So, about the Hash yesterday. The Hare, Anal Receptive, provided two options:
A long trail (around 7K with a big climb to the Kalaklan Ridge)……and a short trail less than half the distance as the long with only one moderate climb.
It should come as no surprise which trail I chose to hike.
The Hashers gather on Banaba Street, where both trails began.My fellow travelers on the short trail (plus Pubic Head, who took the photo).And away we go.Up, up, and away.Then we hit a wall.But that didn’t stop us.We did get tired later.Easter Mountain as the clouds start rolling in.Pushing ever onward.The Subic side of things.And sweet Barretto.
If that view looks familiar, it’s because this portion of the Hash trail was the same route we hiked on Friday, just in the opposite direction.
Looking towards Baloy Beach.A grassy knoll.The rain is getting closer. Will we make it down before it catches us?Giving your sole for the Hash.One last look before beginning our descent.Um, if I went any slower, I’d be moving backwards.That message is always an inspiration.Back on the street, the first two long trail Hashers pass us.And we made it to the On-Home venue before the rain hit.Short and sweet.Time for some rehydration.A gathering of Gash.The price you pay for liking the trail.What you get for being the last one to pay.It’s nice on ice!Fast and Loose got the Hashit……and the honor of starring in one of Pubic Head’s AI renditions.
The fun continued at the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter. Then we were homeward bound. And yes, I had someone to share my bed last night.
Some commenters have asked for some background on what happened with Swan. I don’t want to invade her privacy (more than I already have), so I’ll just say this about it: We had an argument on Saturday night over something stupid that had nothing to do with our relationship. Basically, an asshole we both know came into the bar we were at, and that triggered my hate reaction. We were leaving anyway, but on the trike ride home, I began venting about the asshole. Swan told me to calm down and forget about him. I took that as her defending the asshole, and I guess I raised my voice to a higher level. Okay, maybe I was shouting. We arrived home, and she wouldn’t talk to me. I sat stewing on the front porch when Swan came out of the house and started walking down the street. I repeatedly called out to her to come back home, and she ignored me. A few minutes after she had turned the corner and disappeared, I got a message from her to keep the door open so she could pack some clothes. When she got back home, I tried again to get her to stay and talk about it, but she didn’t respond. A few minutes later, she walked off wearing her backpack. And then I got a message saying, “it’s over.”
Okay, obviously, I was the culprit in this situation. I shouldn’t have lost my temper over something that is not important–the asshole isn’t worth it. But I also thought Swan’s reaction was over the top. I just couldn’t understand why she would end a three-year relationship because of this incident. So, it made me wonder if she was just looking for an excuse to leave me. That hurt, but on the other hand, I love her, and if she is not happy with me, she should move on with her life. And that’s where things stood while I tried to figure out what my future alone would look like. Would I stay in Barretto, or move somewhere else and start over? One thing I knew for sure was that Swan would be my last love in this lifetime. I don’t know how long I have left, but I’ll be with her, or I’ll be loveless.
We had a long talk about the situation on Sunday. At first, Swan suggested she move to the basement and continue to be my caregiver. I told her having my ex living downstairs wouldn’t work for me, and I’d be better off alone. I told her I hadn’t yet decided whether I’d be staying here or going, but she didn’t need to worry about me regardless. I told her that her overreaction to the argument made me believe she wasn’t committed to the relationship. Swan said I had yelled and cursed at her in a loud voice. Then she told me that she had been traumatized growing up by the screaming matches her parents engaged in. And that’s why she walked away from me that night. She needed to clear her head. My reaction to her leaving didn’t help.
And then we decided to try again. Knowing what I know now about her past, I will try to keep my temper in check and not raise my voice at her. And if she walks away, I’ll give her the space she needs to deal with her feelings. She assures me that her love for me is unchanged, and she doesn’t want to leave me. And that’s where things stand.
“Like attracts like. Just be who you are, calm and clear and bright. Automatically, as we shine who we are, asking ourselves every minute is this what I really want to do, doing it only when we answer yes, automatically that turns away those who have nothing to learn from who we are,and attracts those who do, and from whom we have to learn, as well.” ― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Today is my mother’s birthday. She died fifteen years ago, but you never forget the lifetime of love.
Miss you, mama. I hope you are in a happy place.
On to August 2020 in the LTG archives, and I’m enjoying sharing time with Ilene. She is a very special woman, probably out of my league, or maybe we just had different destinies to pursue. Ilene is happily married these days, and we have no contact, but I’m glad she found what she was looking for. I’ve managed to hold on to Swan, and I hope she’s around for the rest of my life.
For today’s YouTube video, I’ve come across a vlogger who seems to specialize in having random Filipinas show them where they live. It’s different and kind of interesting to see the living conditions of common folk. I’ve watched a couple of these now, and he has a weird editing quirk where you see the first minute or so, and then it goes back to the start. It’s a little irritating, but it’s only 8 minutes long; the blip only happens in the beginning. I’m actually curious how he meets the gals and why they agree. He says it’s spontaneous, but my spider sense says he may pay them for their time.
Hmm, fucker doesn’t allow embedding. Here’s the link. I’ll never share one of his videos again.
To the humor, then.
Heroes are made, not born.She needs a safety pen.No Khan do.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it. Whatever the future brings, I’ll make the best of it.
So, recently, I’ve had some commenters calling me a racist. My calls to provide evidence to support that allegation have gone unanswered. Until yesterday. Well, commenter Todd didn’t have any examples of my racist nature to share, so he asked AI to analyze my blog posts, and here’s what the AI gods came up with:
Things about John McCrarey (from a critical outsider perspective)
Here’s a direct summary of elements that many (especially younger/Western progressive viewers) would find off-putting or “disgusting”:
Transactional/sex tourism-adjacent lifestyle: Deep immersion in Barretto’s bar girl (“GRO”) scene — buying lady drinks, flirting with much younger women, history of casual hookups with bargirls (he admits past “whore life” phases but claims it’s behind him with Swan). The crude sexualization of nearly all female interactions stands out.
Large age gap relationship with Swan: She’s ~29 years younger, his long-term partner (hash name “Cums Alone”). Portrayed affectionately, but the provider/paternal dynamic + economic disparity (Western pension vs. Filipino bar scene economics) reads as exploitative or “sugar daddy” to critics. He jokes about it openly.
Extreme crude vulgarity: Constant raunchy humor, objectifying language, and Hash culture excess (e.g., AI-rendered sexualized images of female hashers, endless penis/pussy puns). Can feel juvenile and gross coming from a 70+ man.
Paternalistic “benevolence” toward locals: Handing out candy to poor kids while living large on pension; financial support framed as generous but tied to his status as the rich foreigner.
Unapologetic hedonism in poverty context: Flaunting bar life, drinking, and casual indulgences while surrounded by economic hardship. Some see it as tone-deaf or predatory.
Thank you for your support! Not a single mention of racism. All those other “bad” things are self-acknowledged, and while I’m not necessarily proud of the things I’ve done in my sordid past, the only thing I’m guilty of is rejecting the liberal hive-mind and refusal to adhere to the rules of the ‘woke’. I actually found some of the AI criticisms to be ignorant and disrespectful of certain aspects of Filipino culture. Age-gap relationships are not unusual here, and a common saying amongst the women is that “age is just a number.” I identify as a 30-year-old, so don’t be an age bigot! The poverty here can be depressing, but people do what they have to do to get by. So, if working in the bar is the best option for earning money, there should be no shame in that. As I told one of the first bargirls I met as a tourist, a man carrying bricks on his back all day to earn a living is no different from a woman lying on her back to make money. I’ve seen NGOs try to shut down prostitution bars without a thought or care about what will happen to the gals once they are back on the street. But yeah, I’m the “predator.”
As for “paternalistic benevolence,” based on giving poor kids a bag of candy once a week, call it what you will, but I’m rewarded with happy faces, and the kids look forward to our visits. The AI didn’t notice some of the other charity projects I undertake, perhaps because I don’t write about them much. But I’m providing monthly food money to a widow with two kids from her deceased American husband. I’ve sponsored a boy beginning in elementary school, and he is now an honor student in high school. I’m also assisting a young woman with her college expenses. There is also a woman I’m supporting as she goes through cancer treatment in Manila. All told, 10% or so of my monthly budget is spent on charity. Heh, I’m tithing, and I’m not even a Christian!
