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

And the feeding continued later at Hideaway.

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

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

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

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

Sometimes, the memories hurt. Like this one:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I discovered a depiction of the hierarchy of humor:

Here, I’ll prove it to you:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that was how my Friday began.

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

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

And now it is on to the humor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Man: Haven’t I seen you someplace before?

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

Man: Is this seat empty?

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

Man: Your place or mine?

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

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

Woman: I’m a female inpersonator.

Man: Hey baby, what’s your sign?

Woman: Do not enter.

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

Woman: Unferrtilized.

Man: Your body is like a temple.

Woman: Sorry, there are no services today.

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

Woman: But would you stay there?

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

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

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

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

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

Q: Why is Route 66 famous?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do I have to complain about?

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

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

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

She said..You wear briefs, don’t you

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

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

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

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

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

She said.. Well, you succeeded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ready for some Quora Q&A?

Q: Do people of the Philippines have pale skin?

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s effort at humor:

Back with more of this goodness tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about a nice political meme?

How about some memories?

And now for the Quora Q&A:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With my duty done, I headed for the beach.

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

And so ended another day in paradise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It seemed funny at the time.

Alright, time for today’s Quora Q&A:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Long Time Gone, January 1, 2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

To the Quora Q&A then:

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

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

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

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

Time for some humor:

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

Some of us old fogeys were still feeling the effects of Monday’s Hash trail, so we voted for a flat route for the Wednesday Walkers group hike. We elected to do a circumnavigation of the Naugsol Valley, and it proved to be a hot and tiring but enjoyable 8K jaunt. We concluded our journey with some beers and snacks at The Rite Spot.

And then there’s that other part of my life that fills the evening hours. I got a haircut yesterday, and my barber is on the Subic side of the river. Given our proximity, I took Swan to see Smokes and Bottles. I’d only ever been there for the Hash On-Home and I’d been wanting to pop in for a visit as a customer.

Smokes and Bottles is not a bad venue, but it could be better. My beer was warm, so I had to drink it on ice. We were told there was live music at eight, but there was no music in the interim. I do appreciate some background noise, as long as it isn’t too loud. A couple more fans might have been nice, too. Anyway, we stayed for a couple of drinks and enjoyed some chicken fingers as a snack. It was dark when we departed, so we caught a trike back into town. Did a visit to Green Room and then finished the night at Wet Spot. Had an interesting chat with Daddy Dave and he bought a round of drinks, so it was a good visit. Then it was off to home, and some sugar-free pudding for my bedtime treat.

Facebook reminded me what I was doing six years ago:

On to today’s Quora Q&A adventure:

Q: Besides being older and not having to work, what are some of the differences between being retired and being a single man?

A: I am retired and I am single. So, there is no difference. It’s all the same. Day after glorious day.

I’m in a relationship now, but still not complaining…

This is the best humor I could come up with today. Sorry in advance:

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Started with a candy walk and ended with a dinner party. Life is good.

Later, we hoofed it out to Baloy and visited Steve and Viola’s place for a small dinner gathering.

So, there was grilled chicken and pork, a chicken curry dish, and sides like salad, cole slaw, and potato salad. The cornbread muffins I contributed seemed popular.

The food was good, the beer was cold, and the company was entertaining. A few beers in, and us menfolk started talking politics and the fucked up mess the world has become. Steve’s an Aussie, but his Prime Minister is apparently almost as bad as Biden. Here’s to hoping the voters wake up from their ignorance and elect some new leadership. I’m not holding my breath, though.

The day was better than this post. I got so bored writing it that I had to take a nap. I’m back now, so bear with me.

Speaking of politics, here’s the Trump ad targeting minority voters in Georgia that Google doesn’t want you to see. They say it violates their “standards,” but they don’t say why. Spend thirty seconds, give it a watch, and you’ll see what protecting the leftie narrative is all about. Disgusting.

And here is another example of why I’m expecting trouble from China here in the Philippines. Duterte was China’s bitch, but so far, the current President is taking a stand to defend his country. We’ll see how long he can hold out. The fact that there is a joint exercise taking place now with the USA, Japan, and Australia is a good sign as well.

