Back in the day, I’d sometimes use that old putdown, “I’ve forgotten more than you’ll ever know.” Lately, it seems more correct to say, “I’ve forgotten more than I ever knew.” At least it sure does feel that way. Perhaps as my mental decline continues, I’ll become ignorant and stop caring. I can’t remember the punchline. *ahem*

I’m going to make today’s post a quick one as I need to prepare for my weekend in San Antonio. We’ll start towards the end of the day and then work our way to the beginning. Beer o’clock arrived, and we started the quest for entertainment at the seldom-visited Alley Cats. Friday is dart tourney night, but there was only a handful of players there when we arrived. As we soon discovered, the reason was a scheduled “brownout” (power disruption) between 5 and 6 p.m. So, we enjoyed our beverages by candlelight. And it was nice to see some of my old darting pals again.

Next, we crossed the highway to grab some dinner at Mango’s. The power was still out, but Mango’s has a generator, so the lights were on. As we entered the lobby, we heard shouts and saw people running towards us. WTF? Looking up to the second-floor balcony revealed the issue—a fan was ablaze.

That is a guest room balcony, and there is no access except through the room. Since no one seemed to have access to a room key, two white guys (I believe they were returning from a just-completed scuba dive) took charge. One boosted the other up to the roof beside the balcony and then handed him a fire extinguisher.

Nothing like a little before-dinner excitement, eh?

For our post-meal nightcap, we decided to try somewhere new. Cloud 69 Bar opened several months ago, but we had never ventured inside before. Imagine my surprise at being greeted by name by two different females that I didn’t recognize. I asked the first one, a dancer, how she knew me. She seemed surprised and responded, “We played darts at Alley Cats.” Honestly, that didn’t ring a bell, but I politely said, “Nice to see you again.” She was one of the cutest gals there, so my forgetting her is more evidence of the brain rot I mentioned above.

The other woman who greeted me was a waitress, and she did look vaguely familiar. I guessed she was my old friend from Whiskey Girl, so I asked, How are you, Jenn? She gave me a funny look and said, “I’m Sheryl. I used to work at Alaska Club.” Oh yeah, now I remember you!

Anyway, Cloud 69 had a really nice vibe. There is a very small dance stage that holds three or four dancers max. There’s another room with a pool table. The music was great; classic rock songs played at a volume that still allowed shout-free conversation. We were there early, but several other customers arrived during our visit. The only weird thing I noted about Cloud 69 was that two of the waitresses were baklas (transgender). I personally don’t get upset by that, but I know other guys are uncomfortable in their presence, so most bars don’t employ baklas for that reason. Anyway, we enjoyed our visit and we’ll be back again someday.

Earlier, we had done the Friday group hike and finished the trail at The Rite Spot On The Roof.

And here was something I’d never witnessed in my almost seven (admittedly sheltered) years in the Philippines:

Good times! The hike was pretty nice as well. I led the group this time, and most of the trail went according to plan. My planned ascent went a bit astray when I chose the wrong path and ended up with a steeper climb than I had intended, but we survived the mistake, and things went well after that.

Alas, the day did end on a sour note:

A sad memory to share from the archives of LTG: the death by suicide of one my favorite bloggers, Shawn Matthews of Korea Life Blog fame. Surprisingly, all the links I included from 2006 are still working, such as this one from Kevin Kim. I was going to say, “Gone but not forgotten,” except I hadn’t thought of Shawn for many years until I came across this post to remind me. I may be wasting my life, but at least I’m still living it.

Another day I would have forgotten but for Facebook memories reminding me.

Today’s YouTube video is from Smart Girl Philippines, during which she purports to resolve the mystery of the lack of privacy in the PI. The way she speaks always makes me smile, and it’s just over five minutes long, so I don’t really care if her reasoning is right or wrong. I know that here in Barretto, everyone seems to know me, and I often don’t have the slightest clue as to who they are.

And now for the funny business:

Alright, I’m running late and need to get ready to hit the road. I’ll report in from San Antonio tomorrow. But here’s a bonus video from this morning’s dog walk. Well, bonus or punishment, here it is:

Need to remember to hold the camera higher…sorry!

The hard way is just the way things are done in the Philippines. So, you love it or leave it. I’m going to stick around because the good far outweighs the bad. Yesterday, I was able to experience some minor frustration without even having to resort to my mantra: “Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.” I must be getting more acclimated to the culture. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

I need to have the cataract removed from my left eye. A pre-surgery requirement is obtaining clearance from a cardiologist. My helper/caregiver advised that I could see the cardiologist I’d previously used at the local hospital in Barretto yesterday morning. No appointments are available; you show up, sign in, and are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Office hours began at 10:30. I arrived at 10:15 and was fifth in line. I was pleasantly surprised when my name was called at 11:00. The doctor wanted an updated ECG, and wanted it done where I had my previous one at a hospital in Angeles City. So, that means I’ll be traveling again next Tuesday. I’ll also need to get a chest x-ray before my follow-up visit at which time I’ll hopefully receive the required clearance to undergo the next pain-in-the ass medical procedure with the ophthalmologist. That’s my vision for the future.