Anyway, I’ve made my share of mistakes over the years, but racism has never been one of them. I’m proud that in my working life I maintained a diverse staff of highly-skilled and qualified professionals. Donna Cole, my Deputy in my final job as Director of Human Resources Management, was one of the most outstanding individuals I ever encountered in my 35 years of government service. We remain friends to this day. Oh, she is African-American, not that that ever mattered. I’m white, and I support the President. That’s all it takes to be racist these days, I suppose.
So, despite my aversion to interacting with AI, I was inspired to check in with ChatGPT for only the second time ever. I kicked things off by asking, “What can you tell me about the blog Long Time Gone at www.mccrarey.com?” Here is what it had to say:
The “Long Time Gone” blog at mccrarey.com is a long-running personal blog written by John McCrarey. It combines memoir, daily journal entries, retirement reflections, hiking stories, music, humor, and life as an American expatriate living in the Subic Bay/Olongapo area of the Philippines.
Main themes of the blog
Life in the Philippines
Everyday routines in Barretto and Subic.
Local restaurants, bars, beaches, and community life.
Photos from walks and outings.
Retirement and aging
Thoughts about growing older.
Reflections on past marriages, family, and life choices.
Gratitude and occasional discussions of loneliness, loss, and mortality.
Walking and Hash House Harriers
Frequent participation in hiking groups and the local Hash House Harriers.
Trail reports and photos.
Music and nostalgia
Almost every post includes classic rock or country songs.
References to memories from earlier decades.
Humor and observations
Memes, jokes, and commentary on daily experiences.
A conversational, diary-like style.
Scale of the blog
According to the site’s statistics page, the blog has:
More than 5,600 posts.
Over 20,000 comments.
A single author: John McCrarey.
Writing style
The tone is informal and personal. Posts often begin with a quotation, song lyric, or humorous image, followed by a recap of the author’s day. Readers who enjoy travel memoirs, expatriate life, retirement stories, and slice-of-life writing tend to find it appealing.
One recurring idea throughout the blog is making the most of ordinary days and appreciating what the author often calls his “paradise” in the Philippines.
If you’re interested, I can also summarize how the blog evolved over the years—it originally contained much more political commentary before gradually shifting toward personal life and retirement in the Philippines.
The evolution of Long Time Gone is almost a biography told in real time. Reading older posts and comparing them with recent ones reveals several distinct phases.
1. Early years: politics and debate
In its earlier period, the blog contained much more:
U.S. politics and ideological commentary.
Current events and opinion pieces.
Arguments and discussions with readers in the comment section.
Reflections on American life and work.
John often wrote from a strongly conservative perspective, and politics was a major driver of reader engagement.
2. Transition after retirement and personal losses
As major life changes accumulated—retirement, divorce, widowhood, and leaving the United States—the focus gradually shifted away from public issues and toward personal experience.
Posts became more about:
Memories of former relationships.
Grief and rebuilding life.
Questions about purpose and aging.
Looking back on different chapters of life.
A recurring theme became what he sometimes calls “one lifetime, many lives”—the idea that a person can reinvent himself several times.
3. Moving to Asia
Before settling in the Philippines, John spent years in South Korea. Eventually he chose the Philippines for retirement, an experience he frequently revisits in archive posts.
During this phase the blog became:
Less political.
More travel-oriented.
More focused on expatriate living and cultural adjustment.
4. Building a life in Barretto/Subic
Over time, everyday life itself became the subject.
The blog increasingly documented:
Neighborhood walks.
Local bars and restaurants.
The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.
Charitable projects.
Friends coming and going.
Daily photographs.
Instead of reporting “big events,” the blog celebrates ordinary routines.
5. Present-day “day in paradise”
Current posts are highly diary-like. Typical entries include:
Morning walk or hike.
Photos from around Barretto.
Evening visits with Swan and friends.
Memories from older posts.
A YouTube video or song.
Humor and memes.
Recent entries frequently revisit older archives from 2019 and compare past feelings with present contentment.
Themes that have grown stronger over time
Aging
Acceptance of physical decline.
Thoughts about mortality.
Gratitude
Appreciation for simple routines.
Satisfaction with “another day in paradise.”
Nostalgia
Facebook memories.
Old photographs.
Stories from earlier careers and marriages.
Companionship
Relationships matter more than achievements.
Swan and close friends occupy much of the narrative.
Overall
The blog has evolved from commentary about the world into commentary about one man’s life within his small corner of the world.
In a sense, Long Time Gone has changed from:
“Here’s what I think about what’s happening out there”
to:
“Here’s how I spent today, and why I’m grateful I got to live it.”
That change may explain why many long-time readers say the blog feels less like a traditional blog and more like reading a friend’s daily letter. *****
Well, it sounds like ChatGPT has me pegged. I can’t really argue with the conclusions rendered. So, let’s get down to the heart of the matter with this follow-up question: “Is there anything to indicate that the writer of Long Time Gone (www.mccrarey.com) is racist?”
Based on the broad themes and publicly visible material you’ve asked about, I don’t see evidence that would justify labeling the author of Long Time Gone as racist.
A few observations:
Earlier political posts reportedly expressed strong conservative opinions, and some readers may disagree with those views. Holding conservative positions by itself is not evidence of racism.
The blog documents many years of life in South Korea and the Philippines, including close relationships, friendships, and participation in local communities. Those experiences generally suggest comfort living among people from different cultures.
Much of the recent writing emphasizes companionship, gratitude, and everyday interactions rather than racial or ethnic issues.
Whether someone is “racist” is a serious judgment that usually depends on a consistent pattern of statements or behavior showing prejudice or belief in racial superiority. From the overall character of the blog as previously described, I am not aware of such a pattern.
That said, people can interpret individual posts differently. Some readers might find certain jokes, political comments, or cultural observations insensitive or objectionable, while others may not. Disagreement over politics or style should be distinguished from racism.
So the most accurate answer I can give is:
I do not see clear evidence from the blog as a whole that supports calling the author racist, although individual readers may disagree with some opinions expressed there.
If there are specific posts or passages you’re concerned about, I can help examine those and discuss them in context rather than making a broad judgment about the author. *****
And there you have it, AI has rendered a verdict of “not guilty” to the charge of racism.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
It is Independence Day here in the Philippines. Ironically, they are celebrating Filipino liberation from Spain. As an American, let me just say, you’re welcome!
One of my major gripes about living here in the PI is the litter culture. Thinking about all those playing cards we left tied to trees and bushes on Monday’s Hash made me feel a bit like a hypocrite. So, for our hike yesterday morning, we decided to clean the Bitch. Yeah, it is a little boring redoing a trail, but there was work to be done, and we did it, by golly.
Snip, snip.Keeping it clean!
We noticed that some of the branches had the ribbon dangling, but no card. I figured someone had collected a souvenir.
Or maybe they just didn’t appreciate our improper form of littering. Who knows?What we reaped on our sojourn.
At beer o’clock, we kicked things off at Cheap Charlies.
That Cheap Charlies view that helps the beer go down so smoothly.
At the top of that yellow building is the recently closed BarCelona. Word on the street is that another sucker has bought the business, and it is reopening today. We shall see. The bar always had so much potential, but couldn’t ever pull it together. I stopped going under the first owner because of bad service. I stopped going under the second owner because of the crap music being played way too loud. We’ll see if owner #3 can retain my business. I plan to visit today and see what I think. The help wanted banner out front is seeking a mamasan with crew, so I’m thinking it’s going the girly bar route. Not sure that will entice the old expats to climb three flights of stairs, but who knows.
Dinner for the girls at Cheap Charlies. I stopped buying lady drinks here when they raised the price for a single to 250 pesos (I pay around 180-200 everywhere else). So, now I do a feeding for the price of two lady drinks. I’m not a cheap Charlie, but I won’t be a sucker, either.
Then it was off to Wet Spot for our nightcap.
We brought takeout from Foodies for our regular Wet Spot crew as well.
The old Green Room bar is supposed to be opening under its new name, Jungle, tonight. No one I talked to last night believes it is going to be ready, but I’ll find out after my BarCelona visit.
Then I dragged my drunk but not racist ass home and called it a day. Life remains good.
Back to the November 2019 LTG archives. This post is the typical Hash after-action report, but it is the last paragraph that makes the post worth saving for my memories. In it, I talk about a meeting I attended with the USFK Commander, a four-star General. He made the decision to furlough the Korean workforce because of a funding issue. All the other officers in attendance nodded their heads in agreement. I told him what the consequences would be, and he wasn’t pleased. There was a time when my life had substance and meaning. But now I’m retired.
