Honestly, I don’t feel like I’m a seventy-year-old grandpa. And that’s a good thing!The Thursday morning view from the patio.That’s the closest I’ve been to a rainbow in a long time. You can almost see the pot of gold from here.
My neighbors, Jeff and Davina, had seen a map I posted on Facebook of one of my hikes on the My Bitch trail. That path runs through the hills behind our subdivision, and Jeff asked if I’d show them where to go. Of course, I agreed, and we made plans to do so on Thursday. Well, it was a rainy morning, but to my surprise, they still wanted to go. Fine by me, wet with sweat or soaked with rain, it’s all the same.
And away we go.Where the Bitch begins.At the Four Corners junction.The Kalaklan Ridge in the clouds.Old familiar.We met a friendly homesteader along the way.That cabin in the woods I fantasize about.Heading back down to the valley.There and back again.
At beer o’clock, we visited my old darts haunt, Alley Cats. Owner Flor had given me a beer card for my birthday, and those six free beers weren’t going to drink themselves. I only managed four before prudence dictated I should go get something to eat.
So, we successfully crossed the highway and made our way to Mango’s.
The view from there.The view in there.As usual, we shared the porkchop platter.
Swan got messaged by some of her friends that they were hanging out at Annex Bar, so when Swan asked if we could stop by, I, of course, agreed to do so. They hung out in the back doing what girls do and downing tequila shots, and I sat up front enjoying the highway view, whilst sipping a cold San Miguel Zero.
The last time I was here looking across the road, they had painted over the old Voodoo bar’s signage. And now it seems like a new bar will be occupying that space. I think “Crazy Whores” is a better name, but what do I know?
We did our nightcap at Green Room, but Swan drank water there. She’s a lightweight when her peers entice her to join them in shots of the hard stuff. I would be, too. That’s why I stick to low-alcohol beer. We made it home safe and went to bed early. Right after Swan finished throwing up. She made it to the toilet, though, so good on her.
In sad news, we lost a member of the Hash, Fucking Old Man (Jerry Walsh). Jerry had the most Hash runs of any living Subic Bay Hasher. His familiar face will be missed. I recall my first-ever Hash as a tourist in Subic back in 2017. Jerry was in his 80s and looked it, but the gal standing beside him was a hottie. I knew then that I’d find contentment in the Philippines!
On-On to the Great Hash in the Sky, Jerry!
Our new housekeeper from Samar province is settling in.
Welcome aboard, Gina!
Darts, at one time, were a big part of my life, and in this post from October 2012, I explained my cricket pointing strategy. Probably sounds like Greek to anyone who doesn’t play, but it does reflect my level of dedication to the game, even if my ability to execute was lacking.
This day in my Facebook history included:
Six years ago, I was finding my comfort zone in Vietnam.Nine years ago, I was in Angeles City staying at my old favorite, Orchid Inn. Today I’ll be checking into another place I stayed as a tourist, The Wild Orchid.My soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, Eun Oke, was having a grand time in the AC bars during that visit nine years ago.
Thirteen years ago, I was playing around making memes:
Like this one.And this.
Today’s YouTube is the follow-up to the one I posted yesterday. The vlogger leaves AC and spends the next five days in Subic. He wasn’t impressed. Hey, it’s not for everyone, but I like it just fine here. The video captures the Barretto vibe. As I mentioned, I am not familiar with this vlogger’s work, but I did notice that the narration has a different accent from the AC video. That was weird. I randomly looked at a third video of his, and it is back to a more normal-sounding voice. I’m guessing they must all be AI-generated.
Humor time:
And the next thing he said was, “Stop, you’re killing me!”I C what you did there.You probably have to be an old fucker like me to get this one.
Alright, it is time to head out to Angeles City, courtesy of our neighbor Jeff and his lovely wife, Davina. I’m not a big AC fan, but I do like an occasional change of scenery. Jeff has some places in mind to show us, so we’ll see how it goes. At least you will have something different to read about here.
Wednesday and walking go together like a foot in a shoe, so I put them on and headed out.
Erik and Gary were the other participating Wednesday Walkers.
We discussed options under the threatening skies and opted to do the Matain-Calapacuan-San Isidro street walk.
Over the wide, flowing river.The Ber months are the most wonderful time of the year, or so I have been told. Merry Christmas!Snake Island.Through the narrow passageways in Matain.Boats on the bay.Bilboing on the bags.The wet streets of Calapacuan.What more do you need?Rain on the mountain.Up river.Our 8K journey.
For the evening out, I had planned to kick things off at Red Bar. Alas, a biker club had the same plan and beat me to it. All the outdoor seats were filled, so we just continued up the highway and popped into John’s place for the dinner we missed on Sunday.
I was surprised to see several dart players in the second-floor dining area, then I remembered that John’s now has a team in the dart league. They had just finished winning their match against Sloppy Joe’s and were enjoying some post-game beverages. It was nice chatting with some of my old darts buddies.
Then a group of several young non-Filipino people (early thirties, I’d judge, including one hot female) came in. I suspect they are crewmembers from one of the merchant ships I’ve seen anchored in the harbor. Seeing the crowd filling the dining area, they started to turn around to leave. One of the dart players said, “You should stay, this is the best food in town.” I added that the upstairs area had lots of seating, and so they all headed up. I watched the solitary waitress carrying trays of drinks and plates of food, so it was a big night for John’s customer-wise.
John’s daughter came in and took over serving the downstairs folks, which was just me and Swan after the darters departed.
No surprise what Swan ordered. And the guacamole was back in stock.I ordered the bulgogi.
With dinner out of the way, I suggested we give Red Bar another try. As we exited John’s, the rain was coming down hard, so we dashed into the bar next door, Dempsey’s. They don’t serve wine by the glass there, so we don’t stop by often, but otherwise, it has a nice, relaxed vibe. I had a beer and then the rain let up, so we hit the highway again. The Red Bar patio was still full of bikers, so we kept moving and went to Jumpin’ Jacks instead.
I suppose this is a Filipino tradition, but these plates of food were left behind the bar in memory of the recently deceased bartender, Vangie. We added the lollipop.
We once again enjoyed the vibe and music at Jumpin’ Jacks, then made our way back home.
We’ve hired a new house helper, and she arrived from the province last night. She is the aunt of our neighbor’s helper, so at least it isn’t a blind hire. She’s been busy all morning with the chores, so, so far, so good.
It’s now October 2012 in the LTG archives. I’m back for another few months of my Korean retirement life, and in this post, I share the adventure of a visit to Naksan. It was a good life while it lasted.
I’ll be heading out tomorrow for a weekend in Angeles City with my neighbors, Jeff and Davina. Today’s YouTube video is from a new (to me) vlogger sharing his four-day experience in AC. Like me, he’s not a big fan of the nightlife scene there, but the video will give you a good taste of what’s in store for us. At the end of the video, he’s on a bus for Subic, so I’ll need to look to see if he enjoyed that more.
On to the funny business:
That’s a twist of the blade.Here kitty, kitty!That’s quite the talent!
Even for a worthless Tuesday. Not that I’m complaining, it will just make the good days seem better. I’ll keep this post as short and painless as possible, fair enough?
The hardest part of my grocery shopping yesterday was getting there.
The National Highway going to Olongapo City was gridlocked.Ah, so that’s what happened. A car took on a motorbike. Looks like the car won. Honestly, the way people drive in this country, I’m surprised there aren’t a lot more accidents.
Anyway, we made it to the YBC supermarket thirty minutes later than usual, but no big deal. I couldn’t help but notice the background music in the store was Christmas carols. Oh yeah, it’s the BER months here in the Philippines.
Merry Christmas!
Finished the shopping, got home, and didn’t feel like doing my usual neighborhood stroll, so I didn’t. Later in the afternoon, it being Tuesday and all, we headed to Baloy Beach so Swan could get her toes in the sand fix.
The view from the beach.A Swan on the beach.
As usual, we strolled down to the far end of the beach and stopped in at Kokomo’s for some liquid refreshments at the Tiki Bar. Except they were closed. We went to the front lobby to find out what was going on, and the hotel was closed as well, without a soul in sight. Very strange. I messaged the owner to ask if everything was okay, but I haven’t yet received a response. Businesses on Baloy seem to be dying on the vine.
Now what do we do?
We decided to go ahead and have dinner at Treasure Island, and they were pretty busy for a Tuesday evening. The other guests were ordering banana splits and milkshakes, so the poor bartender barely had time to refresh my beverages.
Working hard at the blender.I indulged in the beef enchiladas (one for dinner and one for lunch today).The beach view as we departed Treasure Island.The old log roll.
It was too early (even for me!) to go home, so we grabbed a trike and headed to the Alaska Club. A guy at the next table remembered me from a previous meeting a couple of years ago. He told me he knows me from the blog. That’s always nice when it happens. Otherwise, the vibe at Alaska was off as well, with only two dancers, and my regular waitresses ignored me, so when I finished my beer, we left and went next door to Wet Spot (Swan brought the remainder of her wine with her). It was more pleasant there, so at least we ended our evening on a better note than it started.
