah, well. It was exciting at least.
I always enjoy seeing new places, partly for the experience but also to see if it may be a potential alternative should the need ever arise for me to relocate. Bauang, the actual city I’m in within the province of La Union, is a pretty enough beach town. There is an elderly expat community and a few bars to serve them, including a couple of girly bars. So I guess I’d fit right in. What I don’t like is being so far away from everything else. In Barretto, I’m just over an hour from an international airport and 20 minutes away from malls and grocery stores that cater to my needs. I just don’t think I’d deal well with feeling so isolated. That’s my first impression at least.
This is the place I’m staying. Not up to my standards but convenient to the Hash events. At least I stayed here because it is where everyone else in my group is staying. Very uncomfortable bed though.This little bar is right next door to my hotel and I enjoyed quaffing some brews in here yesterday.I asked my waitress if I could get a photo of her uniform. I thought it a little funny that I hang out at Alley Cats in Barretto. Plus, she has a sweet ass.The Blue Cat is an expat hangout and also a Hash venue. The guy on the right actually moved here from Barretto six years ago with his wife and child. He says he couldn’t stay out of the bars in Barretto. Well, you see where I met him. After the sun went down, we moved up the highway to one of the girly bars. I honestly didn’t like it and bailed out pretty early. Got back to Blue Cat before 9 and it was already closed! I guess these old fuckers are early birds… I was up early this morning and neither my hovel hotel restaurant or Blue Cat was open. So, I walked up the highway looking for a place to get some coffee. Found a nice hotel and they were open for business. Wish I’d stayed here. Next time!After breakfast, I took a long walk on the beach. Much cleaner than Barretto.I wonder what the story is here……it was like a ghost town on the beach. I’m guessing damage from a long-ago storm…I live on a bay so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a surfer… It was a lovely morning for a walk on the beach…
And now it is beer o’çlock and my Hash mates are waiting. More to come!
Feeling the effects of a passing typhoon here today, leaving me a lazy and rainy afternoon to abide. Tomorrow I will be changing my perspective with a four-day visit in La Union. Weather ought to be better by then, if not my attitude. Yeah, I’m in a foul mood. And no, I’m not ready to talk about it.
Here are some photos from yesterday’s Hash:
I was not happy with the trail. Vienna Sausage (Günter) was the Hare and he incorporated four outrageous climbs, including Mother Fucker, into his trail. It was ridiculous and impossible for the walkers to finish before dark. I and many others did some shortcutting (the orange trail).The Hashmobile was jam-packed and uncomfortable.We got dropped off and had a short walk on the highway...…and then began our ascent up the first mountain via these stairs……up and up we go…
…the stairs eventually gave way, but the climb did not.Finally some mostly level ground.After bypassing one of the climbs, we began to make our way back down.Some hazy skies, but still a nice view…You often encounter downed barbed wire on trail, but it is unusual to see it at eye level. It’s especially hazardous because most of the time I’m looking down at where I’m planting my feet. I was warned about this strand though so no cuts for me!It was a pigpen near the bottom.
Anyway, from this point, the trail went back up again and it was already a little past 5:00 and it gets dark around 5:30. So I was done with the trail and hoofed it back to the on-home at Johan’s on Baloy Beach. I arrived in time to see this:
A colorful end to a shitty trail.
A couple of points of interest at the circle. We celebrated a birthday in the traditional Hash fashion:
By making a cake.
The other event of interest was the naming of a Hasher who completed her fifth Hash. This process involves the unnamed being interviewed by the group and then potential names are suggested and voted on. The unnamed was Ilene, whom I mentioned before as a bit of a (one-way) crush. Anyway, Ilene professed to like horses and I knew she was into running. And she’s attractive. So, the name I came up with was “Hot to Trot” and in a close vote, she was duly named.
That’s Hot to Trot participating in an event known as the “Spartan”. And that’s about all I know about it, other than it involves five contests. Apparently one of them is carrying around heavy shit. I don’t know, I lifted the photo from her Facebook page.
Met a virgin to the Hash named Chris (male) who is a military retiree who just recently moved to Barretto. He did a couple of tours of duty in Korea so we had that in common. He indicated he might be joining us in La Union. Welcome to the Hash!
And that’s it for now. Some bad stuff happened after the circle that I’m still processing. In the end, it will probably turn out for the best. For now, I think I need to go get drunk.
She’s been lookin’ like a queen in a sailor’s dream And she don’t always say what she really means Sometimes I think it’s a shame When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain Sometimes I think it’s a shame When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain
I can picture every move that a man could make Getting lost in her lovin’ is your first mistake Sundown you better take care If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs Sometimes I think it’s a sin When I feel like I’m winnin’ when I’m losin’ again
Be it ever so humble and all that jazz, it’s good to be back and into the swing of my so-called life. I think being away for even a few days helps give you perspective. Sometimes I lament the meaninglessness of it all in an “is that all there is?” kind of way. But hey, I’m retired, I’ve made my contributions to society and I have the pension to prove it. For me now my job is to not lament what I’ve lost, not to regret what I don’t have, and to be satisfied with the life I’ve chosen in the here and now. Knowing I can always change my life should the need arise.