For today’s YouTube video, let’s hear what Smart Girl Philippines has to say about the top ten lies Filipinas are prone to tell. Some things you just have to learn the hard way, but now you can’t say you weren’t warned.
And I’ve got time for some funny business before I go:
Talk about arrested development.Be careful what you wish for, but I guess the husband is doing well now.Are you glad this long-ass post is finally finished?
Me too!
Found this golden oldie in the LTG archives today:
Time marches on, and I’m still hanging on and enjoying the ride after sixty-nine years. I celebrated the milestone of my birthdate with a rooftop gathering at The Rite Spot, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves despite a dreaded storm raining on our parade. There wasn’t much wind, so we managed to hunker down under the awning and stay mostly dry. I have no particular insights or new-found wisdom as I enter the final year of my sixties. I’m slowing down some, but I’m still able to do the things I enjoy, and I hope that continues as I traverse the realm of the elderly. We’ll see how far I can go before I reach the end of the line. I plan to take my time getting there, but you never know. In the meantime, I’ll embrace each day and be glad to have it.
A birthday is, in reality, just another day. This year’s fell on a Tuesday, so the usual Tuesday stuff like grocery shopping was on the agenda. I did make a detour to the local hospital, where I left some blood for a PSA screening. I’m not sure if my recent urination issues are prostate-related, but we’ll see what the results say. I did my shopping at Royal BEFORE hitting the ATM this week because I needed to pee, and when you gotta go, you gotta go. At least I do.
OMG! Breyer’s is my favorite brand of ice cream. And I love Snickers! Was this a sign from God that I should celebrate my birthday with a bowl of this?Nope, turns out I don’t love it THAT much.
Back home from the grocery store and Swan and some of her female family were busy in the kitchen preparing a feast for the upcoming party.
Meat on a stick ready to be grilledCordon bleuFilipino-style ribs in the panSo much cooking going on that an extra stovetop was set up in the carportSwan’s sis-in-law having a snack (rice is finger food here)Winging itLumpiaRibs ready to rollI contributed a pot of chili to the effortAnd cornbread muffins
There were a couple of other Filipino favorites, bopis (grilled liver) and something called dinuguan (pork blood stew). As you might imagine, I didn’t sample either.
Upstairs, the decorating was in the capable hands of Inday.Nicely done!The view from The Rite Spot when the party got started.Will the weather hold?The early birdsMeat on the grillTrouble brewing on the horizonBut on we partiedMatt, recently returned from a visit to the USA, gifted me this nifty shirt.One of my cakes had the age I identify as being correctly displayed.Dave and Jo brought a cake from the Hash. They also made it clear that I’ll be getting the real Hash cake on Monday.Michael was also celebrating his August 27 birthday…he’s got five years on me though.It was also a welcome home party for Matt.Blowing the candlesRainy night eats
As bad as the rain was, after the party ended we had downpours that lasted all night. I canceled the Wednesday Walkers group hike because where you gonna go in flood conditions?
We are in the Orange Zone. So, I was prepared to just be lazy today. Hey, when you are 69, any excuse will do!
So, I guess being another year older is as good an excuse as any to take a journey through the past. Feel free to scroll ahead:
The early days. I’ll never forget how hot that photographer looked.(1957)Rafting on the Kern River(1959)Camping in the desert (1961)Escorting my grandmother at my brother’s wedding (1972)High school graduate (1973)California dreamer (1974)Husband and daddy (1976)A family man in Prescott, Arizona (1978)Single again in Pocatello, Idaho (1981)A redneck in South Carolina (1987)Climbing the bureaucratic ladder in Roanoke, VA (1990)Hanging out in Istanbul (2004) The Korea lifestyle (2009)At the end of a long career with Uncle Sam (2010)Dreaming of being a professional darter (2012)A visit to Japan (2013)The Itaewon lifestyle (2014)Back to work in Korea (2016)What I’ve become (2024)
Wow, that was exhausting. Okay, let’s move on.
Lies then and nowAnd for some reason, the military can’t meet it’s recruitment needs. Draft the immigrants?
Okay, enough politics. In today’s YouTube video, let’s see what the Filipina Pea has to say about choosing the wrong type woman in the Philippines.
Let’s try the humor:
Yeah, that’s a good pointIt takes a lot of balls to golf the way I doDo magazines even exist anymore?
Well, I’m not sure what to make of Day 1 on the road to seventy. Am I lazy or old? Probably both. Nothing to do but stick around and see what happens next.
I guess a downside to routines is engaging in unhealthy ones. Or maybe it is the genes I wear. My mother was diabetic and eventually died from congestive heart failure. Dr. Jo advises that the path I’m currently walking will likely lead to full-blown diabetes and kidney damage. Not the news I was hoping for.
Doctor’s orders
Perhaps it is not too late to change the road I’m on. I must limit my sodium intake to less than 2 grams daily. That means diet discipline I haven’t been able to muster recently, but oddly enough, I now feel a strong motivation to do so. Kidney failure and the resulting dialysis would be a nightmare that would be difficult for me to endure. The memories of my mom doing insulin injections are also nothing I want to replicate. Dr. Jo has doubled my metformin dose and wants to see me again on Friday to check my progress. My primary outward symptom is the swelling in my lower legs from fluid retention. This also puts a strain on my kidneys.
So, I’m overdue on taking positive steps to maintain my health. Hopefully, it is not too late.
Went out for a bit last evening with Swan. Started at Green Room and played a game of pool for the first time in a long while and was as crappy as I always was.
I won’t be quitting my day job, that’s for sure.
We finished up at Wet Spot, where Swan chatted with her friend Aine and I enjoyed Daddy Dave’s company. We grabbed some takeout at Sit-n-Bull (I had a healthy Salisbury steak). I went to bed early as usual, but now I sleep with my legs elevated on a pillow, which is supposed to help reduce the swelling.
And so begins the first day of the rest of my life.
Quora Q&A:
Q: What was it like on your last working day before you retired? Were you happy or sad to be leaving? Are you enjoying retirement or would you like to go back to work?
A: My last day at work was all about goodbyes, so that part was sad. I knew it was unlikely that I’d see most of these people I had worked with and cared about for years ever again. When my last workday ended, I left the office and went straight to the airport, where I got a plane to begin my new life in the Philippines. That was the exciting part of my last day as a working man. I am enjoying my retirement. I still miss the people but not so much the work.
Looking back, I regret that I didn’t live in the moment more during my last years in Korea. Too much looking back in sorrow and dreaming of a better future to appreciate the life I was living at the time.
I could use a laugh or two, how about you?
Maybe he was Middle Earth’s Jesus.Book ’em, DanoReturn to sender, address unknown.Get it while you can!
Sorry for the downer of a post today. It will get better. Or I’ll die trying.
At least for the time being. My grand plan for walking the My Bitch trail to yesterday’s Hash start didn’t make it out of the neighborhood. One small uphill had me gasping for air and feeling lightheaded. I decided that nothing good would come of possibly passing out and falling into a ravine with no one around to rescue me, so I took the next best alternative and walked the streets to the Barretto High School starting point. I also accepted that my shortcut plan, which included a hill climb, was beyond my current capabilities, so I crafted my own trail on flat pavement. I still managed almost 7K, so I wasn’t a total wuss.
My tentative plan is to visit the pulmonary doctor at Baypointe Hospital on Thursday. I’ve mentioned before that you can’t make an appointment to see a doctor in these parts (well, Dr. Jo is an exception)–you just show up and wait your turn. I hate that system, but I have no other viable option, and I really want to fix whatever it is that ails me. Assuming it can be fixed. Either way, I want to know what the future holds.
I made it to the start……and finished at the end. Everything in between I was on my own.It’s been a while since we have enjoyed a Hash on the beach.McCoy’s did a good job as first-time hosts. This pig dropped by for a visit. I’ve seen him wandering around on the beach before. I think he believes he’s a dog.A couple of gals were celebrating birthdays…so we doused them in beer……and made them a cake!And so ended run #1590 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.
After the Hash, Chief Tucker Fucker, our Hash beermeister, joined Swan and me at Subiza Resort, which is also on Baloy, to finalize plans for them to host the March 11 On-Home event. Once the details were worked out, we ordered some dinner.
A marinated chicken breast for me…And pizza for the rest.
I think Subiza could be one of our better On-Home venues—plenty of space, comfortable facilities, and right on the bay. We’ll find out soon enough.
Our view from Subiza of the full moon risingfrom behind Kalaklan Ridge.