Yeah, if that’s as bad as it gets, I’m a lucky bastard, I know.
It is still September 2012 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I recounted the tale of how I almost lost my son in Prescott, Arizona. Man, some memories are downright scary.
Speaking of memories, one of my early retirement projects was reading all the back issues of Life Magazine (who remembers that?). I think I made it to the early 1970s before growing weary of the journey. However, on the blog, I did link to an issue about the start of the Korean War and another about life in Korea in the 1950s.
Yep, I took wood shop and metal shop. Not that it did me any good. I think the most valuable takeaway from high school I’ve had over the years is the typing class I took.
In today’s YouTube video, Smart Girl Philippines provides some excellent dating advice. Not that I need it now.
Let’s end this on a high note:
Talk about short and sweet.I never really thought of it that way. And twelve is easier than saying a dozen.Now lissen here, y’all. That dog won’t hunt. I’m fixin’ to end this here post, but I thank ye for droppin’ in for a heapin’ helpin’ of LTG.
Wow, I can still speak some of that language I learned when I moved to Arkansas.
I’m happy to report that I survived my first Hash as a seventy-year-old man. Yesterday’s trail (I did the short version) was not particularly challenging, as it was mostly flat and paved. Near the end, there was a steep and muddy path down to the highway that was completely new to me. Keeping my feet on the descent was difficult, and near the end, I failed to do so. Fortunately, I came down on my ass with nothing hard or sharp underneath. Swan also took a tumble once. Other than that, it was an almost boring 4.5K trek.
The trail began at the Hare’s house in Alta Vista. That’s Anal Receptive giving last-minute guidance before we departed.I listened to what the Hare had to say.And we are On-On! It was good to see Pubic Head (in the white shirt) back after his recent medical issues.I got the Easter Mountain shot out of the way early.Taking the back way out of Alta Vista.This is one of the streets we do on our Candy Walk.We enjoyed the benefits of a well-marked trail.I had a “come to Mary” moment shortly before beginning that treacherous down.It was all downhill from here. I doubt I will voluntarily use this trail in the future.We made it to the On-Home venue intact.The old folks chillaxin’ after the hike.A gathering of Gash.A virgin Hasher is initiated. “What doesn’t go in you, goes on you,” but she managed to down the entire bottle without it leaving her lips. I guess that makes her a swallower.Swan and I joinedthe other “Hash crash and Hash fuck-ups” on the ice.And I was this week’s recipient of the Hashit.The way we went (purple for us lazy types).
As is our custom, we went to hang out at the after-Hash hangout, IDM. I think I got that right, this time. Good times were had as usual.
This non-Hash big spender (in the dragon shirt) came and quenched the thirst of all the girls. Thanks for that!
And so another Hash Monday came to an end with neither Swan nor me feeling any pain. That’s the way I like it.
From the September 2012 LTG archives, I’ll share two posts today that tell stories of how I spent my days as a retiree in South Carolina. There was my darting life, and binge-watching Netflix, in this case, Battlestar Galactica. Coincidentally, Kevin Kim is currently re-watching that series and has promised a proper review is forthcoming.
Some Facebook memories from this day in my past:
Nine years ago, I took my then-girlfriend, Eun Oke, to a bar in Angeles City.When the girls saw her, they all came down from the stage and surrounded our table. It was like they had never seen a Korean woman before. She bought (I paid for) them all a drink, despite my admonishment to pick one or two to spend time with. The next morning, she asked how much we spent, and I told her, “5000 pesos.” How much do you pay when you and I go out drinking in Seoul?” I had to admit it was about the same.
Today’s YouTube video provides more perspectives on dealing with beggars. I encounter them on a daily basis, and with the exception of “mama” and a crazy guy, I almost never give money, especially to kids. For one thing, it’s against the law, and as a matter of principle, children should not be conditioned to think begging is an acceptable source of income. I’ll give them cookies sometimes instead.
Here I am, still trying to be funny:
I’m glad he was able.Fame is hard to earn, but she managed it drunk and on her back. Well done!I like the way she thinks!
September, I remember. Time flies, and I ramble on. I’ll keep it brief, though. Sometimes less truly is more.
Heading out for the Sunday Sweets Stroll.
The only other photo I took on our 5K trek was this:
Some new street art in Alta Vista. And yes, I gave it a hop, skip, and a jump. Must be the Scotch in me.
Swan surprised me by volunteering to cook for the Hideaway feeding.
Tuna spaghetti.The gals seemed to enjoy it, saying it was spicy but good.In Joy. She came back for seconds.
The normal Sunday routine is for me to meet up with Swan at John’s place for dinner. But Swan messaged me saying she wanted to join our neighbors, Davina and Jeff, to eat at Hops and Brews. The hell with routines, this is the 70s!
While dining, Swan’s friend, Sally (in the middle), whom we’d hung out with on Friday night, came in with her family to eat. They are heading back to the USA soon, and we’ve been invited to the going-away party on Thursday.
After we finished our food, we loaded up in Jeff’s car and headed to Red Bar. I don’t usually sit inside there, but we did last night and had a good time. Jeff suggested we do a nightcap on the way home. Queen Victoria is closed on Sundays, so we popped into the seldom-visited Nipsey’s Bar instead.
Swan and Davina took over the stage at Nipsey’s to demonstrate their dancing skills.
Jeff noted that eight o’clock was nearing, and he knew that’s what time I turn into a pumpkin, so we paid our tab and headed for home. I was a little ashamed at being such a lightweight. We are going to Angeles City this coming weekend with Jeff and Davina, so I’ll try to up my game some while we are there.
So, there you have it–a routine Sunday with a twist or two.
September has arrived, and coincidentally, it is September 2012 in my journey through the LTG archives. In this post, I come clean about my criminal past. Well, the only crime I got arrested for, anyway. I got away with lots more serious shit, including grand theft auto. I’m not sure if I ever wrote about that one; if not, I will do so as part of The Story of My Life.
Some Facebook memories from this day in my history:
Nine years ago, I was taking sand to the beach in the Philippines. Yep, I brought along my Korean girlfriend, Eun Oke. I recall as we were waiting in the immigration line at the Angeles City airport, Eun Oke said, “John, there are a hundred people in this line and only two of us are women. Why?” I reassured her that all those men were here for the golf. And on our last night in the Philippines, Eun Oke woke me up to tell me she was breaking up with me because we had no future together. I asked her why, and she said, “You want to retire and move to the Philippines. Who wants to live in a poor country?” I do, I did, and I am.Ten years ago, I purchased the last car I will ever own. I’ve retired from driving.Thirteen years ago, this was the view I enjoyed from Jee Yeun’s apartment in Giruem-dong.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay talks about expats who get sucked into supporting the family of the Filipina they are with. I have been suckered like that in the past, but I’m blessed that Swan doesn’t expect me to take care of the family. I give her a generous allowance that she is free to spend in whatever manner she chooses. And if there were ever a real emergency in the family, I would trust her judgment on how best to respond.
Let’s get these out of the way:
Where the Captain stores his logs.That’s a stroke of bad luck.It sounds like a date with Miss Communication.
And now it is Hash Monday again. The trail starts here in Alta Vista, so that’s convenient enough. There are long (8K) and short (4K) options. I’m considering something in between those extremes. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
And it wasn’t much. But better than nothing. And as a special reward for my reader(s), today’s post will be brief. You are welcome!
Neighbors Joss and Martin joined us for the Candy Walk.Some new and impressive artwork on the wall.And a sad dog we saw drinking from the dirty street puddle.That rice isn’t going to plant itself. As I passed, one of the workers invited me to join them. I responded, maybe next time.I fear this puppy may not be long for this world.But there were some moments of beauty to savor.
When beer o’clock arrived, there still wasn’t much worthy of note taking place. We started out at Sloppy Joe’s and took our usual street-side seats. The big screen TVs were blaring Australian Footy, which I find distracting, but there was a big group inside watching, so that’s what a sports bar strives for. There’s a beer distribution shop across the street, and they stack their cases of empty bottles on the sidewalk. This homeless dude was looking through the bottles for any that still had some beer left inside, and then he’d drink it. One of the more gross things I’ve witnessed recently. Swan said she was craving some chicken wings, so we shared an order. They were quite tasty. After we finished eating, we went next door to Green Room for our nightcap.
The highlight was watching this stranger playing pool.
Waitress Chu said he was a first-time visitor. When we arrived, he was playing by himself, and instead of the usual eight-ball game, he was playing nine-ball. I’d heard of it, but never actually seen it before. Damn, this guy was shooting at a pro level that was quite impressive. He eventually started playing against some of the bargirls, and they were out of their league. I found the massacre somehow entertaining. But all good things must come to an end, and when eight o’clock chimed, we headed for home.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you. It really wasn’t as bad as it seemed, at least by my low standards.
In the LTG archives from August 2012 is a post about my Uncle Bud (my father’s brother), who served as ball turret gunner on a B-17 bomber during World War II. That proved to be my final visit with Bud, who passed away a few years later, well into his nineties. Yep, more of those long-lasting McCrarey genes.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I don’t particularly care for, Philly in the Phillpines, but I was enticed to watch because he’s posting from Siargao island’s city of General Luna, a place I’ve never been but will be visiting in November. I’ll be staying at a beach resort, so I won’t have to worry about parking.