Let’s do the Quora Q&A:

Q: Have you ever dawdled a moment so you could stand a few steps behind a girl wearing hot pants on the escalator?

A: Of course not! I’d only do that if it were a short skirt.

Watch out for the creepy old man!

Maybe these will make you smile:

Anyway, Hash Monday is upon me. It’s a Vienna Sausage trail and a hot day. I’m sure there is a shortcut or two in my future. Tell you about it tomorrow.

I covered the best part of my yesterday in yesterday’s post. All that remains is the rest of the day. So here it is:

I’m attending a gathering at my Aussie friend Steve’s place on Baloy later this afternoon. For that reason, I moved the Hideaway feeding up a day. I fed five hungry girls with food from the Jewel Cafe. Actually, I fed four hungry girls because one left before I arrived. That aggravated me a little at first, but then I knew the food wouldn’t go to waste (the girls have hungry kids at home they share with), so why should I care? They ordered a breaded chicken breast, sisig, cornsilog, dangsilog, and longsilog. I always get an order of fried chicken wings for the girls to share as well. I was the only customer during the hour I spent at Hideaway. I don’t know how (or if) they’ll stay in business at this rate. I consider the feeding one of my “charity” projects, and the gals are always appreciative and thank me. Honestly, it’s the only reason I make a weekly visit to Hideaway. Although they do play nice music videos, so there’s that.

With the feeding out of the way, I headed out to the beach for my weekly visit to the Arizona floating bar.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. The big news there is that Swan’s friend (and my former drinking buddy) Aine is back to work. Apparently, things didn’t work out with the new boyfriend. Oddly enough, on our way to Wet Spot, I had asked Swan if she had heard from Aine since she declined the invitation for her and her fella to join us on Baloy. She had not. But as soon as we sat down last night, Aine joined us at our table, thirsty for lady drinks. Swan bought her two (I paid, of course). The epitome of a bargirl friendship.

While Aine and Swan got caught up, I chatted with another guy at the table who has been in the Philippines since his Navy days beginning in the 70s. He had some wild stories about the bar scene back in the day. He says everything now is tame and boring by comparison. Honestly speaking, a lot of what he shared sounds disgusting. Getting a blow job while watching a girl fuck a customer on stage just doesn’t interest me. To each his own.

Back home and early to bed brought a good day to an end.

So, I’ve got to say I’ve been astounded by various commenters alluding to me engaging in violence towards Swan. Nothing could be further from the truth, and nothing I have written here implies otherwise. We had a disagreement, and I walked away instead of staying and talking through it. That was the extent of my “sin.” I have lived through four failed marriages and never once hit or otherwise physically abused any of my exes. I can think of nothing more cowardly than a man striking a female. It is just not in my nature and will never happen. I wanted to be clear on that.

Today’s Quora Q&A is a special one:

Q: How was your first trip to the Philippines?

A: The first thing I noticed on my first visit to the Philippines was the poverty. My plane landed in Manila, coming in over the river that was lined with squatter houses and full of trash. Once on the ground, my driver took me through one of the squatter villages and apologized for what I was seeing, saying it was the fastest way to my destination. It was all pretty shocking and eye-opening; I’d never seen anything quite like it.

After spending a few days here, something else became quite apparent. Despite the poverty, the Filipino people are the happiest I’ve met anywhere in the world. The family is the center of life here, and the generosity and love within the family is something to behold. I’d never seen anything quite like that either.

I wanted to see and learn more, so I kept coming back for visits (I lived in Korea, so it was an easy trip). I eventually decided this is where I wanted to live, so I retired in 2018 and moved here permanently.

Here’s a funny and sad anecdote I can share. I brought my Korean girlfriend here for a visit the year before I retired. She had a blast and was treated like a rock star (Korean culture in the form of K-dramas and K-pop music is big here). On our last night in the Philippines, she broke up with me. I asked her why, and she responded, “Because we have no future. You want to retire here. Who wants to live in a poor country?” I told her that you can live in a rich country and pretend this world doesn’t exist, or you can live here and try to make a difference. That’s what I want to do.