I’m one of the Hare’s for the March 11 run. My goal is to be healthy enough to do my part.
Oh, and I learned something new today—well, at least the term for it–a Grocer’s Apostrophe. The link is to a website called Grammar Monster. How scary is that? Anyway, I fuck up apostrophes with some regularity, but not on the scale of my comma errors. Still, it was a good read, even if the lesson doesn’t take in my addled brain.
You talkin’ to me? New signage at Harley’s Pub.
Today’s Quora Q&A is presented without apology:
Q: How would a 6’0 ft tall man and a 5’7 ft tall woman look like next to each other?
A: The man would look three inches taller. Unless the woman was wearing high heels…
Your daily dose of humor, like it or not:
Let’s hope he makes it to Easter…Hope he doesn’t grow up broke…Looks like she made an ass of you…
Okay, I am working my way through a mostly lazy Tuesday now. I’ll find the strength to make it out to the Kokomo floating bar later, though. You’ve got to enjoy life while you can, right?
Welp, for the first time in several years I had a girlfriend to share the love on Valentine’s Day. I mentioned yesterday how the day got off to a dismal start and a canceled hike, but things took a turn for the better as the day progressed.
I’d posted on John Kim’s Facebook page that I’d be coming to his restaurant for dinner. An acquaintance asked if he and his girl could join us, and I said sure. He suggested 7 p.m., and I agreed, even though that’s a tad late to get started for an early bird like me. But I’d promised Swan some live music at Queen Victoria, and the band starts at 8:30, so the later dinner hour was a good fit. We left the house a little before 6 p.m. so we could avoid walking in the dark. I figured I’d pass the time until dinner hour with some San Miguel Zeros.
A sexy street walker
When we arrived at John’s place, we took a table on the second floor. John greeted us and mentioned we were earlier than he expected, and I told him we just wanted to get a good seat. As we waited, several other diners arrived, including a couple of folks I know, but most of them went upstairs to the third-floor open-air bar to dine.
John came out and chatted with us and the guests at another table. He’s still not doing all that well, but he was up and moving about, which is better than I’d seen in quite some time.
So, I got a message from my supposed dinner companions around 6:30, saying they’d be arriving “around 7:20.” Hmm. I responded that we were already there waiting and had after-dinner plans, so we would have to reschedule for another time. Oh well.
Our dinner portrait.The special was an Australian T-Bone steak for 995 pesos. I asked about a USDA ribeye, but it was out of stock. My problem with Aussie beef is that it is always tougher than what I prefer. Sadly, this steak was no exception to that rule. Swan had the beef tenderloin. I took a taste, and it was very tender and tasty. Damn, I made the wrong call.
After dinner, we caught a trike to Queen Victoria.
I got Swan her Valentine’s flower along the way.Our Queen Vic selfie.
We watched the band warm up, and I was surprised there were no female members. Swan was familiar with the group, called Engine, and said they play hard rock exclusively. They definitely played loud. That’s the problem with most bar bands–inadequate sound mixing just leads to noise. I could see that the guitarist was quite talented in the guitar solos. The singer appeared to be good, too, but unfortunately, he was usually drowned out by the other instruments. I had heard raves about Engine being the best bar band around, but for the most part, I was disappointed.
Engine in action. We left after the first set.
Despite my grumpy old man criticisms, it was nice to be out on a date with my girl doing something she had been looking forward to. On the way home, she thanked me for staying out late with her. Late, in this case, was 9:30, but that was out of the norm for me.
Of course, I won’t need a VD excuse to spend more quality time with Swan in the days ahead. It’s nice to have a girlfriend.
In an odd coincidence, Facebook memories shared a moment from one year ago–my last barfine (i.e., paying to take a bargirl home with you).
She helped me walk the dogs the next morning.
I don’t even remember her name now. She was shy and new to the bar. One of her conditions was there would be no boom-boom (intercourse), and I agreed to those terms. For me, it was about the companionship more than the sex anyway. She was a sweetie, and I enjoyed cuddling with her all night. She left the bar shortly thereafter and moved back home to the province. She wasn’t really cut out to be a bargirl.
Today’s Quora Q&A (I’m not sure if I mentioned, I’m just taking the answers I’ve given over the years in chronological order. This one is from May 2022):
Q: Would you press a button that gives you 100 million dollars, but would take away 2% of your memory?
A: I forget.
Yeah, thousands of comedians are out of work, and I’m trying to be funny, right? Well, how about these:
I would just catch a trike.There are lots of exes on my graph, too…
The immigration office showed me some love in the form of a 60-day extension to my tourist visa. I filled my cart with overpriced groceries at Royal and refrained from purchasing my dietary nemesis–ice cream. Then back home for a nap and a blog, filling the hours until it was beer o’clock. And with me being a creature of routine, I headed out to spend Tuesday evening on Baloy Beach, starting at the Kokomo’s floating bar.
Waiting for transport.The eye in the skyThis Military Sealift Command (MSC) supply ship has been anchored in the bay for a couple of weeks now. Not sure what’s up with that.Yeah, it looks like THAT is gonna happen again.I guess when a certain song plays (Cha Cha Slide), the girls all spontaneously get up and start dancing. At least they did yesterday.Where ya goin’?It was nice hanging out with Hash buddy Steve (behind Swan) and the Kokomo’s owner (also Steve) with his back to the camera. The empty stool is my seat. I guess you could say it was even-steven.Me and that girl.Looks like it is dinner time!
So, we headed over to Treasure Island for some grub.
Swan had a Belgian sandwichAnd I did the pulled pork.Ain’t we sweet?
After we got back home, things went a little bit south. I woke up in the night with the uncomfortable feeling that comes with inadequately oxygenated blood. My oximeter confirmed with a reading of 88. I used my nebulizer to little effect, so I fired up the oxygen tank and got the reading up to 97. I went back to bed but couldn’t sleep because of a symphony of wheezing noises when I exhaled. In desperation, I slapped on my headphones to drown out that obnoxious sound, but Stephen Stills couldn’t put me to sleep either. Up once more and messed around on the internet for a while, then saw my blood oxygen was back down to 91. Sucked in some air from the tank again and finally went to sleep a bit after four
I felt better enough this morning to move forward with plans to join the Wednesday Walkers on a hike to Bolon Falls. But while walking the dogs, I had another breathing attack and prudence dictated that I cancel. I am hoping this too shall pass. And I don’t.
I’m taking Swan to dinner tonight for VD at John’s place. Then we will enjoy some live music at Queen Victoria for as long as I can hold out.
Today’s Quora Q&A:
Q: Are you happy that you waited until 65 to retire or do you wish you had done so earlier in your career?
A: I actually retired the first time at 55. I went back to my old job five years later and worked another three before retiring for good at 63. I have no regrets about either decision. The sooner, the better (provided you can afford to) is always the best option, in my opinion. I knew I didn’t want to be that guy who died at his desk.
Here’s a smile or two for you:
You’d be a dope not to.I sure do miss my ice cream…
Here’s that song the girls on the floater can’t stop dancing too:
I was feeling lazy yesterday morning, and I blame that on Friday’s overexertion. I overcame the urge to say fuck it and skip my daily hike and instead confined myself to the neighborhood for a relatively leisurely 5K stroll.
Looking up at The Rite Spot from the street below.Passed by my former residence on Shenandoah Bend.My first house in Alta Vista where I resided from 2018-2021.And finally home sweet home again.I managed to cover most of the subdivision on my walkabout.
I was feeling hungry when I arrived back home, and Swan happily prepared some lunch for me.
Should have spun the plate around and gotten a better shot of the burger. It was quite tasty.
I had a dinner date scheduled with Tom and his gal Kate later in the afternoon. I had invited them up to enjoy The Rite Spot On the Roof after our meal. So, I did some final preparations in anticipation of their arrival last evening.
Installed my new signageAnd a solar panel to light the stairsReady to party!
Tom is retired from the CIA and still does security consulting in the Philippines and other parts of Asia. We hold similar viewpoints on the disaster our elites are imposing on the USA, and he has lots of stories to tell about the things he’s seen and done (nothing classified, of course). And we’ll leave it at that to protect his privacy. When he arrived to pick us up for our dinner on SBMA, he informed me that he had been contacted by one of his clients and had scheduled a meeting with him after our dinner. So, the Rite Spot will have to wait for another day.