And we will end this post with a smile:
That had me in stitches. Not.It takes courage to be so heartless.It must be hard to be a dick.
Okay, I’m in the midst of my Sunday routines. So, I don’t expect much new or exciting, but the venues will be different, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be out and about.
Back to my old routines for the first time since the sixties. Everything old feels new again!
I’m lovin’ the 70s so far!
It being Friday and all, we kicked things off with the group hike.
One of the largest turnouts in quite some time.
Wanting to keep things simple, I decided to lead the group on the reverse of Monday’s Hash trail since only Swan and Sheryl had done that trail. I did elect to go up a different way, and that proved harder than I expected. Otherwise, it was a mostly pleasant stroll on the My Bitch trail. When we reached the other side and were ready for our descent, I didn’t want to go down the way we had climbed on Monday, as I wanted to avoid descending through that flowing creek bed. Alas, someone had built a fence blocking the only other path down that I know of. So, the creek it was, although it didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it would be.
Through the ‘hood we go.Our climb began with some slippery steps. That’s not envy they are green with.Regrouping after the hardest part of the climb to verify that everyone survived.A Barretto view was our reward.There’s that mountain again.Clouds over the bay. Just a few sprinkles on our hike.The nice part of The Bitch.A quick hello to mountain mama Onelia.The beginning of the unpleasant down.An interesting flower I saw along the way.Heading back up to Alta Vista.The end of the trail.I’m sure the My Bitch map is looking familiar to everyone by now.
And then it was time to make a plan for the Friday evening out. Once again, we opted not to invest our time in the SOB dance competition. Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels it is no longer worth it. I read today that the show was cancelled when only one paying customer showed up. I expect we’ve seen the last of the SOB, absent some significant changes; however, these days, no one is even bothered with promoting the event. Sad to see it go, but it ain’t what it once was.
Swan wanted to kick off things with dinner at Jewel Cafe. Who am I to argue with that? When the waitress came to take my order, she said, “Filet mignon, medium, gravy on the side, with mashed potatoes, veggies, and a San Mig Zero.” I’m nothing if not predictable. Swan had baby back ribs.
Good things come in small portions at Jewel. That’s a $10.50 meal and worth it.Not a lot of ribs on that plate either. I had a bite and they were tasty too.
Swan had an old friend visiting town and asked if we could meet up with a group at Annex Bar. Fine by me, the beer is cold there. I sat at a table with the highway view up front while Swan and the girls gathered inside.
And another one bites the dust. That used to be Voodoo bar, but they’ve painted over all the signage, so it doesn’t look like it is coming back. Still, it seems like for every bar that shuts down in Barretto, two new ones open. Not sure how that works.
After a couple of beers, Swan asked if I wanted to join the group at Jumpin’ Jacks. Sure, why not? First time we have been back since bartender Vangie passed away, but the good music and vibe hasn’t changed. Well, until the girls started singing karaoke.
And they were singing in Tagalog.Someone bought a round of tequila shots, and that helped ease the pain in my ears somewhat.Our group was the only customers, so I took pity on the girls and bought a round of lady drinks. Eleven of them at 170 pesos each. That’s two-week millionaire style, baby!
The next stop for the group was IDM, but I had exceeded my limit, so I declined to go anywhere but home. Swan kindly said goodnight to her friends and came with me.
And that’s how this old man rolled through another day.
Common sense like this isn’t all that common these days. Control the crazies, not the guns.
Nothing worthy of note from the July 2012 LTG archives, but in August, I told the story of my father’s final journey in a post entitled, “To the sea.”
In today’s YouTube video, The Filipina Pea discusses the potential impact of AI in the Philippines. Many people here work in the call centers, and AI may make those jobs obsolete. Oh, and she does the video wearing a bikini.
Maybe these will amuse you:
Little Johnny was in class, diligently working on his math problems when the teacher decided to test him with a question.
āJohnny,ā she said, āif there are five birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one with your slingshot, how many are left?ā
Johnny thought for a moment and replied,
āNone. The rest would fly away after hearing the noise.ā
The teacher chuckled, āWell, the correct answer is fourā¦ but I like the way you think.ā
Johnny grinned. āThanks, Miss. Mind if I ask you a question now?ā
āGo ahead,ā she said.
āThere are three women eating ice cream cones,ā Johnny began. āOne is licking her cone, one is biting it, and the third is gently sucking on hers. Which one do you think is married?ā
The teacher turned a bit red but decided to play along.
āUmā¦ I guess the one… sucking her cone?ā
Johnny shook his head and said with a smirk,
āNope. Itās the one wearing a wedding ringābut I like the way you think!ā
I can’t argue with his logic.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It was the rooster that came first.Good to know!
I’m trying hard to stop fretting about the future and just take it one day at a time. That feeling of impending doom hasn’t totally gone away, but for now, I’m still doing the things I enjoy with a woman I love, so what’s to worry about?
Farewell to my caregiver/helper, Teri, who has been taking care of me since I moved to the Philippines in May 2018. Yesterday was her final day in my employ, as she is moving back home to Manila to care for her elderly parents (heh, I wonder if they are younger than me).
Terri arranged for a truck to haul her meager belongings, including a refrigerator I gifted her, down to Manila.She wanted a goodbye photo. Terri was sad about leaving and said she would miss this life, but a daughter’s duty to her parents is paramount in this culture.
She joined us for a final meal at Sit-n-Bull, then caught a Jeepney to Olongapo and a bus ride to Manila.
Goodbye and good luck to you, Terri. Thanks for everything!
Swan and I had some sorrow-drowning drinks at Wet Spot, then headed back home. The replacement housekeeper we anticipated hiring has some medical issues she’s dealing with and is unable to take the job. The search is on, but I’m letting Swan handle that.
Came across this today, and it had me nodding in agreement.I had some close calls over the years myself, but I’m still standing. I grew up watching Bugs Bunny cartoons!
I’ve traveled on to June of 2012 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I talk about my return to the USA after a six-month interval in Korea. I couldn’t help but feel sad seeing the family life I’ve now left behind, but at least both of my kids took a minute to send me happy birthday wishes.
In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger talks about the shit he got from friends in the States when he announced his intention to move to the Philippines. I was called out by my daughter-in-law about my posts here at LTG (back when my lifestyle was admittedly more sordid), and now I’ve been ghosted. It hurts, but people show what you mean to them, so you just accept it and move on. I was there to raise my kids after their mother abandoned us, and I’m proud of my days as a dutiful father, whether they appreciate it or not. Life goes on.
Let’s the cleanse the palate:
When a woman walked into the pharmacy, her strides were purposeful, and her gaze fixed firmly on the pharmacist behind the counter. Without hesitation, she leaned in and said in an even, unwavering voice, āI need to buy some cyanide.ā
The pharmacist froze, startled by the blunt request. āExcuse me?ā he stammered. āWhy would you possibly need cyanide?ā
āTo poison my husband,ā she replied matter-of-factly.
His jaw nearly hit the counter. āWhat? Are you insane? Maāam, I canāt just sell you cyanide! Thatās illegal! If I did, Iād lose my license, weād both go to jailāyou do realize that, donāt you? Absolutely not! You canāt have any cyanide!ā
The woman let out a long, exasperated sigh and reached into her handbag. Wordlessly, she retrieved a photograph and placed it on the counter. The picture clearly showed her husband in bedāwith the pharmacistās wife.
The pharmacistās face drained of color as he stared at the damning evidence. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. Finally, he cleared his throat and pushed the photo back toward her with a newfound air of calm.
āWell,ā he said, his tone carefully measured, āyou didnāt mention you had a prescription. Thatās a different story.ā
A revenge fuck might also be in the cards.
Dude, they have machines for that…although now that I think about it, I have never seen a dishwasher here in the PI, not even in the appliance stores.I’d hire this person!
So, yesterday was all about recovering from the turning seventy event and the sad goodbye. Today is all about getting back to normal, so I’d best get back at it. Until then, just remember:
You gotta be who you are in life, everyone else is already taken.
That’s what the 70s are all about. Can you dig it? Far out, that’s groovy!
That said, I partied hardy last night, just like in the olden days (well, except for the weed). I went from four until we shut it down at ten p.m., regular readers will know that’s double my usual performance. Kudos to Swan for her hard work and organizational skills. The official count (I was being charged 200 pesos per guest) was eighty-six in attendance. And damn, my friends put on an Olympic performance in the beer-downing event. Going in, I thought I had bought too much, but I wound up ordering more before the party ended. And all that food? Almost no leftovers. The best part was everyone had a good time, which made this birthday of mine one of the most memorable of my life, and by far the best one I’ve had this year!
If you are wondering where the party was, X marks the spot.The Baybayin bay view.Decorate good times, come on!A table of food offerings. We pigged out on lechon.Neighbors Davina and Jeff were the first guests to arrive.More arrivals.Music was provided by Ber and Remy. Looking in from the beach.The IDM crew joined the fun.Party girls.We had to break out more tables as the evening progressed.My special cake.My special girl.Ericka and Beth joined the fun.Ace and Joy from Hideaway came by after work.The bay at night.
