…to post about the nothingness of yesterday before getting on with today’s meaninglessness. Don’t worry, I’ll make it as short and painless as possible. Promise!
Grocery shopping in the morning went without incident. I decided to walk the highway home, and I survived. Here are some photos of what I saw along the way:
as a passing lane.
Tuesday afternoon is our Baloy Beach time.
So, the highlights of the Baloy excursion were chatting with Kokomo’s owner, Steve, and later, Treasure Island’s owner, Bret. Bret shared photos of the work taking place at Sloppy Joe’s, and I’m looking forward to visiting when it reopens.
That brings you up-to-date on my so-called life.
I don’t know what was going on with me in the summer of 2008. I had two one-line posts in July, one photo posted in August, and only one post in September, aptly titled “This post’s for you!” I wrote that one from Washington, DC, where I was attending work-related meetings. I mention having just returned from a twelve-day trip in the Philippines, where I had been sick half the time (that used to happen to me a lot as a tourist, I think I eventually learned not to brush my teeth with the tap water). So, I promised to post more regularly, but nothing else was posted in October. Reading the comments from my disappointed (former readers) was both sad and amusing. But this one is worthy of quoting in full here:
or not check back would seem to be the appropriate choice, I’m thinkin at this point….!?!
u would appear, at bottom, to be just another narcissistic dude with a fairly serious drinking problem, seems pretty sure. to actually suggest that ur too busy to check in for an occasional post is both ridiculous and absurd – surely you’ve set aside spare time daily to find a bottle or five to suck on, good money bet on that. makes one wonder what your whole purpose was with this blog thing…..? and just maybe is a clue to your ability to finish or otherwise stick to things you’ve started in life…… and before you knee-jerk some response, you should maybe just check six and think about it…… most of your stuff is just innane foolishness anyway…… an idle curiosity at best.
Browser
I wonder what he would say now that I blog every day? Somehow, methinks he still wouldn’t appreciate it.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay expounds on what it takes to have a great expat experience. I certainly wouldn’t want to try living on $1200 a month here, but I’d probably be okay with $2500. I’m blessed to bring home twice that much, so I live large and try to share the blessings with those less fortunate around me.
Today’s moment of Zen:
I Just Got Lost In Thought. It Wasn’t Familiar Territory.
And humor me these:
And so it went.
A nice but somewhat hazardous walk, what with little to no shoulder along the National Highway. Reminds me of my walk along the South Korean east coast. Lots of traffic, and lots of potential to be love-tapped by passing cars.
The new road down to the Bantay Bayan village is now open.
The road itself looks nice. Too bad no one thought to put in a walking path alongside.
I found it mildly amusing that my hike from Royal to Sit-n-Bull was exactly five kilometers.
5 km with a time of about 1.167 hours = a pace of about 4.3 kph. That’s about my pace, these days, when I’m starting on a long walk. By the end of 25-35 km, my pace slows significantly to under 4 kph, sometimes as low as 3.2.
u would appear, at bottom, to be just another narcissistic dude with a fairly serious drinking problem, seems pretty sure.
As a blogging Zen-teacher acquaintance of mine says, blogging requires a bit of narcissism, and I see the diagnosis of “a fairly serious drinking problem” hasn’t changed over the years, however much you might want to deny/rationalize it. But hey—if you think your liver and kidneys can handle the constant abuse, and you’re okay with the visceral fat twisting its way around your guts (not that I have any moral high ground on that score), then keep right on a-drinking. Only Mother Nature can teach any lessons, and if she’s chosen not to teach you anything, I hope you make it to 85 problem-free. My own experience, though, tells me that no one stays invincible forever, not even people who are still 30 in their own minds.
I wonder what he would say now that I blog every day?
Spot the error!
A Tolkien of my appreciation.
That was a minefield of bad puns.
Still no word from my buddy in Fredericksburg about his wife. He may just be waking up. I expect he’ll write to me once he’s at his office.
Re: video
Generally if you are poor in your home country, you will not be rich in your adopted country. Yeah, directionally, the cost of living will be less, but if you have no backstop, then you are one incident away from a big problem. Said this before, but am always frustrated by people wanting (generic) me to help them because of their own poor planning or poor actions. Always sympathetic but also frustrated.
Brian, yes indeed! I am much more inclined to help down on their luck locals than foreigners who moved here without sufficient funding. That said, sometimes a bad accident or unforeseen health issues can destroy what seemed like sufficient savings account and render one at the mercy of his neighbors. Fortunately, I haven’t seen that happen often in my neck of the woods.
Kev, I recalled your descriptions of dodging cars on the East Coast while walking the highway to Barretto. Crazy drivers here make it worse.
Looking back on those early years in Itaewon has been a little shocking. Copious amounts of full-strength beer AND shots of the strong stuff were the norm, and I frequently kept at it until the wee hours of the morning. I’m a lightweight these days. Home by 8 p.m. and I only drink low-alcohol brews. I know, as a teetotaler, you don’t see it that way, but I’m far from the drunk I used to be. When my lifestyle catches up with me, I will nod and accept your “I told you so” without remorse. More and more, I find it hard to deny myself life’s pleasures, knowing that my time left to enjoy them is rapidly slipping away.
“Spot the error!”
Ah, since it was something I was thinking and not asking, the question mark is inappropriate.
Here’s hoping your buddy’s wife will not suffer any lingering impacts.
Rebecca seems to be okay. They did a bunch of scans and tests, and it turns out to have been dehydration, which messed with her blood pressure. Fluctuating BP caused her stroke-like symptoms (dizziness, cognitive impairment, etc.).
Kev, glad it wasn’t worse. That BP thing seems to be a common factor in all the cases I’ve heard about.
Long time reader, haven’t visited in a while.
Glad to see that you’re keeping up with your correspondence, as it were.
As you may recall, I was one of the readers who showed no enthusiasm when you settled down with your lady. And I come here to celebrate your success 🙌
But of course it’s no coincidence that your readership may have dropped, or at least changed demographics. Now that you’re a man settled down, there’s less drama and conflict to write about, fewer bar visits and new random characters introduced, and there’s only so much information you can convey to a potential tourist when you’re living the sedate married life.
I say all this because I am still shocked at what Browser wrote all those years ago. Last year I think you attracted some political commentary that animated the blog for a while. But to imagine there was once a time when you were berated for not writing on your own blog; I am shocked. What was he even thinking 🤔 Writing daily is hard
And yet you keep writing ✍️ My gratitude and admiration will never cease. You inspire me to pick up a pen and write, starting with just my grocery list. There’s something soothinng and invigorating about writing down one’s thoughts daily.
and for those who miss the drama, let me say that Joy – she of the feeding scheme- has gotten fat. We’ve all gotten fat, but I don’t have a mirror and I have a side-by-side photos of Joy’s face. Boom! There’s some drama for you addicts
Again, thank you for the daily writing ✍️
Nice to hear from you again, James. Thanks for the feedback.
Yes, without the stories of debauchery in the bars, one-night stands, and transactional relationships, the blog has become both a bore to write and for others to read. How much can you say about a candy walk, floating bars, and the sunset?
It’s been shocking to see that I’d go weeks at a time between posts during my drunken Itaewon life all those years ago. These days, the blog is as much a diary as anything, and I try to post something even when I have nothing worthy to write about. I’m very grateful for the handful of readers that remain!
Yes, I met Joy when she was hired for her first job in a bar that no longer exists five years ago or so. She was a hottie back then, but she has grown with time. I guess those weekly feedings of mine haven’t helped in that regard. She has a good heart, though.
Thanks again for being a faithful reader here at LTG!