Seoul is my favorite Korean restaurant. I’d never been on a Saturday night and was shocked to see the place was packed. Luckily, we only had to wait a few minutes for a table.Tom and KateSwan and KateMe and SwanSamgyeopsal on the grill. I prefer the thick cut, but I deferred to my dinner companions preferences.Our other main course was bulgogi stew, the best I’ve found in the area. I miss those shoestring mushrooms that were prevalent in Korea, but other than that, it was close to perfect.And, of course, we splurged on side dishes.The happy double date diners.
All that food plus three beers came to a whopping 2100 pesos (40 bucks). Only in the Philippines!
After dinner, Tom dropped Kate and us off at Wet Spot while he went on to take care of business. Looking forward to having them up on the roof one day soon.
We went home and watched “Shameless” until I fell asleep on the couch, went to bed, and woke up to another day in paradise. And the wheel in the sky keeps on turning.
We didn’t need Spock to know that. Just listen to her talk.I hope he has at least one night stand.
My immediate future includes the Sunday feeding at Hideaway and a sunset on the Arizona floating bar. Back tomorrow with a full report.
Today’s song is something a bit different. A friend sent me this video of a singer who goes by Skuzz Twittly. I’d never heard of him before, but I found the song hilarious. Yeah, it’s “Cuntry” music, but it lasts less than three minutes and is worth the time. Give it a listen:
Yesterday was another milestone on my journey to find domestic bliss. It looked like this:
Swan joined me for a morning candy walk on the streets of Barretto.Down we go in search of kiddies to treat.Here’s someNot so many kids around as I expected. Apparently, school was not out like we thought.We still found some scattered about the ‘hoods we walked through.But a lot of empty spaces, too.An Easter mountain glimpse from a different vantage point.We did a 5K street walk then called it quits. Had some breakfast at Jewel Cafe, then headed home.We felt lazy and took a trike home.
And when beer o’clock came around, something strange (for me) happened. I felt no desire to go hit the bars in town. Why should I when I had a beer in the fridge and a rooftop to enjoy them on?
The Rite Spot for evening views like this one.The sun went down……and the flames went up.Swan’s kitchen was open and she served me this delicious bowl of bulgogi.On the other side of the roof, a full moon was rising.Swan chatting with the neighbors. Alan next door said he reads my blog, so I’ll give him a shout-out here.Swan chillin’ in her rocker with a glass of wine.Enjoying the gathering darkness.
Later, I went back downstairs for another dose of “Shameless.” I woke up in the wee hours as usual and noticed the moon had completed its journey to the front side of my house.
Nice to see you again.
Anyway, I enjoyed my stay-at-home night, and I will make some room for more in the future. It was a very nice change of pace, that’s for sure.
A LONG hike today and I’m feeling a little wiped out, but I’m going to try and do the SOB. Or not. We’ll see. It’s good to have options!
We’ll see how that works out for me.It looks great. Can I talk you out of it?
I’m going to do an unrelated song for today in honor of Melanie, who died yesterday. I wasn’t a big fan like I am with Ronstadt, but she was talented and lived a good life. RIP.
Well, perhaps that’s a bit of an overstatement, but I did enjoy a fine night out with Swan yesterday. Her shift at work ended at four, so I joined her at the Subiza Resort around 3:30. I had a beer while I waited and took in the view.
Subiza is on the water but has no beach. I think I would be happy living in that yellow house next door.And the view of Barretto Beach from the Baloy side of the bay.
I finished my beer, Swan finished work, and we walked the block down the road to McCoy’s to enjoy some beach views. Sadly, McCoy’s didn’t have wine, so Swan had the rare (for her) beer.
The beach when we arrived.This couple came in shortly after we arrived. The guy (yeah, I’ve already forgotten his name) was very friendly, and we had a pleasant chat. He lives part-time in the PI and has a place in Florida, but will be moving here permanently in August. That’s his wife of 48 years with him. He told me that they met on the Navy base in 1971. She worked there, and he served on the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft carrier that frequently visited the Subic Bay naval base.They met, fell in love, raised some kids, and now they plan to spend the golden years back where it all began. A sweet love story, for sure.We’ve only just begun.The view as we departed McCoy’s.
It was time for dinner, and Swan suggested we return to Subiza and eat there. I’d never eaten there, so I figured, why not give it a try?
Hmm, if you can’t spell “burrito” I’m not willing to see if you can cook one.In going on sixty-nine years of living here on Earth, this is the first time I’d seen a Sri Lankan menu. And no, I was not adventurous enough to give one of these dishes a try.I went with a grilled pork chop and it was not bad.I also had an order of honey garlic chicken wings, and they were outstanding.Swan shared a pizza with her co-worker. Yes, that’s pineapple. Filipinas love pineapple on their pizza.A profile of my date.Face-to-faceAnd togetherThe view from our dinner table.And a moonshot.
We had talked about finishing the evening with a nightcap at Snackbar, but as we walked up the road, we mutually agreed to head back home instead. Some snuggle time on the couch watching “Shameless.” The next thing I remember is Swan waking me up to come to bed. And so ended our date night.
Facebook memories featured this photo I’d posted ten years ago. The photo itself is from 1986 when I was making the move from Oklahoma to South Carolina, and that required transporting my daughter’s horse.
It was a whole other life back then.
One of my favorite fantasies is having a “do-over” time travel adventure. I’d go back, knowing everything I know now, and see what good that did me when I encountered those crossroads that required making a life-changing decision. Would I make better choices? Only one way to find out, and I don’t have a time machine. So, I’ve been using my imagination. I’d definitely be investing heavily in tech stocks like Google and Microsoft when they had their IPOs. If I suddenly disappear, now you know what happened.
This one left me feelin’ groovy.Man, I hate when that happens.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for today. Come back tomorrow for another heaping helping of my so-called life.
Last night we attended the birthday party for Dr. Jo’s husband, Chris. The party was held at the Pinatubo Brewery in San Marcelino. I’d heard of it, but never been, so I was looking forward to the visit.
It was around 25K, but my driver, Danny, got us there and back safely.Swan dresses up nicely.What a lucky girl!The actual brewery is downstairs. The second floor is the bar/restaurant where the party was held.The bar areaDining/drinking tablesOverlooking a cornfield on one side.And the mountains in San Antonio, on the otherThat’s the birthday boy on the right…The beer menu
When I arrived, I jokingly asked the waitress for a San Miguel Zero. She told me I’d have to go to the 7-11 store for that. Obviously, the only beers on offer were those brewed in the building. And although I am a consummate consumer of beer, I am not a connoisseur. Hell, I don’t even know the difference between a pilsner and a lager. Serious beer drinkers deride my usual preferences as “making love in a canoe” (both fucking close to water). Hey, to each his own. So, last night, I was faced with six locally brewed options with no clue as to where to start (the bar did offer a taste of each in a shot glass, but that seemed pointless to me–you haven’t had a beer until you’ve finished the bottle. Chris suggested I try one of his favorites, The Golden Nectar Pilsner, and that’s where I started.
I wanted to do a lager next to see if I could discern any differences from the pilsner, so I did a Crown Lager. It was good, but I couldn’t say that I liked it better than the Golden Nectar, so I had another one of each to help me make up my mind. Chris dropped by to check on my progress and suggested I try one of the dark beers. I said, I don’t like dark beer, and realized how racist that sounded. So, I checked my white privilege and ordered a Dark Angel Lager.
The Dark Angel wasn’t bad, either. I only had one, so I guess you could say it was a token.Ultimately, I deemed the Crown Lager my favorite and drank that flavor exclusively for the remainder of my visit.The six beer options are poured from kegs in the brewery downstairs. The three I didn’t try were all higher in alcohol volume, and I prefer to stick with lightweight mixtures.
As time went on, I began to feel those pangs of hunger.
The food menu. Oh, did I mention the owner of Pinatubo is a German?
Like the beers, I wasn’t sure what I should order. When I was a kid growing up in Southern Cal, there was a fast food hot dog chain named Der Wienerschnitzel. So, I ordered the Wiener Schnitzel from the menu. Fool that I am, I was expecting a hot dog dish. This is what I got instead:
It was quite tasty, even if it wasn’t a frank.
So, I’m a big fan of open-air bars with a view, and the Pinatubo Brewery provided that. And as an added bonus:
Well done, Mr. Sun.
Anyway, I really enjoyed hanging out at the Pinatubo Brewery last night. I mentioned to Chris that the owner should put up some small cottages to rent for a night for out-of-town guests like me. Another idea I had was that the owner could open a brewery branch in Barretto, and I know just the spot–Subiza! That resort needs a reason to exist, and if they offered freshly brewed craft beers in the open-air setting on the bay, I think it would be a big hit.