Some birthday gifts:
Swan had this made for me.That’s my life through these seventy years.One of my favorite James Kavanaugh poems, although I couldn’t love her more.The song I want played at my funeral, but I can wait a few more years for that.Neighbors Martin and Joss gifted me these books. I realized how long it has been since I’ve read an actual book. I used to be a voracious reader, mostly of fiction. And I was also gifted a beer card from Alley Hideout. Talk about a gift you can use!
By the time the party ended, none of us were in any condition to pack up our shit and bring it home, so we went back this morning to finish the clean-up business. And that’s life in the 70s so far.
The last post in the LTG archives from May 2012 talks about “Winding it down.” I had adopted the six months in Korea, six months in the USA routine for what I expected to be the rest of my life. It didn’t turn out that way.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I don’t particularly like, but in this episode, he’s walking the beach near where we had the birthday celebration last night. So, if you want to get a Barretto beach vibe, here you go. When he mentioned it being 8 a.m. this morning, I wondered if I would make an appearance whilst cleaning up our mess at Baybayin. Nope, he didn’t catch me.
How about these:
At least COVID wasn’t calling.I’ll drink to that!It’s the breast time of the day!
I was unsure what to expect turnout-wise yesterday. Swan was thinking fifty or so, so getting into the eighties was surprising. I guess I’m better liked than I thought. Or free beer isāone of those.
I spent most of the seventies rockin’ with Neil Young, so here we go again:
āAge has no reality except in the physical world. The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time. Our inner lives are eternal, which is to say that our spirits remain as youthful and vigorous as when we were in full bloom. Think of love as a state of grace, not the means to anything, but the alpha and omega. An end in itself.ā
ā Gabriel GarcĆa MĆ”rquez, Love in the Time of Chole
So, I made it to seventy; let’s see how far I can go. I’m feeling good (this morning’s BP was 120/68), and I’m still enjoying beer life, so I’m optimistic about the future, unknown though it may be. Only way to find out is to live it while you got it, and that’s my plan. Thanks for coming along for the ride here at LTG.
Party prep is in full swing around here this morning. The kitchen is full of Swan’s family members preparing a smorgasbord of dining options, and Swan is at the party venue decorating. I hope the turnout this afternoon (we start at 4 p.m.) warrants the time, effort, and money invested in this event. We shall see, but I’ll be downing Zero’s, eating, and enjoying the beach vibe no matter what.
My Facebook has been exploding with birthday greetings from friends far and near, and it is nice to be remembered. All the folks I’ve been supporting have made sure to remind me that my help is greatly appreciated, and they hope I continue to prosper with a long life. Maybe the sweetest message was from Ericka, the young college student I’ve been assisting with school expenses (and briefly dated a while back):
Yeah, it’s probably AI-generated, but it’s the thought that counts.
Anyway, when I moved to the Philippines, one of my goals was to make life better for some, and I’ve accomplished that. School money for a kid in Bohol, help for a cancer patient in Manila, monthly support for the mountain mama here in Barretto, the aforementioned Ericka, and the street dweller I call “mama” are the main recipients of my charity budget. See, I don’t even count those teeth I’m rotting amongst the local children. Anyway, the point is my life isn’t entirely pointless. It is good to make a difference, even in a small way.
In other news, my caregiver/helper, Teri, will be departing my employ tomorrow. She’s been with me since I first arrived in the PI over seven years ago. Teri needs to return to Manila to care for her parents, and I’m sure they will be in good hands. I’ll miss having Teri around to make my life easy, but Swan has taken on the task of finding a replacement.
Okay, let me share some photos from my final day as a sixty-nine-year-old.
These helicopters flew overhead loud enough to wake me from my nap. More and more, I wonder if a war with China is imminent.Sheryl came by the house to prepare her contribution to the birthday dinner.I took Swan to Baloy so she could enjoy some toes in the sand time.The rain we had earlier in the afternoon took a break, so we could enjoy the walk.Kokomo’s is the best beach bar option these days, and we had it to ourselves.Swan taking it all in from her barstool.At dinner time, we moved up the beach to Treasure Island.Beef stroganoff for Swan…And a grilled pork chop for me.
It was still too early to go home, even by my low standards, so we paid the very rare visit to Snackbar on our way home.
Nothing quite like the ambiance of drinking outside in a 7-11 parking lot.Mama was camping out there, too.
When the birthday morning dawned, everyone got back to work.
I made a big batch of chili in the crockpot.Cornbread muffins.And a double batch of brownies.Fried chicken is also on the menu.Along with whatever that is…Busy in the kitchen……and in the temporary “dirty kitchen” outside.Work, work, work!Meanwhile, Swan was busy with the directions at the party venue.
I’m honored that so many are working so hard to make the start of my seventieth year a special one. I’ll share the results in tomorrow’s post.
In a Memorial Day post from May 2012 of the LTG archives, I shared the story of my Great Uncle Frank (grandmom’s brother), who lost his life in the final days of WWII. As my grandmother Pernie used to say about “blood and guts” General Patton: Patton’s guts, Frank’s blood.
In a coincidence I didn’t remember, I celebrated my birthday four years ago at the eatery I’d helped my former girlfriend open, which was located at the same venue we are using for tonight’s celebration. We expect Marissa’s twin sister will be attending tonight to add to the old times flavor.
That’s Marissa in red.
If you’ve been looking for an update on the asshole vlogger, Vitaly, here you go. He’s screwed, and he knows it, and no one seems to care. FAFO defined.
As usual, we’ll close with me trying to be funny:
An old cowboy wandered into a Starbucks one afternoon, ordered himself a black coffee, and settled into a corner seat. He leaned back, tipped his hat up, and took a slow, contented sip.
Before long, a young woman sat beside him and asked, āExcuse me, sirāare you a real cowboy?ā
The old man thought for a moment and replied, āWell, I reckon so. Iāve spent my whole life ridinā horses, herdinā cattle, mendinā fences, brandinā calves, sleepinā out under the stars, and workinā the land. So yeah, I suppose you could call me a cowboy.ā
The young woman smiled and said, āIām a lesbian. Pretty much all I ever think about is womenāwhen I wake up, when I shower, when I eat, when I work… itās always women on my mind.ā
The cowboy gave a respectful nod, and they both went back to their drinks.
A little while later, another man came in, took the seat on the cowboyās other side, and asked, āSo, are you a real cowboy?ā
The old man paused, stared into his coffee, and said, āWell… I always thought I was. But after today… I think I might actually be a lesbian.ā
I’ve been a lesbian trapped in a man’s body since I was a teenager. I love women!
I had something to share, but an assassin ate it.See what I mean?
Anyway, you are only as old as you feel. I’m not sure what that makes me, but I don’t feel seventy.
Surprise, I survived my final Hash in the sixties. Bring on the big seven-oh, biatch! Yesterday’s trail didn’t even necessitate shortcutting, although I did shave off a half a click or so by picking up the trail in Alta Vista instead of the starting point at the Bella Monte Hotel. We had one moderately difficult climb that included going up via a creek bed with running water, but once we got to the top, it was relatively smooth sailing on the familiar My Bitch trail. Well, except for the heavy rain that hit us about halfway through the journey. Oh well, I was wet with sweat by then anyway.
The Hares this week were Fuck Buddy and Jiz Goblin.Because of the threatening weather, the Hares primarily marked the trail with ribbon instead of powder.That creek we traversed as part of the climb.Leech My Nuggets was the first runner to pass us as we neared the end of the climb.And he was followed by Anal Receptive.The view from the summit of our climb.Demolition Derby was the final Hasher to pass us by.A view just before the rain found us.A rainy Easter Mountain.Cums Alone brought her rain jacket. BF’s Wet Spot chose to bring a walking stick instead of an umbrella. So did I.A rainy day in Barretto.That’s always a good sign!On Home at Bella Monte.Cums Alone assists with the recognition for Get Your Rocks Off’s 69th run with the SBH3.And then it was time to recognize the August birthdays in the Hash tradition.Let them make a cake on us.
One of my least favorite Hash rituals, but at least it only happens once a year. I had the foresight, based on experience, to bring a change of clothes.
My version of the Hash trail was just under 6K.
The after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter followed, then home for some sleep in preparation for my final day of being 69.
It’s now May 2012 in the LTG archive journey, and in this post, I joined a union of bloggers calling out terrorist Bret Kimmberlin for his attempts to silence his critics. That was the only time I’ve heard of bloggers doing an organized response like this. Hopefully, it helped. Just checked Wikipedia and the asshole is still alive and one year older than me.
Today’s YouTube video from Smart Girl Philippines is full of tips I don’t need and can’t use. All I’ve got to do is ask. Still, she’s always fun to watch.
Let’s try these on for size:
All in the family.Nothing like going native.Reminds me of the culture shock I experienced when I moved from Arizona to Arkansas.