So, I have two helpers and a driver. I’m making a difference for them. I do some charity projects that make things better for some. You can’t help everyone, of course, but it feels good to know that my presence is helping at least a few. I’m glad to be here!

Here’s what makes it special to me: This answer received over 2.7 MILLION views (most of my drivel gets seen by only hundreds). I also got 2,986 upvotes and 558 comments. Of course, this was a one-off occurrence and was written over four years ago. I rarely even bother answering Quora questions these days.

Now for some humor:

I made corn muffins and brownies to share with my fellow guests tonight. See you here tomorrow.

We had a very nice overnight getaway in the lovely barangay Pundaquit in the town of San Antonio, Zambales province. It’s only about an hour away from Barretto, and I always enjoy the change of pace with its beachy, small-town vibe. I changed things up some this trip by staying at a venue I’d never tried before, the Hidaway. Another first was booking a nipa hut room. It was small but surprisingly comfortable. It would have been more enjoyable had some maintenance issues been addressed (for example, the bedroom door scrapped the floor and the bathroom mirror was missing). Still, no complaints. Our hosts and the staff were fun and friendly, and we had a good time hanging out with them.

Here’s the story of our brief journey in pictures:

And that’s all there is to the small nipa hut we stayed in for 2500 pesos. Honestly, that seems way overpriced, but I’m not complaining–it served our purpose. Let’s check out the grounds, shall we?

Okay, that’s the Hidaway.Once we got settled in, we were ready for a late lunch. One of the reasons I wanted to stay at Hidaway is that it is right next door to one of my favorite places in the Philippines—the CMC Bar and Grill (aka The Car Wash).

So, what makes CMC/Car Wash my favorite? Well, it is a great bar, and I do enjoy that aspect. But what separates it from all the other bars I enjoy is its consistently outstanding food. That kitchen is top-notch fine dining quality serving up great meals for a frickin’ bar crowd in a tiny burg like Pundaquit. I’m glad I found it!

After lunch, we went back to Hidaway and chilled for a bit. I quaffed some brews at the Love Shack when beer o’clock rolled around. Earlier, I had messaged my friend who lives in San Antonio that I was in town, and we planned a meet-up at CMC/Car Wash.

Gary is a retired Navy man who spent a lot of time at the Subic Navy base back in the day. That’s where he met his Filipina wife all those years ago. Cathy came along as his designated driver, so Swan had someone to chat with while Gary and I caught up. Gary also introduced me to Stacy, the owner of a deli about a kilometer up the road. I promised I’d come by and give it a try for breakfast.

When it was time for Gary to leave, we paid up and headed back to our Hidaway. Swan went for a swim while I continued my imbibing at the Love Shack.

Greg and his wife Ava (who runs the place) used to live on Baloy fifteen years ago. In the small world department, Greg knew Swan’s love, Alan, back in the day. It’s so strange when that happens. Another thing about Greg is he knew the punchline to all my old jokes. Damn it, usually when I’m at a venue for the first time, all my jokes are new again. Oh well.

And a promise being a promise, when it was breakfast time, we strolled up the road for some coffee and food.

On our way back to Hidaway after breakfast, I saw this on a sign, and it gave me a chuckle:

There’s no point in going to Pundaquit if you ain’t gonna visit the beach, right? So, we set out on a short walk to the ocean.

We arrived safe and sound and have vowed to take similar excursions once a month or so. It was nice to get away for a bit.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What is the best beach town to live in for an expat in the Philippines?

A: “Best” is pretty much dependent on your personal wants and preferences. I live in the beach town of Barrio Barretto (Olongapo City), and it works for me. A nice expat community of mostly retired folks like myself. Things to do like a Hash club, dart and pool leagues, and a variety of bars and places to hang out. Some top-notch restaurants as well. Good grocery shopping with western goods on the old Navy base and malls are just 20 minutes away.