Chris and Dr. Jo picked up the tab for everything last night–all the beers and all the food. I’m sure that was a pretty penny for them and much appreciated by their guests. I gave the four waitresses a big tip to thank them for all their hard work serving us. Good times!
The other part of my Friday was the group hike in the morning.
A good turnout with one more arriving after I took this photo.The saddest thing I’ve seen in a long time. There is poor and then there is living under a bridge on the riverside poor. Cookies and lollipops seemed inadequate somehow, but you can’t save everyone.We did some stair work.A barbed view.Some of the group climbed to the top of Black Rock. Some of us took pictures from down below.Trading cookies for smiles.The Easter Mountain shot.
Six years ago I was doing a river hike in Pyeongtaek.
The scenery was a little different than what I’m seeing these days.Spock can be such a killjoy! No laughs for you today, dear readers.
Sometimes, life can be a beach. It was yesterday for me.
It began with walking Swan to work at the Subiza Resort on Baloy. Then, I did a beach walk before returning home.
A morning stroll on Baloy.Not many beachgoers on a Thursday morning.
I had plans to meet Swan at the end of her shift so I headed back to Baloy at beer o’clock. I’ve been wanting to get a feel for how I might like Harley’s as a regular venue for imbibing.
Easy enough to get to from my house.A little over a kilometer away.Let’s go insideDefinitely a pub vibe.A big barI prefer sitting by the dock of the bay, but the best seats were taken at first. I sat behind them, scowling until they got up and left. (not really, but when they did go, I grabbed a seat)The view from here.This beast on the beach was really rockin’ it. The house also intrigued me. It needs some work, but damn, I’d love sitting on that back deck with a cold beer in my hand. Or, I could just come to Harley’s more often for the same view.
I had three or four beers at Harley’s and decided to change things up, so I headed over to McCoy’s.
The passage way to the beach and McCoy’s.You can’t watch the sun go down from Harley’s.Wasn’t that nice?And in a first, I got a pedicure while sipping my beer. I declined her offer for a massage.This little guy kept me company, too.
I chatted with the owner about hosting a Hash On-Home. She was interested but asking for 65 pesos per beer. I told her the most the Hash could pay was 55, and she agreed. We will have our first McCoy’s On-Home on February 26.
Then it was time to head over to Subiza and check in with Swan.
The entrance.The innards.
Subiza was totally devoid of customers at 7 p.m. Swan says there was only one person before I arrived. I have no idea how they stay in business. Or if they will. It had been years since my last visit, and other than Swan, I’d have no reason to return. It’s a nice venue with lots of potential, but I’m not seeing any effort to attract visitors.
My nighttime view from Subiza was pleasant (it is next door to Harley’s).
I asked Swan if she wanted me to order us some food, and she responded, “Let’s eat somewhere else.” Hmm, maybe she knows something about the kitchen I don’t. So, when she got off work we walked up the road to that new restaurant in town for some takeout.
I had the double quarter pounder with fries.
I fell asleep watching “Shameless” again, but all in all, the day was beachy keeno. I’ll have to do it again one day soon.
As much as I love trees, I don’t love them this much. I found this photo online, and the caption was “How paper is made.”Did that guy just commit suicide?Just ask her to make you a sandwich.He’s lucky he didn’t get stoned.If looks could kill, Picard would be a dead man.(did I leave something dangling here?)
I’m off this afternoon to a birthday in San Marcelino. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Yesterday’s big adventure was my weekly shopping excursion to the Royal supermarket on the old Navy base. For no particular reason, I decided to document the trip and share it with you here. You are welcome!
As usual, my driver, Danny, arrived on time and ready to provide transportation.Swan and my helper, Teri, also came along to provide their assistance.It’s about 6K to Royal on the National HighwayA view from the highway along the way.SBMA (the former Navy base) is on the other side of this river. Back in the day, the sailors called it Shit River, apparently because that is what it was full of.SBMA features many good dining options. Since moving here I’ve not tried this Shakey’s. As a kid growing up in Southern Cal, Shakey’s was THE place for pizza. I believe nearly all the USA franchises are closed now, but it remains very popular in the Philippines.A quiet SBMA street. Trikes and Jeepneys are not allowed, and you don’t encounter the shanty towns and squalor so prevalent right outside the gate. I looked at some housing options here before moving, but decided it didn’t feel like living in the Philippines.The BPI ATM at Harbor Point Mall, where I withdraw my weekly supply of cash (40,000 pesos).Next stop, the Royal Duty Free store. Let’s get started!Grab a cart, girls.First things first, Swan’s bottle of wine.I don’t drink much beer at home, but I’ll down a case of Coke Zero every week.Who’s getting the water?Fine, I’ll do it!Restocking my cookies for the kiddies.Food and lodging are part of my helper’s compensation package, so she gets what she needs each week.Same with Swan.Those brownies and muffins ain’t gonna make themselves. I do it the easy way and get good results (or at least no one knows the difference).It stinks having gas while shopping… Joking, I’m looking at salsa options.The healthy sectionMeat and frozen foodsAn overflowing cart at the checkout counter.Ready to pay the piper.Ouch!It’s a good thing I’m “rich”Loaded up and ready to head home with this week’s bounty.And yes, there was indeed some Royal tea in my shopping cart!
But there is more to a Tuesday than shopping alone. There is also drinking to be done, and when beer o’clock rolled around, Swan and I walked to Baloy Beach for our weekly visit to the Kokomo floating bar.
On the raft and heading for the floater!We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the sunset.It was not really crowded when we arrived.But it wasn’t long before another raft load of guests came aboard.Yep, Kalaklan Ridge is still where we left it.When I was house hunting prior to my move, I wanted this place really bad. It was newly built and vacant. But the foreigner who had it built got disappeared and his body never found. The house remains vacant to this day.Time to get started.There you goUntil next timeMe and my gal.
When we departed the floater we headed to Treasure Island for some dinner.
I went with a grilled chicken leg.And Swan enjoyed some fried chicken wings.
It was a nice night out.
I hope there are no spelling errors in this post. You can’t even trust a dictionary these days, it seems:
It reminds me of the time I looked up the definition of “inexplicable,” and it said, “cannot be explained.” So, I still don’t know the meaning of that word.
Some things are better left unshared:
I showed this to Swan, and she laughed and laughed. Then said, “You’ve been warned.”
Sadly, this is a real thing:
It’s especially embarrassing when I’m out in public with the tell-tale wet spot running down my leg.
Don’t worry, I’ve still got the Star Trek memes to share.
And two in the pink…Just show her your fingers, Spock!
I reckon that’s just about enough for today, don’t you?
I usually do a street stroll for my solo Saturday walk, but yesterday I had a hankering to hike the My Bitch trail one last time this year. And once again Swan surprised me by offering to join me. This was especially nice because I get a little nervous alone up in the hills. I just can’t seem to stop my mind from thinking about all the trouble one false step could get me into. Anyway, it’s good to have a companion along on the trail.
Let’s do that Bitch!And just so there is no misunderstanding, this is NOT the bitch I’m referring to…Where the pavement ends and My Bitch begins…Most of the trail has a woodsy feel about it. Some gentle ups and downs, but not an ass-kicker.A cookie delivery to the young girl doing laundry in the creek…There’s that Kalaklan Ridge thing again.The grass is still high in places. Burn, baby, burn!A shady spot to rest.The Easter Mountain shot.The path aheadA Swan in the woods.The best part of the hills versus streets is that you can catch some shade under the trees.Oh yeah, and no cars!Time to step down.On the road again.
It was a pleasant 5K stroll, and Swan seemed to enjoy it. She joined me again this morning but cautioned it was for the last time—this year. Fair enough.
Swan has been joining me for my nighttime activities as well, but advises she’ll be seeking employment in the new year so she is taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time together while she can. I usually leave the house around four and she joins me around six, so I still have time out alone. Last night I hung with Chris and Shyrel at Sloppy Joe’s.
When Swan arrived, I was ready for some dinner. We went to Mylene’s and sat down to order. The waitress advised that the kitchen was swamped with orders and it would be thirty minutes before our meal could be prepared. I didn’t want to wait, so we said next time and got up to leave. The owner apologized, but hey, I appreciated the heads up and was glad they were doing such good business. Oh, and Mike, the fellow WHS grad I met on Friday, was eating there—small-town life in a small-world scenario.