Time to get on with my last day of being 69. Nothing exciting so far, shopping day and more prep for the big party tomorrow. I know there is some beer in my near future, just not sure where yet. I’ll be back tomorrow with some seventy-year-old perspectives.
That’s the plan, and y’all thought I had no goals! I’m beginning to wonder if this old blog will die before I do; readership is down 50% from six months ago. Yeah, I get it. When you have seen it all repeatedly, what’s the point of seeing it again? Anyway, posting here daily is one of my routines, and I plan to keep on keepin’ on until there’s nothing left to say, even if there is no one who wants to hear (or read) about it. Fair enough?
There was really nothing special about yesterday (other than surviving), although there was a bit of a surprise along the way. Stick around, I’ll get to that.
Kicked off the day with a little head, as seen on the Sunday Sweets Stroll.We fed those hungry prisoners.Why did the duck cross the road?A sweet 5K journey.
At the appointed hour, I embarked on the weekly Hideaway feeding.
Food for the hungry.The hungry.
And then I was in for a surprise. As I was preparing to pay my tab and head out, suddenly the music changed. The next thing I knew, the staff was serenading me with the “Happy Birthday” song.
And then they presented me with this cake.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. I had a small piece to be polite, then hightailed it out to John’s place, where Swan was awaiting my arrival.
Birria tacos were back in stock, but alas, there was no guacamole.We also shared some beef bulgogi.
After our Han-Mex fusion dinner, we had a drink at Red Bar. We had planned on a nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks, but once again, the bar was closed. So, we paid the rare visit to Annex Bar instead.
Annex upon arrival.Annex prior to departure.
Un dĆa mĆ”s ha terminado.
And I awoke to a misty morning and another day of life.
Sadly, life has now come to an end for a long-time member of the local expat community.
Rest in Peace, Jerry.
We’ve progressed to April 2012 in the LTG archives, and I enjoyed reliving a memory of what a day I deemed “close enough to perfect” was like in the Itaewon chapter of The Story of My Life.
I finally broke down and watched a YouTube video discussing this object hurtling through our solar system that may or may not be an alien spacecraft. I remain unconvinced and will not be updating my list of ways I’m likely to die just yet.
As always, I’ll try to leave you with a smile:
I wish I had seen clearly that the Loraine I knew would leave me wet with tears.I’m a lesbian trapped in a man’s body. I love women!The first cut is the deepest.
And that’s the way it is. Another Hash Monday has arrived, and while walking the dogs, I saw the Hares this morning marking the trail, which passes through Alta Vista. I guess I’ll find out soon enough where it goes. I will tell you all about it tomorrow, provided I survive.
So you live from day to day, And you dream about tomorrow
And the hours go by like minutes And the shadows come to stay So you take a little something To make them go away
I could have done so many things, baby If I could only stop my mind From wonderin' what I left behind And from worrying 'bout this wasted time
My second journey through the seventies approaches.
Will the circle be unbroken? It’s doubtful. In this life of routines I’m living, what you see is what you get. And not to be a drama queen about it, but the introspection I’m experiencing as I approach my seventieth year has been keeping me awake at night. So many doors get slammed shut as we journey through life, and now, as I approach the final chapter, I’ve come to realize I’ve run out of doors to the future. This life I’m living may well be my best option, but more and more I’m seeing it as the only option. I’m blessed to be living comfortably in my dotage with a woman who seems to genuinely care for me, so I’ve got nothing to complain about. If I have truly learned any life lesson, it would be to live in the moment and truly appreciate the life you have. Looking back at what you had and lost is pointless. It’s easier not to look ahead now that all I have to look forward to is the end. So, here we are. Live it and love it!
My Saturday routine includes the Candy Walk, which I recently moved from Sunday, so as not to upset the church Karen, who disapproves of gifting sweet treats to children. Even without the Sunday School kids, we emptied our satchels containing 270 candy bags on our trek yesterday.
The goodies we carried in our two shoes. Well, in our backpacks while wearing two shoes, but you get my meaning.A wet day, either a light rain or a heavy sprinkle for a good portion of the walk.Swan wore her sandals, thereby avoiding the wet shoes dilemma.A usually busy stop seemed deserted. Eventually, one kid ventured out to collect candy to share with her lazy friends.It’s always quiet in Marian Hills.Swan spotted some ribbon in a tree. Not sure if that’s an old Hash trail marking or for the one coming up. Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.Come and get it.Maybe lakeside living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.This tree had broken down since we passed by here last week.Leaving offerings to the God of Litter at the foot of Easter Mountain.
I’m always mocking the litter culture here in the Philippines. Yesterday, it seemed like it was mocking me back.
The spoon was a nice touch.Forgive me, Jesus, for not accepting the Grace found in litter. I see someone left a Coke bottle as an offering.Calling the kids from Bridge #2.My tracker said we were exactly 6.0 kilometers start to finish.
When the time came to mosey into town for some Saturday evening enjoyment, we kicked things off at Sloppy Joe’s. When the urge to eat came upon me, I told Swan she ought to try the birria tacos at Myleen’s. She was up for that, so off we went.
The Myleen’s take on birria that I judged better than John’s place. Swan said they were good, but she likes John’s best. I think the difference for her might be that she gets guacamole at John’s.I found my beef enchiladas to be muy bien.
During dinner, an old friend of Swan’s contacted her and advised that she was back in town from Manila for a visit. We invited her to join us at Green Room.
Nice to see you again!
Does she look familiar?
That’s me and my ex-girlfriend, Marissa.
The woman with us last night is Marissa’s identical twin sister, Marilyn. It was funny when Chu, our waitress at Green Room, saw Marilyn because she thought it was Marissa, who had worked at Green Room for a while. Good times!
I’m getting out of my lane posting about punctuation, but here goes anyway:
An English professor wrote the sentence: “A woman without her man is nothing” on the chalkboard and asked the class to punctuate it properly. The men in the class punctuated it as: “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” The women in the class punctuated it as: “A woman: without her, man is nothing.” Moral of the story: Punctuation is incredibly powerful.
Today’s entry from the March 2012 LTG archives tells the story of how I acquired a treadmill in Korea. The interesting part was about getting it home. As an added bonus, you can see one of Jee Yeun’s specialties, the eggaburger. That’s what she called it anyway.
Facebook reminds me that twelve years ago, I designed this logo for the dart association I founded. After I departed for good, the name of the group was changed to SODA CITY DARTS ASSOCIATION (Columbia is known locally as “Cola-town”) and is still going strong.
Next up, let’s tune in as The Filipina Pea brings you some unique news insights from the Philippines. The adultery law doesn’t apply to me because my wife is a Korean.
Speaking of laws, I read today that the US Congress has proposed legislation that, if passed, would limit overseas call centers. That’s a big industry here in the Philippines. A Filipino formerly employed in the industry weighs in on the matter here.
Alrighty, now we get to the funny business:
Is that a selfie?Glad I gave up driving.Ran dumbly speaking, of course.
Between the lines of age. Yep, I made it through another day, and here I am to tell you about it. Nope, nothing worthy of note happened, but that’s never stopped me. It’s not wasted time if you get some enjoyment out of what you are doing. Yes, I’m still struggling with the implications of the impending milestone of seventy, but one thing I’m sure about–getting older beats the alternative.
I’m happy to report this blog has some value as grist for the mill in Kevin Kim’s new Substack site, Tasty Grammar. And least this time I wasn’t the bad example he used, he just found it here at LTG. Go give it a read and subscribe if you like it.
The Friday group hikers, all four of us, decided to Jeepney out to SBMA for a wet day walkaround. Despite some sprinkles, I never felt the need to open my umbrella. I mentioned in yesterday’s post that some fucker almost killed me with his crazy driving on the wrong side of the road (so much for walking facing traffic), but other than that, it was a pleasant hike.
Swan, Sheryl, and Gary pose at the entrance to SBMA (the old Navy base).The lighthouse at the Lighthouse Resort.This program should be implemented seven days a week, and not just on SBMA.Subic Bay on a rainy morning.I guess Thursday wasn’t a clean-up day this week. Or maybe that trash washed up overnight.The dregs of society.I’m not sure what kind of critter this skull on the beach comes from. Maybe a goat?I’ll take that as a sign.I wouldn’t mind trying some places on SBMA, but without a car, it’s tough to get around (no trikes or Jeepneys allowed).A couple of those MSC Navy supply ships are in port. That will make the bargirls in Barretto happy!Our spirits weren’t flagging as we marched along.That fire truck is as old as I am.I’ve never been, they tell me it’s nice.Looking to my right, I see how one half lives……and to the left, the other half.My almost came to Jesus moment was on this road just before reaching this spot. Even on SBMA, where traffic laws are actually enforced, people drive like maniacs.Exiting SBMA and arriving back in the real world.Finishing our hike on the streets of Olongapo City.Just shy of 7K. I have never understood why Google Maps shows Barretto where it is not. That’s the Kalaklan barangay on that side of the river. Barretto is five kilometers up the highway from there. Oh, and Google misspelled Barretto, too.