So for a retired guy, I guess you could say I do lead a pretty active lifestyle. I’m out walking every day of course. That’s a healthy thing to do and I occasionally even enjoy it. I’ve got a couple of Spotify music playlists I’ve created, Walk and Roll and Walkaholic, that helps pass the steps when I’m out and about. And of course, there’s the nightlife.
Last night’s welcoming committee from Cheap Charlies. Do they really like me or is it just my peso-nality? Does it matter? I enjoyed myself and they liked the pasalubong I provided. The beer was cold and I was happy. That’s got to be enough.
So yeah, I have my favorite hangouts. Some are for darts, like Alley Cats. Some feature my kind of music. And others are just good places to sit and chat with my fellow expats. I’ve mentioned before that Barretto often feels like a big retirement community. We are all kind of in it together and making the best we can of whatever remains of our time amongst the living. If that constitutes settling, then I’ll settle for that.
And it’s not all about bars and women.
I’ve got my boys to keep me company too.
This is the life I’ve chosen and I’m going to try and live it without regret.
Oh, Facebook reminded me this morning of another walking milestone in my “career”.
I highly doubt this threshold will ever be broken again in my life. But I’m glad I did it. Once.
Today I participate in a social activity that involves both of my pastimes–walking and drinking. Yep, I’m talking about the Hash. And in other Hash news, this week I’ll be making a road trip to La Union (about 4 hours north of here) to participate in the Haggis Hash there. I’m not sure what all that involves, we’ll do a walk on Friday and a bar crawl that night. A walk on Saturday and then the “games”. No idea what that’s going to entail, but I reckon I’m going to find out.
So stay tuned and thanks for joining me for the ride of my life here at LTG.
And when I was twelve years old My daddy took me to a circus “The Greatest Show on Earth” There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads And as I sat there watching I had the feeling that something was missing I don’t know what But when it was all over, I said to myself “Is that all there is to a circus”
Is that all there is Is that all there is If that’s all there is, my friends Then let’s keep dancing Let’s break out the booze and have a ball If that’s all there is
My short visit to Korea has now reached its conclusion. All in all, it went much better than the previous trip. I think going for five days versus two weeks helped. I also was mostly successful at defending myself from sad memories whenever they attacked, sending them back to the past where they belong.
Otherwise, my only real takeaway was that as much as I love Korea it is no longer home. Even the familiar places are not all that familiar now. Just as an example, Shenanigans was my favorite hangout for years. Last night they had a big crowd and a happy buzz. But with just a couple of exceptions, none of the faces were familiar. That’s natural of course, I’ve been gone quite a while now. But I found myself missing my life here in the Philippines. I came away knowing that this is where I belong. It’s good to be back!
Had some good times though and I’ve already recounted those on the blog. You can read Kevin Kim’s take on our massive hike and tasty meal here. Thanks again!
So after a couple of beers with the nephew, I called it an early night. My flight departed at 7:55 a.m. and the best way I could find to Incheon was by the airport limo bus. That required getting up at 0400 and catching the bus at 4:40.
The stop was right in front of my hotel which was convenient at least. I was the only passenger at that ungodly hour when I boarded. We did pick up several more en route though.
I was on Korean Air which meant departing from Terminal 2. It’s a bit longer trip and we didn’t arrive until 6:15. That’s cutting it closer than I like, especially for an international flight. But I was in business class which meant no long wait to check-in. I got my boarding pass and checked my bag then headed to security, which was just opening (so I forgave myself for not taking the earlier bus). And as usual, my vapes triggered a secondary screening of my carry on bag. The guy asked why so many batteries (I had brought 7 and purchased 12 more to bring home with me). I explained that the 12 were replacements as my current batteries were wearing out. So, it was all good and I proceeded on through immigration without a hitch.
Once in the terminal, I went to one of the duty-free stores to purchase some pasalubong, the Filipino gift-giving custom expected of returning travelers. I had some Won I needed to dispose of anyway, so I’ll make some bargirls smile with trinkets and sweets.
When it came time to board the plane, my boarding pass set off a beep and I was pulled aside. The agent asked if I had e-cigarettes in my checked luggage. I responded of course not, that’s isn’t allowed. She told me to hold on, they were sending a picture. And sure enough, one of my vape pens had made its way into my checked bag. All I can figure is that I left it in a pocket and inadvertently packed it with my dirty clothes. I was relieved to learn my bag was on the plane and with no time to retrieve my e-cig I told her to just trash it. Damn, my vaping habit is getting to be a pain in the ass, isn’t it?