Plan B was Jewel Cafe, a couple of blocks further up the highway. And by golly, right after we sat down, the waitress advised the kitchen was very busy, and it would be thirty minutes before our food would be prepared. It seemed the fates had ruled against dining out with my girl on a Saturday night, so we went to Wet Spot instead. I did order an enchilada from Sit-n-Bull while there, but eating in a bar isn’t as appealing as it might sound.
Naturally, Aine joined us at our table in Wet Spot. I’m fine with that.
I may have had a beer or two over my limit and had a misunderstanding (alright, I was a dick) with Swan after we arrived home. I apologized this morning, and we are back to normal again.
Facebook memories reminded me of my hill climbing in Korea six years ago.
It was a little chillier there.
I’ve resolved to make no resolutions for the new year.
Onward and upward!
In life, you have to be yourself–everyone else is already taken.
A morning valley walk and a pleasant evening eating and drinking at my next-door neighbor’s place. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it!
Gary and Ed were my Friday hiking buddies.Our route took us through a slummy neighborhood we rarely visitBut as usual, the people we encountered were all friendly.Easter Mountain as seen from the valley floorThe floor of which I speakCookie recipientsThrowing shadeA good portion of the year it’s too wet to walk here. No problem yesterday.And after the hike Gary and Ed help me initiate my rooftop table with some beers and chicken nuggets.
Gary came back later and gifted me a case of beer. Said he felt guilty drinking mine without reciprocation. Thanks again!
I fired up the oven and prepared some stuff to share at the cookout party next door.
Corn bread muffins(OMG! I just now noticed there is a fly on one of these. Yuck!)And brownies
There were no leftovers, so I’ll take that as a positive sign they turned out good. (The flies liked them for sure!)
I was one of the early arrivals. We gathered round a table outside, had some chat, and watched the sun go down.
The guy seated on the right also lives in Alta Vista and is currently in the early stages of building a house on my old street, Shenandoah Bend. But the coincidences didn’t end there. As we became acquainted, it turned out he also grew up in Southern California. When he mentioned he graduated from Westminster High School, I about fell out of my chair. So did I! His name is Mike Smith, and he graduated in 1966. I finished in 1973, so we didn’t attend together. Still, we shared memories of the local haunts and hangouts in our neck of the woods. He was professionally involved in the music industry and talked about many of the famous bands he worked with. I’m not sure what the odds of meeting a fellow WHS Lion in the PI might be, but it must be astronomical.
My neighbor Jeff shares the same view from his house as I do, but I’m rarely home at this time of day. Here’s one of the beer o’clock sun shortly after my arrival.Going……going……gone!Jeff firing up the grillSome appetizers…Hanging outA group shotDinner is served. The meat was outstanding, and I especially enjoyed Jeff’s twice-baked potato, his specialty.
And then the music box turned into a videoke machine. That’s usually not to my liking, but the volume was kept at a reasonable level.
And these two lasses were amazing singers. Honestly, the best videoke performance I’ve ever heard. They sounded like professionals. Well done!
It was nice to stumble on home when my night was over. A little too drunk to do anything but go to sleep, but it was a nice change of pace to take a night off from the bars. Swan wants to get one of those music machines for our rooftop, so I reckon there will be some drunken singing in my future. Nothing wrong with that. Unless you’re my neighbor. But I’ll fix that by inviting him to join us.
So, I’m taking a break from the Star Trek humor today.
I never said I wouldn’t be punny!
I guess that’s just about enough for now. I’ll post tomorrow, but then I’m taking a break from blogging until next year.
As days go, yesterday was a good one. Swan told me she was going to go to Olongapo to look for a table and chairs for our rooftop. I suggested she check out Waltermart in Subic instead. Then I said, “Let’s walk there,” and she surprisingly agreed. So, off we went.
Off we go!An Easter Mountain viewOn the streets of San IsidroA cookie deliveryOn a country roadWhat more do you need?Profound words in a nation known for its littered streets.A neutered tree.Easter’s ass sideOn the Govic HighwayA Fiesta subdivisionLife on the riversideSwan on a bridgeOn the streets of barangay Magnan Vaca in Subic townArriving at our destination at last!The way we wentThe stats from our walk
Swan says she’s never walked that far before, and she was pretty wiped out when we were finished. Kudos to her for making the effort. We’ll see if I can get her out again sometime in the future.
Our trip was not in vain as I purchased a table and six chairs for my rooftop.
I called my driver to carry us and the furniture back home. I also had him stop at Barretto’s newest eatery so we could grab some lunch.
Yep, yesterday was the grand opening of our McDonald’s franchise.My celebratory lunch: Quarter Pounder, fries, apple pie, Coke Zero, and a chocolate sundae for dessert.
I guess I must hate myself if this meme on Facebook is to be believed:
After our healthy meal (Swan had chicken), we carried the new furniture up the stairs.
Up we go, with Lucky and Buddy supervising the effort.Set up and ready for a party!The view from the roof
Swan rested most of the afternoon, and I headed out at beer o’clock for Cheap Charlies. I enjoyed some cold liquid refreshment, and then I moseyed over to John’s place to meet Swan for some dinner.
I was planning on getting a pulled pork sandwich, but as I perused the menu, the Philly cheesesteak called out to me.
I wasn’t disappointed. Swan had a lamb burger and said it was good.
We did our nightcap at Alaska Club, bought some lady drinks for our waitresses, then called it a night.
Good times!
And then I woke up to another fine morning.
I always give the boys a few minutes of leash freedom during the morning dog walk.
It’s Friday, but I won’t be going out tonight. Got an invite from the guy next door to join them for a cookout and it didn’t seem neighborly to decline. I’ll be bringing a batch of brownies and some cornbread muffins as my contribution to the meal. And beer, of course.
Hope to see you back here tomorrow for another update.
And hopefully plenty more to come. Here’s how the Eve of Christmas Eve went down.
It should come as no surprise that my day started with a hike. Saturday is one of my solo days, but I did change the trail I walk for variety’s sake, and it turned out to be a pleasant 8K jaunt.
I took a little used backway out of the neighborhood. It was totally overgrown where the pavement ended, but I waded through the tall grass by virtue of where I remembered the trail to be. That could have ended badly, but it didn’t.Here’s something you don’t see every day. I guess the rainy season is really over.The backside of my house as seen from the street below.A San Isidro street sceneCrossing Bridge #3FarmlandA low-rent rendezvousNarrowing my optionsBack on the highwayDetouring to the seldom visited Purok 13 to make a cookie deliveryMission accomplishedThe map of my journey
As I am wont to do, I finished my hike at Sit-n-Bull to grab some lunch to go.
I sat down near the dessert refrigerators and the last of the pecan pies called out to me to be rescued.And so I did.Sit-n-Bull has a great crew of waitresses. For some reason, they all looked a little horny yesterday.My El Padre burrito is on the plate and ready to be devoured.
When it was time for me to head into town for my imbibing ritual, Swan said she would join me later when she finished a kitchen project (yes, she is a good cook, too.) I hadn’t visited Cheap Charlies in a while, so I started there.
The view on my wayAnd the view from Cheap Charlies
I, of course, bought my two regulars, Alma and Nerissa, a lady drink. And I gave them both a generous “Merry Christmas” tip when I departed. I had seen my neighbor and fellow Hasher Simon (Leech My Nuggets) on the rooftop of BarCelona, so I decided to join him there for my next beer.
I hadn’t noticed that Simon’s wife was with him, but they graciously allowed me to join them at their table.
My BarCelona view. That’s Cheap Charlies on the right.The after sundown view.
Swan joined me at BarCelona and met Simon and the wife, who is also a Hasher. Swan will be attending tomorrow’s special Christmas Candy Run, and I’m looking forward to having her there.
After a couple more beers, I was ready for a change of scenery, so we moved downstairs to Alaska. We were the only customers when we arrived, and as I sometimes do, I rewarded the eight dancers on stage for their efforts with a 50 peso tip. My regular waitresses also joined Swan and me at our table for a drink.
Me and my gal.With our Alaska tablemates.
I’m happy that Swan gets along with the bargirls and doesn’t display any signs of jealousy or the like. I’ve told her she is always welcome to join me when I’m out in the bars, but if she would rather not, I’m totally fine with that, too. Swan says during Christmas break, when she has no tutoring duties to perform, she wants to spend the time with me. Ain’t that sweet?
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot and treated Aine and Irene to a lady drink before departing for home.