We opted not to attend the SOB this week. It seems pointless with only four bars competing these days, and some of those put forth little effort in their performances. We just did our own thing, hanging out at Sloppy Joe’s for a bit, then having dinner at Jewel Cafe.
Damn, that 600 peso filet mignon keeps getting smaller and smaller. Still tastes good, though.Swan did a beef broccoli dish and seemed to enjoy it.
We did our nightcap at It Doesn’t Matter and had a pleasant visit before bringing another day to an end.
Back when I was living in South Carolina, Cracker Barrel was one of my favorites, especially for breakfast. It was a little sad to read about them going down the woke pathway that ultimately leads to failure.
This was the funniest meme I’ve seen about the situation.This menu rendition was a hoot, too.But this one is the breast of all!
Speaking of the internet, I’ve reached March 2012 in my journey through the LTG archives. In this post, I talk about how blogs I started reading after 9/11 changed my perspectives and opened my eyes to the lies of the MSM. I haven’t voted for a Democrat since.
Facebook memories reminded me of the night ten years ago when I was taken by Storm.
Some things are better left forgotten.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay talks about age gap relationships, focusing on the one he shares with his wife. Now, meeting a woman in her twenties (or, yikes!, late teens) is one thing. I have a thirty-year age gap with Swan, but she was nearing forty when we got together. She’d pretty much figured it all out by then, and there are not many lessons for me to teach. I learned something new today: Reekay believes learning something new every day is essential. Well, I don’t adhere to that doctrine. At this point in life, I’m trying hard not to forget the things I already do know. My old line about “I’ve forgotten more than you’ll ever know” may be coming back to bite me.
Let’s close the gap between funny and not:
I didn’t see that one cumming.Yep, when AI gets jealous, you are in for a world of hurt.I swear, I did not write that note! Maybe you can use this as a bad example on your Substack, Kevin.
Alright then, let’s keep moving forward between those lines of age.
By the way, today’s song is from the album “Harvest,” one of my favorites back in high school. When I took over as editor of the high school paper called “The Scroll,” I convinced my fellow classmate journalists to change the name.
No, I didn’t go crazy and flee. I didn’t get screwed either. It’s just that after all these years, coming up with an original post title is increasingly difficult. My first thought was “stuff about things,” but when I did a search, I saw that I’ve used that five times over the years. So, nuts and bolts it is!
All the damn time.
The pending arrival of my seventieth year has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s a milestone I suppose I never thought I’d live to see. But here I am. I’m sure I’ll get used to these emotions I’ve been feeling, but damn, turning another page in the story of my life feels like the start of the final chapter. I’m hopeful it will be a LONG one!
Anyway, it is easy to forget that I’m an elderly man because I don’t feel old. I often joke and say in response to the “age is just a number” line that I’m thirty years old. Honestly, I don’t feel all that old, but something about seventy just can’t be denied. That said, I’m still doing the things I enjoy such as walking and drinking pretty much like I always have, although maybe in somewhat smaller doses. The biggest change I’ve noted is the cognitive decline, especially in terms of memory and attention span. I guess if that continues, at some point I won’t know or care about it.
We never know how much time we have left, and everything can change in the blink of an eye. I was reminded of that while walking this morning. We were on SBMA, and I was walking facing traffic on a narrow elevated footpath. This being the Philippines, there was a power pole blocking the sidewalk in front of me, so I stepped into the road to move around it. Then I hear a horn blow and a car goes racing past inches away from me as it illegally passed a vehicle in the other lane. Damn, that was close. I yelled a hearty “fuck you!” and flipped him the bird. So, I haven’t made seventy yet. Here’s hoping!
Honestly, I have a sweet woman who loves me, and maybe that’s all the gold I need.
Beckie, ex-wife number two, posted this on Facebook yesterday (yes, we are still Facebook friends):
Fable: DON’T ARGUE WITH DONKEYS
The donkey said to the tiger:
– “The grass is blue”.
The tiger replied:
– “No, the grass is green.”
The discussion heated up, and the two decided to submit him to arbitration, and for this they went before the lion, the King of the Jungle.
Already before reaching the forest clearing, where the lion was sitting on his throne, the donkey began to shout:
– “His Highness, is it true that the grass is blue?”.
The lion replied:
– “True, the grass is blue.”
The donkey hurried and continued:
– “The tiger disagrees with me and contradicts and annoys me, please punish him.”
The king then declared:
– “The tiger will be punished with 5 years of silence.”
The donkey jumped cheerfully and went on his way, content and repeating:
– “The Grass Is Blue”…
The tiger accepted his punishment, but before he asked the lion:
– “Your Majesty, why have you punished me?, after all, the grass is green.”
The lion replied:
– “In fact, the grass is green.”
The tiger asked:
– “So why are you punishing me?”.
The lion replied:
– “That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green.
The punishment is because it is not possible for a brave and intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that come and bother me with that question.”
The worst waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who does not care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions. Never waste time on arguments that don’t make sense…
There are people who, no matter how much evidence and evidence we present to them, are not in the capacity to understand, and others are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and all they want is to be right even if they are not.
When ignorance screams, intelligence is silent. Your peace and quietness are worth more.
The obvious moral of the story is to ignore the libtard’s rants. But during the ten years I was married to Beckie, I was a Democrat and she wasn’t. That wasn’t at the root of our breakup or anything, and I don’t recall us arguing over politics much. But it did start me thinking about those years we shared and how we came to be together in the first place.
I first met Beckie during one of my visits to the farm in Poteau, Oklahoma, to see my kids who were staying there with my parents. I attended a gathering hosted by my brother’s then-wife, and Beckie was there as well. My girlfriend back in Arizona was going to graduate school to be a speech pathologist. That was Beckie’s profession, so we talked about her work. Later, I was introduced to the man who had been smilingly watching us from across the room–Beckie’s husband.
Anyway, fast forward a year or two, and I took a job in the nearby city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. One day, Beckie’s husband was clearing the road to their house and was killed when the tractor he was operating flipped over, leaving a widow and baby daughter behind.
Another year or two went by, and I was looking for a partner to help me raise my kids. Beckie filled the bill, and I married her. I got promoted at work and we moved to South Carolina shortly thereafter. She did a great job with my kids and is still actively involved in their lives as a loving grandmother. She is one of the nicest people I’ve met in this lifetime. She deserved better than my cheating ways and found it after our divorce. So, there you have another episode in the story of my life.
Speaking of which, I came across this article talking about Plato solving the problem of evil. The concepts taxed my weary brain, but the ideas about the multiverse and how all the paths you did or didn’t take in life have been lived out by you in a different universe gave me some hope that my dream of a “do-over” life may be within the realm of possibility, God willing, of course.
Well, thanks to my hiking routines and this here blog, I almost always know what day it is.
Yesterday was Thursday, and Swan and I did our own little walk. Taking advantage of rainless skies (that didn’t last), we braved taking the back way up to the My Bitch trail and had a pleasant stroll through the hills.
The cloudy skies didn’t let go of their water until we were safely back home.A tree I liked.That girl I like more than any tree.Started to the left and circled around for a pleasant 4.5K journey.
Another plan for my dotage years is to take a trip out of town at least once every month. I’m set for Angeles City in September. Swan wants to go back to Pundaquit in October. And yesterday I booked flights and hotel rooms for Siragao Island at the end of November. That trip will include all the neighbors here on Bryce Street.
When beer o’clock arrived, Swan wanted a massage, so I chilled in Alley Cats for an hour. I was the only customer during my visit. When Swan was done getting rubbed, we met at Mango’s for dinner. Yep, we stuck with the pork chops like we always do.
A rainy bay view from Mango’s.
After dinner, we moseyed up the highway to Queen Victoria for our nightcap. They had a pool tourney going on, so we weren’t the only customers this time. Queen Vic is hosting tonight’s SOB, and although it is an excellent venue for the show, I’m going to take a pass this time.
The view from our table at QV.The old man and the Swan.
Steven King has always been one of my favorite writers, although his political views are more than a little off-putting. Never noticed his leftism in his books, but then, I used to be one, so maybe it seemed normal then. Anyway, he posted something on X mocking Trump’s grammar. Turns out, King’s was just as bad. Maybe he needs to sign up for Kevin Kim’s Substack.
In the LTG archives from February 2012, I recount the adventure of climbing Bukhansan in Seoul. This was before hiking became my daylight pastime.
Today’s YouTube has a 70-year-old expat sharing some of the lessons he’s learned now that he is elderly. I can relate.
Humor never gets old. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
But what about in your do-over life?I’ve been reading that an alien spacecraft is rumored to be heading our way and is expected to arrive in November. Maybe we can invite them for Thanksgiving, just as the Native Americans did for the Pilgrims.We can always cuddle…
And that’s all I’ve got to say about that. For today, anyway.
In Filipino fashion, Swan has a personalized gift to hand out at next week’s birthday gala. I’m magnetic!
I had a beach of a day yesterday, which is always a good thing. The group hike with the Wednesday Walkers was also nice.
Where Philseco Road meets the National Highway.
We took a Jeepney ride out to the Philseco side of Subic and started our walkabout there.