I do enjoy the comfort and friendliness of Korean Air. And the hot flight attendants.
I reclined my seat, stretched out my legs and settled in for a cozy and comfortable trip home.
We landed at Clark Field a few minutes early and I was the first person off the plane. Made it through immigration in a flash and then headed to baggage claim where I waited. And waited. And waited some more. I finally asked what was going on and was told there was only one baggage crew on duty and they were busy unloading another flight. And so I did what I’ve trained myself to do–took a deep breath, relaxed, and accepted the Filipino way.
After about 30 minutes the first bag appeared on the carousel, and mine was the third one to come out. I grabbed it and hustled over to customs. Where I encountered a long line (the plane that had been unloaded before ours apparently). Ah well. For whatever reason, they x-ray bags coming off the plane at Clark. When I reached the machine, the operator said just my carry-on bag had to go on the belt. Hmm. I got a bit nervous because I had all those vapes and the President here has decreed them verboten. I guess the operator didn’t notice them or didn’t care, so I grabbed my bag and headed out to meet my driver.
Donny was there waiting, which I appreciated. On the drive home I had him stop at one of my favorite restaurants on the old Navy base–Texas Joe’s.
I enjoyed me some pulled pork, beans, and slaw. Donny had some baby back ribs.
Greetings from Clark International Airport in less than lovely Angeles City. I’m currently ensconced in the Korean Air lounge with an hour to kill before boarding my flight to Incheon. So I’m going to kill it with you.
How long is the trip between summer and winter? Well, today it’s gonna be a four-hour journey. Since winter does not exist in the Philippines I do not possess much in the way of cold weather garments. I did rummage through the guest room closet to see what I might have stashed in there after the move.
Turns out I do have a jacket. Now, that’s not a winter coat by a long shot but it’s a start… And I have my old 8th Army sweater that I can wear underneath the jacket…And if things get really cold I can wear this sweatshirt under the sweater.
I guess that’s as prepared as it’s gonna get for me. Wish me luck! (I have no idea why those last two photos are coming up sideways, I didn’t save them that way. Sorry!)
Had an okay Hash yesterday, the Hare, Almoranus, gave us a steep climb up the big mountain. But once up top, his trail took us on a gentle downward trajectory to the beach and we walked the beach most of the way back to our on-home at Midnight Rambler. Here are some photos from the journey:
The short version of the trail was about 7.5K…Offloading from the Hashmobile…And after crossing the highway we immediately began our ascent.This bridge wasn’t really so bad compared to some I’ve crossed…Looking back down at the bay as we climb…A mountain home.So, whenever I start bitching about how tough it is on the trail it seems I see something that humbles me…Looking down on Olongapo City from our mountaintop vantage point.Back down on the beach…It was high tide so that meant climbing over some big rocks or wading in the water. I climbed, Pubic Head waded.Safely back “on-home” in time to enjoy a sunset on the bay.
Alrighty then. Time to say so long to the Philippines for now. Korea here I come!
Making final preparations for my trip to Korea tomorrow. In some ways revisiting my old haunts feels almost like traveling back in time. Except I know what the future holds. On my last trip, I wound up getting overwhelmed by memories and got depressed enough that I cut the visit short. I’m playing it safe this time by limiting myself to five days in country. Yeah, I’m pathetic I know.
Speaking of time travel, I came across this YouTube clip that is actually quite funny. I sometimes fantasize about having a time machine but I think the video makes a valid point about the physics involved, albeit in a humorous fashion. It’s only five minutes long, give it a watch:
Of course, Facebook takes me back in time on a regular basis through its memories feature.
That’s me seven years ago…
And this is the crowd I used to hang with. The bar, Bull and Barrel, is long gone as are most of the people. One dead, one in jail, a couple deported, others went home. Me? I got divorced and moved to the Philippines. Everything changes.
What else? Well, how about this article about the evolution of a dog’s love. I don’t know about the science involved, but you should hear my two go nuts when I come home after a night on the town. You’d think I’d been gone for years. Buddy stands on his hind legs and actually gives me hugs. It’s pretty damn sweet, that’s for sure.
“Play dead, Lucky!” Heh, I wish I could train him that good. That’s just the way he sleeps. He’s actually quite stupid, but he’s a good boy…
I went ahead a purchased the premium plan for my Spotify music app. It works so much better than YouTube for hiking entertainment, especially given the spotty data network in these parts. Plus there are no commercials and I’m able to build playlists so I like every song I hear. I’ve made two lists so far–“Walk and Roll” and “Walkaholic”. Good stuff!
I did a pleasant 8K valley hike yesterday. I’m scheduled to be the Hare on December 16, so I might just piss off the masochists with a nice flat trail. We’ll see.