I was welcomed home to this blueberry cheesecake Swan had prepared before coming out to join me.It was so yum I couldn’t resist having two slices.
And now it is Christmas Eve. In Filipino culture, this is a bigger day than Christmas itself. Families gather together and stay up until midnight to celebrate the birth of Christ. Swan will be spending the night with her family in Subic. I was invited to join them, but that’s really not my thing. I’m sending a batch of brownies in my place. I’m going to maybe invite them here to my place for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
I’ll be attending the Hideaway Bar Christmas party this afternoon and will, of course, be conducting the regular Sunday feeding.
My seat at the party has been reserved!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Just filling in the hours, however comfortably and well.
Only me and Gary showed up for the Friday group hike, but we put in our steps with a pleasant walk through Matain, Calapacuan, San Isidro, and Santo Tomas. Here’s some of what we saw along the way:
Opening next week!Let’s get outta town!The subdivision streets are better than the highway.I can see Alta Vista from here! (on the hill in the background)A dirty roadA nice view of the Kalaklan ridgeline.A narrow trail lined with water hoses.We call it Black Rock for a reason.Some off pavement funThe rest of the groupA brief visit to the Govic HighwayA bloomin’ good timeA familiar viewA familiar bridge (#2)A San Isidro backstreetBaskets for sale. There’s a trike under there somewhere.I can see my house from Bridge #1.“Downtown” Santo TomasI paused at the fish market to get a picture and the gal in the blue apron greeted me with a hearty “hello, sir John.” Then she asked me if I was feeling better after the operation. I’m standing there thinking, who the hell is this? She looked vaguely familiar and I assume at one time she must have worked in a bar I frequent, but where and when I have no clue. That actually happens to me quite often.Heading back home to BarrettoJust shy of 8K start to finish
A healthy start to the day. How did it finish? Like this:
I began my Friday evening with an invite to the Alley Cats bar for their Christmas party. It’s been a while since my last visit, and there has been an almost complete turnover in staff. The same owners and the dart players were all familiar, so catching up with folks was nice. The party was supposed to start at five, with a tournament at six. I knew I wouldn’t be participating in dart action, so I planned to meet up with Swan when I left Alley Cats. Alas, there was a delay in the food prep, and folks didn’t start eating until six, so I bailed out on the best part of the party. I did at least contribute a batch of brownies to the mix.
Some of my fellow partygoers.Owners Flor and Dean gifted me with this new cap. Thanks!
Swan messaged that she was with some friends at BarCelona and asked that I meet them there, so off I went.
It’s always pleasant on the rooftop at BarCelona.
After a couple of beers with the group, my missing the food at Alley Cats began to invade my thoughts in the form of hunger pangs. I suggested to Swan that we pay our tab and give Mugshots a try. And that is just what we did.
I’m a very infrequent visitor to Mugshots, even though it is a nice venue with a good kitchen. We ordered up fried chicken wings and buffalo wings. Both were quite tasty. Once again I was surprised that the bar staff, waitresses, and owner all greeted me by name. I mean, it’s nice to be recognized, but a little disconcerting for some reason. Anyway, no other customers during our visit, which doesn’t bode well for a Friday night. Hopefully they did better later.
As is our custom, we headed for home after Mugshots and arrived around 8:30. I caught an episode of “Shameless” then hit the hay.
Oh, speaking of “Shameless,” my fellow traveler Scott sent me a clip from a Season 9 episode (I’m only on Season 6) featuring the late Bob Saget remembering his Navy days in Subic Bay. It’s hilarious and is worth the three-minute investment of time:
And you thought I was bad!
And now it is Saturday. I began the day with a hot cup of coffee and this view from my desk:
I’m trying hard to live in the moment and be glad for the blessings life bestows.
We shall see what the rest of Saturday holds in store. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Don’t you hate when that happens?
And a bonus pun:
I was going to use Jackson Brown’s “The Road” for today’s song, but discovered I’ve used it before. So, here’s another old favorite from the days of my childhood listening along with my daddy’s record player.
There wasn’t much about yesterday that will make it memorable, mostly just more of the same old, same old. A boring 6K solo street walk to start the day, lasagna for lunch, a blog post, and a nap. My plans for the evening included visiting Whiskey Girl to wish my favorites, Jenn and Kim, a merry Christmas. I also baked up a batch of brownies to share with the crew.
The sun started screaming, “It’s beer o’clock!” so I headed into town.
Whiskey Girl doesn’t open until 6:00 p.m., so I sat my ass down at Sloppy Joe’s to wait it out.
It might be said that this was my first beer, but I don’t count that way.After all, practice makes perfect.
My pal Chris and his gal Shie were there, so I had some company I didn’t have to pay for. Chris got control of the music remote and asked what I wanted to hear. I recalled that the forty-first anniversary of the death of Marty Robbins had recently occurred, so I suggested we play one of his songs as a tribute. Judging that the Sloppy crowd might not appreciate old fashioned country western music, I selected a more mainstream tune, “Don’t Worry”:
The song is from 1961, and my father was a big Marty Robbins fan. I still remember him coming home from work, putting an album on the record player, opening a beer, and sitting back in his easy chair to relax and enjoy the music. It’s funny the things you remember from your childhood when some days it’s hard to remember your name.
So, beers were drank, music was played (I also requested some Doors songs), and time passed. A few minutes before six, I headed up the highway to take care of my business at Whiskey Girl. I arrived a couple of minutes early, but the sliding steel door was still closed and locked. Some guy did arrive on a motorbike right at six to open the door, but since none of the staff were waiting to get inside, I knew it was pointless to pursue the effort.
Meanwhile, I got a message from Swan saying she was going to meet Aine at Wet Spot at 7 p.m. Apparently, Aine had asked to “borrow” some money, and Swan had consented to accommodate some, but not all, of the request. What Swan does with her money is none of my business, but we both know it is unlikely ever to be repaid. Anyway, with my Whiskey Girl plans foiled, I told Swan I would see her at Wet Spot.
I arrived at Wet Spot and put my “buy one, get one” coupon to work. I bought Irene, my waitress, a lady drink but when Aine approached the table, I told her Swan would be arriving soon, and she took the hint and departed. When Swan got there, Aine came back, but then one of her regulars arrived, and I was more than happy to have him buying Aine’s lady drinks all night. I used my savings (and a 10% discount coupon) to order dinner for me, Swan and Irene for delivery from Sit-n-Bull. The brownies I’d baked were shared with all the girls and seemed appreciated. We drank until a little after eight, Swan slipped Aine the “loan” in the CR, and we departed for home. I watched another episode of “Shameless” and then enjoyed a good night’s sleep.
As I say, there was nothing special about the day, but nothing wrong with it either. As far as I remember anyway.
My buddy Scott provided me a map of the portions of Kalaklan Ridge that we have Hashed in the past.
End-to-end on the green line is 14K. I’ve walked probably 8K of that trail. So far.
I also seemed to recall that a group that had hiked from Barretto to Angeles City (80K) had used the Kalaklan Ridge trail. Turns out my memory was mostly faulty. They went thisaway:
They did that trek back in 2014. I wish I had been around to join them. Nowadays, if I ever had the gumption to do a multiday hike, I’d need to be able to stay in motels along the way. And have frequent rest stops. I think I could do 10K in the morning and 10K in the afternoon (with a nap in between). So, I could walk to AC in four days under those conditions.
This YouTube video of that adventure is a good watch:
“It took 3 years to find this route, it’s not on any produced maps and only 4 people have the trail. The route is all off road and follows many animal paths and little known trails straight over the top of the Zambales Mountains. This was completed on 25th Feb 2014 and only 4 of us had the courage and ability to undertake it.”
The days when I had the physical ability to tackle a hike this are just a memory now.
In checking for title duplication, I came across this post from 2007 telling the story of my boss’ death and the obituary I wrote. Not all memories are happy ones.
Speaking of memories, Facebook let loose an onslaught of them today:
A darting adventure in Osaka, Japan circa 2011A dart league championship in 2012Hanging with the staff at Shenanigans in 2013.The 8th Army Commanding General, Thomas Vandal, visits our office in 2016. Sadly, he passed away the first year after his retirement.My last Christmas as a working man in Korea, 2017
Time moves on, and perhaps one day, I will look back at the memories I’m making now.
‘Tis the seasonWell, we all know that Eve prefers a snake…
And I didn’t forget your Star Wars Trek pun:
At least they weren’t memes!
Alright then, it’s time to leave the past behind and get on with the rest of today. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!