The beach itself is on Subic Bay and is not all that pristine. Still, I enjoy my morning walks on the water. It’s a comfortable life here for me.

During this trip, I speculated about what life would be like if I lived in Pundaquit. It would be less convenient and a little more boring, but it is good to have options.

And I’ve got some humor to share as well:

Back to the other Hideaway today for a feeding. I’ve got other plans for Sunday this week. I’ll be back tomorrow, the good lord willing. In the meantime:

Sorry for yesterday’s cryptic post, but sometimes things just don’t go the way you’d like them to. My Thursday was weird in many ways, starting with sleeping in until almost 6 a.m. (I’m normally up between four and five). That threw all my routines off schedule. By the time I headed out for my weekly solo “long” walk, it was a little after nine. It was hot again, and I got about a block away and said, “fuck this,” and came back home.

The big bad event was a relationship issue that managed to trigger us both for different reasons. While from my perspective, her actions were inappropriate, I’ll concede my response wasn’t ideal either. I walked away to my room, closed the door, and stewed in my thoughts for a while. Then I took off for a walk. When I reached the end of Baloy Beach, I decided drinking some beer would meet my needs better than walking. It was only one o’clock, three hours ahead of my normal consumption schedule, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I popped into DaKudo’s and quaffed a few Zeros. That is where I was when I posted here yesterday. I was proud of myself for figuring out how to blog from my phone, but I wasn’t up for attempting to finger-peck a lengthy tirade. Then I moved down the road and pulled up a bayside stool at Harley’s.

I didn’t keep count of the beers I downed at Harley’s, but when I ordered the last one, I checked my watch and noticed, ironically, it was now 4 p.m., my normal beer o’clock. So, I caught a trike for home, but I wasn’t done yet. Swan wasn’t there, but I filled my ice chest, grabbed a bag of Tostitos and a jar of salsa, then I headed up to The Rite Spot On The Roof to continue my journey to pain-free drunkenness.

I fired up the speaker and played a Spotify country music playlist that seemed to suit my mood. Soon enough, I was singing along between sips (gulps?) of brew. One of them was a well-timed George Strait song:

I didn’t have a microphone, so I’m sure the neighbors didn’t suffer any auditory harm.

The sun was gone, but I continued drinking (and singing) alone in the dark. I lost track of the time, but it must have been around eight or so when Swan appeared on the roof and escorted me down the stairs. Of course, inebriation is inconsistent with diplomacy, but we did engage in detente, putting our issues aside for the time being and getting some much-needed peace in sleep.

Today is a new day and a new start. Hopefully, lessons have been learned, and we will be stronger together as a result. We are taking an overnight trip to Pundaquit this afternoon, and I think the getaway will be good for us. As an added bonus, I’ll have something new to blog about!

Facebook memories took me back thirteen years to my previous life as a loving grandfather:

Six years ago, I shopped at the base commissary for the last time.

Ready to Quora Q&A?

Q: When did you start to feel like the “old person” at bars?

A: When I moved from Seoul to Pyeongtaek, Korea. Seoul is, of course, a huge city filled with expats from all walks of life. We tended to hang out in the same bars in Itaewon, and I fit right in. When I moved with my job down south, my fellow bar patrons were all young soldiers from the American Army base nearby. I felt like the old person in the bars because I WAS the oldest person there.

Now that I’ve retired and moved to the Philippines, most of my fellow expats are also old retirees. I fit right in! The girls assure me that I am gwapo (handsome) and that age is just a number. Life is grand!

When these young guys from the Navy supply ships are in town, they really stand out in our old folks community. The girls seem to love having them around though, especially because they usually big spenders.

And now for some humor:

Alright, I’m looking forward to my getaway to the Hidaway. Yep, that’s the name of the resort I’m trying for the first time. Not HIDEaway, this one is Hidaway. Looking forward to a new experience staying in a Nipa hut. Here’s the picture of my room they sent me:

I’ll update you on how it goes here tomorrow.