Alright, time to finish packing and get ready for today’s Hash. I saw part of the trail on this morning’s walk, so I reckon the Hare’s are taking us up the big mountain again. Bastards!
Greetings from Zambales province on the lush, lovely, and large island of Luzon. Most days here are like every other day, not that that’s a bad thing. At least for me. While walking the dogs this morning I still noticed how beautiful the bay and mountains are, even though I been seeing the same view almost every day for 18 months now. I’m glad about that.
Last night found me playing darts at Alley Cats and at the end of the evening my partner and I had secured first place money. It was a particularly satisfying victory because it required beating Steve, the Englishman who doesn’t drink, twice. Neither of us had a particularly strong partner so it was almost as if we were playing mano a mano. Steve is probably the best overall dart player here in Barretto, and certainly the most consistent. He was throwing very well last night but somehow I managed to play up to his level. I was actually quite surprised by my performance, especially given that I just haven’t been throwing much of late.
To the victors go the spoils, or in this case, P700.
I also had a pleasant 7K afternoon hike yesterday. I’m still finding excuses to stay out of the mountains. Some might call that laziness but I prefer thinking of it as prudence. There I said it. The recent break-in at the house made me realize that I’ve been pushing my luck. Getting lost or hurt or worse in the wilds all by my lonesome just doesn’t have much appeal. Maybe it’s just a phase and I’ll regain my confidence once the thatch grass has dissipated. We’ll see.
Speaking of mountains, here’s the one we dub “Easter” as seen from the beginning of my walk.And here it is from a closer vantage point as I passed by on my mostly flat path.
Speaking of walking, next week I’ll be walking in Korea. Just like I was two years ago. Thanks for reminding me, Facebook:
I hope it doesn’t snow while I’m there. My winter wardrobe is as non-existent as winter is in the Philippines.
It’s gonna be a short five-day trip–three nights in Seoul and two in Pyeongtaek. Hopefully, I’ll handle the memories better this time.
My driver has been out of town, so I did my normal Tuesday grocery shopping on Sunday. And while there I saw something I’ve never seen before (and for an old fucker like me, that’s saying something), a church service being conducted inside the supermarket. A Catholic service from all appearances. It struck me as quite bizarre.
“Honey, I’m off to church now.”
“Okay dear. Grab some milk while you are there.”
Good luck with that. When I couldn’t find any fresh milk a clerk advised it was out of stock. Most Filipinos drink milk from cartons on unrefrigerated shelves. I still can’t get my mind around that.
And so it goes.
*For those who are too young to get the 1960s pop culture reference in the headline–Everything’s Archie is like saying everything’s cool. Maybe not peachy keeno, or even far out, and definitely not groovy, but still alright. Ya dig? Now you know.
According to this YouTube video, there are “14 reasons the Philippines is different from the rest of the world.” Well, 15 if you count the fact that this is the only country in the world where I currently reside. Anyway, some of them I didn’t know, some are interesting, and some seem more like hyperbole than facts. If you’ve got eight minutes or so to kill, give it a watch.
Well, ’tis the season after all. Burning season I mean.
This moring’s view of Easter mountain was marred by the residual effects of all those fires the locals insist on starting.
What are they burning? Sometimes trash, sometimes brush and the like. Now, having experienced the crazy growth of that tall and irritating thatch grass I can perhaps dispense with some tolerance for the need to burn that shit up. Still, it does nothing for the air quality around here, that’s for sure.
Speaking of smoke, President Duterte has decreed that henceforth vaping will be banned in the Philippines. That really sucks for me, because I’m a prolific vaper. And folks, vape clouds are not smoke, any more than fog is smoke. Anyway, the practical impact on me is as yet to be determined. I’ve been allowed to vape in most bars since it was previously not included in the smoking ban statutes. I expect that I will soon be denied that privilege. Alas, it seems escaping the nanny state syndrome is becoming more and more difficult. I’m a guest in this country, so I reckon I’ll just have to shut up and suck it up. I guess if bad things come in threes (burglary, detention) this vape ban completes the trifecta.
Government sucks. I should know.
Oh, that reminds me. I experienced a second home invasion yesterday.
Well, technically these badass red ants stayed outside on my upstairs deck. I decided to let them live. For now at least.
The holiday season is in full swing here. Of course, that’s old news. In the Philippines, Christmas season begins with the first of the “ber” months (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER). It was disconcerting to hear holiday music blaring in the malls in the year’s ninth month, but what are you gonna do? Back when I was living in America, I made it a point to never decorate until AFTER Thanksgiving. But now I just go with the flow.
Yes indeed, that is my humble abode all lit up and filled with the Christmas spirit. Such as it is.
I confess part of my motivation was to shame would-be burglars. Or does it look more like an invitation? Oh well, it’s purdy.