My fellow hikers, Swan, Erik, and Gary.Gary was kind enough to water the grass.On the road again.The paved path is easily trodden upon.A change of scenery.The beauty of this tree continues to grow on me.In a stare fight with a baboy.Not golden, perhaps, but no scum in sight either.Banana forest provides little shade.This bridge wasn’t too far. About halfway, actually.Something you can’t not see.I couldn’t bear not to look. (On the roof)What’s a hike without a rickety bridge crossing?The path of our 7K journey.
So, I saw a post on Facebook promoting Kokomo’s on Baloy Beach. I sent a message and confirmed that the Tiki beach bar was open again after a long hiatus. So, I decided a surprise beach walk for Swan was in order.
She’s a toes-in-the-sand kind of girl.A view from my perch at Kokomo’s. Until the floating bar returns (probably November), this is the best option on Baloy to sit and enjoy a beer or three.Another barstool view.Kokomo’s as seen from the beach.Back at it.Let the good times roll!It’s been a while since we’ve enjoyed a Baloy sunset.It was a nice one.Kokomo’s owner, Lizza.To hell with the six-pack, I’ve got a keg!Spreading the joy.
After having our fill at Kokomo’s, we strolled up the beach for dinner at Treasure Island.
Low tide didn’t kill our high vibes.Swan had a grilled pork chop. I had a taste and it was great. Next time!There was nothing wrong with the grilled chicken sandwich (with bacon) that I consumed.
And, brace yourselves, last night I finally gave Swan a ring.
Ain’t love grand?
It was a fine day, indeed! You might even say it was a red-letter day. Well, red number, anyway.
For the first time since I’ve been counting calories, I made it to the RED ZONE. For what it is worth, I did walk 20,000 steps yesterday.
It is now February 2012 in the LTG archives. After a year in the USA, I rejoined Jee Yeun back in Korea. It was the first time back since I retired, and I no longer had commissary privileges on base. In this post, I share my experience shopping at a Korean grocery store.
Today’s YouTube video is one of those walking around town and talking about it types. The vlogger lives in Cebu, a city I’ve visited a few times and briefly considered as a retirement destination, but I wisely made Olongapo my home. To each his own.
The 70th birthday is one week away, and the preparations for the celebration Swan has been planning are in full swing. That meant we were busier (i.e., spending more) on the grocery shopping expedition yesterday.
YBC is a Filipino supermarket, and unlike Royal, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another foreigner in there. That’s no big deal, I go to Royal after YBC, and I get the imported stuff I want there. I’ve noticed that many of the YBC shoppers seem to be making purchases to stock their sari-sari stores. Anyway, I got a big dose of Filipino service yesterday that made the YBC experience very unpleasant.
There were only two cashiers open, both with long lines and full carts ahead of me.
So, the guy checking out two customers ahead of me was attempting to pay his bill via GCash (an electronic payment system popular here in the Philippines). If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And he did. Finally, a manager came and told him the system was down, and he paid cash. Next up was a woman with a full cart. She carefully separated items into piles and paid for each stack individually. The cashier seemed inexperienced and rang up each item independently, rather than entering the number of items and scanning once. She also seemed to be having issues with the barcode reader, frequently punching in the number on the item. One of the baggers noticed my head about to explode, and he came over and helped us move to the other line, which appeared to be moving faster than the one I had chosen. But when it came time to pay, the guy at the front of the line used change rather than bills. So, naturally, the cashier was obligated to count and add up hundreds of coinsāHoo boy.
I remembered the mantra I was taught on one of my early visits to the PI and used it: Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way. It helped.
Since we hadn’t been able to stock up on YBC stuff last week, we had two hand trucks of boxed goodies instead of the regular one.
I left a little over 8000 pesos ($150) behind and moved on to Royal to complete this week’s grocery expedition. I used the senior citizens/PWD checkout line (hey, there are some benefits that come with being elderly).
Three shopping carts instead of two this week.
Lightened my wallet another 20,000 ($350) for a record-breaking weekly grocery bill. Hey, you’re only seventy once, right?
Six cases of beer were a significant portion of the bill.
On our way out for the evening’s fun, we stopped by Baybayin, the venue that will be hosting the birthday event, and paid our 5000 peso deposit. I will be billed 200 pesos for each guest attending for use of the facility, and Swan is anticipating we’ll have fifty or so join in the fun. We will also be providing the food and beverages.
Where we’ll be. Baybayin will provide the tables and chairs.Baybayin bay view.
We’ll see how it all works out.
Next, we strolled up the highway to John’s place. We’d missed our usual Sunday visit, so we wanted to make up for lost time. We were greeted with the sad news that birria tacos were out of stock. Oh well, next time.
We had Korean-style chicken wings instead.
We stopped by Red Bar for another round of beer and wine. Afterwards, we were sad to see that Jumpin’ Jacks has not reopened as yet after Vangie’s passing.
I got a message from Roan, an old bargirl friend, wishing me a happy birthday. I thanked her, but pointed out my birthday was still a week away. And then she started calling me “Uncle John,” which was surprising (I’m used to “Daddy,” even though I don’t like it). I asked her why she called me that, and she said, “Because you are my stepdad’s brother.” What? And then she realized she had contacted the wrong “John.” That was pretty funny. Anyway, we chatted some and she told me about her struggles at the karaoke bar she is running. It’s been a very low low season all over town, and I’m guessing most expats (me included) don’t frequent the singing joints. So, on a whim last night, I suggested to Swan we stop by and have a drink at Roan’s place, and she was okay with that.
Roan’s place is decent enough inside, and since we were the only customers, I wasn’t subjected to anyone else’s bad singing. We abided by the house rules.
Songs were twenty pesos for three, and yes, I partook (I Started a Joke, El Paso, and Crazy). We might return again one day when the mood to sing strikes us.
Not bad for a Tuesday, eh?
The January 2012 LTG archives carried me back to the time I joined my high school buddies, Rod and Pat Headlee, for a night on their sailboat. Rod is another of those old friends I used to hear from occasionally who has completely disappeared. No longer on Facebook, and a Google search didn’t turn up any information on his whereabouts. Thankfully, no obituary either. He lived a life of adventure, sailing the high seas. One night on the boat was enough for me, but I respect everyone who lives the life they love.
Ten years ago, I authored and posted these words of wisdom on Facebook:
Sometimes we wait a while to begin our journey, but in due time we move on towards our destination. Along the way, people come and people go, but the reality is we are all solitary travelers. And then the ride is over, and it is time to pay the piper. And the damn fare machine won’t accept the only paper money in your wallet. And so goes another morning subway commute.
Ah, the good ol’ days in Seoul. Speaking of Facebook, I’m a member of a group that remembers Westminster, California, the town I grew up in. Someone posted this yesterday:
Blinky’s Pizza was very close to our house on Milton Avenue. My dad spent quite a few hours drinking at the bar there. And when I was in high school, I worked there for a bit.The stories I could tell about some of the shenanigans we had behind the scenes in the kitchen. But damn, a French Dip sandwich for eighty cents! Man, those were the days.
Today’s YouTube video caught my eye because the blogger is my age and experiencing some heart issues. Despite my unhealthy lifestyle, I’ve been blessed so far. My mother died from congestive heart failure and also suffered from diabetes. Hopefully, I can follow my father’s path (minus the smoking) and reach my goal of a mid-80s lifespan. That said, if I lose the ability to do the things I enjoy, like hiking, I’m not sure I’ll want to stick around that long. Especially if my negotiations with the supreme power of the universe for a do-over life are successful.
Let’s go out on a happy note:
That sucks.Don’t let familiarity breed contempt.I hope to keep on ticking for another fifteen years.
Some sad details about the passing of the Jumpin’ Jacks bartender, Vangie. She died in the restroom at work. After being away from the bar for thirty minutes or so, someone went to check on her and found a lifeless body. It was apparently a heart attack that killed her. I’d only met her a couple of months ago, but she was sweet and fun to be around. I’m going ti miss seeing her smiling face.
In news from the land of the living, where I blessedly still reside, I made it through another Hash yesterday. It was a half-assed effort that still managed to kick my ass.
We took a Jeepney out to Coral Street, about 3K away from Barretto at Kale Beach.And that’s where we picked up the Leech My Nuggets trail at about the midway point.We had some climbing ahead of us, starting with these steps.The steps ended, but not the climb.That’s the same face Swan makes when I fart. And no, I didn’t.Leech is the best Hare at making a well-marked trail, including hazards like this barbed wire in our path.My walking stick malfunctioned, so I had to improvise.Look off in the distance and you’ll see a familiar site.What goes up must come down, and this was a steep and slick descent. I took it sliding on my ass.It was good seeing mountain man Rolly again. It’s a tough life up there. We chipped in a little to help keep the family fed.Civilization awaits.This week’s iteration of the Hash Gash.Cums Alone and Cum Together.The Hash trail this week. The blue line is where I joined in for the final 4.5K.
The usual after-Hash Tomfoolery at IDM, then off to home to rest up for another day.
And then a question came to mind.Ā If by some magic you could be shown your future life, would you want to view it?
And today I wondered what would the me of back then have thought upon seeing the me of today mailing a letter of such importance and yet its contents were beyond my wildest imaginings just a few short years ago. I hope I would have laughed at the absurdity of it all.
Despite all the hopes and dreams and best laid plans, we are after all destined to live in the moment. I never envisioned this life that Iāve lived turning out as it did. The detours and heartbreaks and disappointments all inevitably led me back to this place, but changed me almost completely from who that man looking down from the window way back then. And I donāt just mean those extra pounds around my belly. All those experiences that I never planned for, dreamed about, or even knew that I desired have not necessarily made me better, and I certainly hope not worse. But this is who I have become, and I am glad for it.
Iām not going to answer my own question directly because I donāt know if someone had shown me the road ahead back then that I would have had the courage to follow it.
Of course, the life I was building in 2012 came crashing down around me a few short years later, leading me to this one in the Philippines. Would I have wanted to know what lay ahead? Probably not. I could have missed the pain, but I would have missed the dance.
I also came across this old photo I had forgotten even existed:
That would be me around 1960 at what I suspect was a camping trip at the Kern River. The pup at my side was our German Shepherd Frieda.
Yesterday, I shared a YouTube video from a newly discovered vlogger, Home Base PH, recounting five things you won’t like about the Philippines. Today’s version is him recounting five things you will like. Once again, I mostly agree with him, although I can’t really say I’ve given the local cuisine a fair chance.
Maybe these will make you smile:
Easy to keep clean in the kitchen.Like me when I do karaoke and I ask for requests and they ask, Will you sing over the hills and far away? It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Looking back on the memory of The dance we shared 'neath the stars above For a moment, all the world was right How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the dance
Holding you, I held everything For a moment, wasn't I a king But if I'd only known how the king would fall Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the dance
Yes, my life is better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the dance
It’s good to be alive. Lately, I’ve been counting my blessings and trying hard to keep a positive focus on the unknown future. I’ll be seventy soon, and there’s no denying I’ve entered the final chapter in the story of my life. I hope it’s a long one! In the meantime, I’ll take each day as it comes and make the best of it. As long as you are having fun, it’s not a waste of time.
I filled those precious hours yesterday with the usual, starting with the Sweet Stroll’s new Sunday version. The kids are happy to see us no matter what day we appear.
Hung out to dry on a rainy day.Once we get spotted, the kids come running.I had to take a piss, and this outdoor urinal set up for the trike drivers was conveniently located. Alas, I couldn’t fit through that opening. So, I aimed for the bucket from outside. Swan got a laugh out of that.Come on down! Those teeth ain’t gonna rot themselves.Near the end of our trek, Swan also experienced the call of nature.
Swan has been planning a celebration event on the 27th. We’ve been discussing possible venues to accommodate the invitees, and after several misses, we have found a location that should work well for us.
The Baybayin has a covered area that can seat up to one hundred guests in a very pleasant beachfront setting. Conveniently located in central Barretto with plenty of parking.
In keeping with my Sunday tradition, I took care of feeding the hungry girls at Hideaway.
It’s a Joy to do so.
We did not eat at John’s place this week. Instead, we joined the Bryce Street neighbors, Martin and Joss from our right, along with Jeff and Davina on the left, for dinner at the Hops and Brews.
I did the Sunday roast pork special. A tad pricey at nearly 700 pesos, but tasty.
After our meal, I suggested the group pay a visit to Jumpin’ Jacks, but when we arrived, it was inexplicably closed. I found out this morning that the sweet bartender there has passed away. She was a kind and friendly woman who was only in her early forties. Sad that her time here on earth was so short.
We left the car at Jumpin’ Jacks, and walked up the highway to Red Bar for our post-dinner liquid refreshments. When we’d had enough there, we headed back towards the car, but decided to pop into Mugshots for a nightcap.
We all agreed this venue was more to our liking when it had a pool table instead of a dance stage.
Mugshots is now on my no-go list along with BarCelona, Cloud 69, and Cheap Charlies.
And then I ran out of time and brought another day to a close.
On to December 2011 in the LTG archives, and there still isn’t much of substance taking place other than photo memories from the past like this one of my mom and dad:
Livin’ it up! Dad with a beer in his hand and mom with a smoke.
And me and my high school sweetheart Karen:
I hope my upcoming journey through my 70s is as fun as I had in the ’70s, but somehow I doubt it.
The only post worthy of inclusion is the pictorial story of the visit with Jee Yeun to the Congaree National Park in South Carolina. Losing the life we shared still hurts, but I’m still glad for all the good times.
Today’s YouTube video is the first one I’ve seen from this vlogger. I like his style and the fact that he keeps it short and sweet, so I’m now a subscriber. I totally agree with his top five things to dislike about living in the Philippines, but as he notes at the end, the good outweighs the bad.
Let’s take a shot at some humor, shall we?
Are you shitting me?Well, not to be an ass about it, butt…He’s probably horny, too.
And on that note, we will bring this post to a close. There’s a Hash in my near future, and I’ve already plotted a half-assed course. I’ll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.
Here’s that song I want played at my funeral, not that I’ll care one way or another.
Saturday’s come and go, and yesterday came and went. Here is how it went down:
Okay, now that we have that out of the way…
We did the Candy Walk on Saturday to avoid any controversy with the Sunday school teacher. The woman who runs the sari-sari store across the street from the church talked to the pastor, and he told her we should ignore the Karen because the kids are happy to see us. I guess he is worried about attendance if we are not there to provide an incentive to go to church. We still had a record-breaking day, so I’m leaning toward keeping the walk on Saturday.
This kid earned his goodies by traversing that hillside down from his shanty.Our goodies weren’t a bridge too far for these two.A river or a street, what’s it gonna be? Whaddya mean, both?
250+ bags of sweets handed out, so the effort was worthwhile.
Once again, Swan opted to stay home instead of helping me keep the bars in business. Oh well, her choice. Here’s what she missed:
It’s been a while since I took in the view from BarCelona.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that BarCelona had closed because they couldn’t pay their electric bill. They recently reopened, so I figured I’d give them a try. All the old familiar faces working there were gone, and the new ones weren’t an improvement. If I’m not mistaken, the bartender was a bakla (transgender). I’m tolerant enough not to be put off by that, but I have no tolerance for bad music played at high volume. Two beers and out, and I doubt I’ll be back. A beautiful venue doomed by poor management (and two flights of stairs).
I wasn’t sure where to go next. I was thinking about Hot Zone, but it was still two hours before their 7 p.m. opening. I popped into Sloppy Joe’s to consider options over a beer. Then I decided to have something to eat.
A pulled pork sandwich and fries hit the spot.
I was enjoying doing the open-air bar vibes, but wanted a change of scenery. Next stop, the seldom-visited Annex Bar. Hasher Fast and Loose was tending bar, so there was a familiar face to greet me. I was surprised that Annex was everything BarCelona isn’t. The place was packed, and they were playing some classic rock oldies with music videos on the big screen, like this one of Nancy Sinatra doing These Boots Are Made For Walking.
Annex is a small bar, but they know how to appeal to the local expat crowd.
I would have liked to keep the open-air thing going and thought about forgiving Cheap Charlies, but I guess I’m too stupid to do so. (The last time I was there, the bartender told Swan I was “stupid” for being upset about the bar having no wine. She said it in Tagalog, but I got the message loud and clear.) So, I ended my evening out at Green Room instead.
I was entertained watching some pretty darn good players shooting pool.
I’d had enough fun for one night by 7:30, so I headed home. Same trike driver as the night before, but no flooding to deal with this time.
Continuing on with my journey through the LTG archives, almost all my posts in September 2011 are recycling photos from the past.
Like this one from my cross-country skiing days in Flagstaff, Arizona. That would have been a mere 45 years ago.And here’s the view from the apartment I shared with Jee Yeun in the Gireumdongneighborhood of Seoul.
There was a post with some substance where I showed the difference between recycling requirements in Columbia, SC, versus Seoul. Here in the Philippines, we let nature do the recycling.
Facebook memories took me back to the time, thirteen years ago, when we disposed of my father’s ashes. His body was donated to a medical university, and they gave me a box of ashes when they were done with him a few months later.
First stop on our journey was Goltry, Oklahoma, where we deposited a portion of Dad’s ashes on my mother’s grave.I said hello to my grandmother, Pernie, who is buried next to my mom.
From there, we drove to Memphis, Tennessee, my father’s hometown.
Brother Keith carries Dad’s remains to the riverside.The Mississippi River is part of our family heritage; my grandfather was a riverboat captain back in the day.Into the river, then out to sea. Dad was a merchant seaman for many years.That’s Dad (third from the left) with his boyhood pals in Memphis.I inherited my sense of humor from my father, so I’m sure he would appreciate this sentiment.
Today’s YouTube video tells the story of the guy who plotted to meet up with Filipinas in a town with no other foreigners to compete with. What a dweeb. The video is a little long for my liking (twenty-six minutes), but at least it doesn’t have AI narration.
And now I’ll subject you to these:
Well, I’ll be a horse’s ass.Good advice!But he’s a prick, too.