Otherwise, the rest of the day went fine. Swan joined me for a 3K stroll home from the hospital. Later, we ventured out for some socialization at Oasis. About halfway there I realized I had forgotten my phone. Swan insisted on her going back for it, then joined me at Oasis when I was on my second beer.

Our second stop was at Alaska Club. We were the only customers during our brief visit. The bar upstairs, formerly known as La Oficina, has been renamed Tryst. I like that name better; maybe they will specialize in threesomes. I was told the bar won’t reopen until they can hire some dancers and waitresses. Apparently, the girly bars in town are struggling to find staff, as the ladies have discovered that using the internet for hookups is more profitable. The times they are a-changing.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. I ordered the Sit-n-Bull pulled pork sandwich to bring home for my dinner. I only ate the meat, not the bun. Alas, enjoying the last piece of pecan pie (a la mode) was an unwise decision.

My journey through the archives of LTG has progressed to June 2006. I discovered a picturesque post there detailing the event of my first-ever dart league banquet on the rooftop of the Hollywood Grill in Itaewon. It turned out to be a poor venue for the occasion, but the memories captured in the photos were good ones. It’s strange how remembering happy times can feel bittersweet in a ‘never again’ kind of way. Oh well, that’s just part of The Story of My Life.

Five years ago, a friend in the United States posted this on my Facebook, warning me to be cautious. Yes, that is the then-president of the Philippines threatening anyone violating the COVID lockdown order that he’d have the police “shoot them dead.” Duterte is now facing charges in the International Criminal Court for doing just that to alleged drug dealers. I am not a fan of the ICC, but I have very little sympathy for Duterte.

Time to check in again with the Filipina Pea for today’s YouTube video. In this edition, the Pea answers viewer emails, dispensing her usual good advice and wisdom.

The jokes are on me:

And there you have another day’s post. I’m looking forward to my weekend out of town. Can’t promise it will make for better blogging, but at least the photos will be different.

And I’m not lion! What I’m talking about is the journey of the Wednesday Walkers to Balon Falls and the Aeta native village of Aningway out in the wilds of Subic. We only do this hike once or twice a year, so it is always fresh and enjoyable. The natives are poor but friendly. We may plan an outreach mission for them later this year. We observed an interesting charity project in progress—building comfort rooms (toilets) in various locations throughout the village. I’d never considered that those shanties weren’t equipped with somewhere to poop, so it is good to see the problem is being addressed. I don’t even want to think about how and where they answered the call of nature previously. Anyway, now that we have that shit out of the way, let’s get to the pictures:

It’s election season, and campaign posters are ubiquitous wherever we go. I don’t get involved in local politics and have no opinions or knowledge about those seeking office, but there was something about this guy that caught my eye:

I started a new round of chelation therapy with Dr. Jo, and when that was done, we hoofed it up the highway to check out the latest addition to Barretto’s bar lineup, Dempsey’s. I had seen the former location in Olongapo City, down a narrow alley my driver would use coming back from the immigration office. I wondered then where they got their customers, but I suppose there remains a small expat community in that part of town, near the old Navy base.

The inside is pretty much as decrepit as the exterior. Only a longish bar, but no tables and chairs.

They don’t serve San Mig Zero beer, nor do they offer wine by the glass. So, that pretty much insures we will not become regulars here.

We were the only ones there during our brief visit, but the staff was friendly.

After Dempsey’s, we visited the other newish place, Red Bar. Once again, we enjoyed our outdoor seating and chatting with the friendly waitresses. We stayed longer than intended (the manager bought us a round of drinks), so we had some food delivered from Sit-n-Bull. Then we moved on for our nightcap at Green Room. Swan was craving a chocolate ice cream bar, so we stopped at 7-Eleven on the drive home to get her one. I also bought some for the subdivision gate guards. I’m happy to report that I avoided the temptation to partake as well, instead sticking with a sugar-free bowl of pudding for my dessert.

My journey through the archives of LTG led me to an April 2006 post that contains a treasure trove of photographs from my weekend adventures in Seoul. Good times in The Story of My Life.

From today’s edition of Facebook memories:

Today’s YouTube video is about something that’s been burning up my Facebook feed all morning. A vlogger doing stupid shit here in the Philippines to generate views similar to what that Johnny Somali asshole did in Korea. Like Somali, this guy did an FAFO and has now been arrested and is facing deportation. Lots of outrage, especially from Filipinos, who have very low tolerance for being disrespected.

Here’s a link to a news article about the situation if you want to read more. And the perp Vitaly even has a Wikipedia page.

Humor me:

And now I’ve gone and done it again. Until next time.

I was going to title this post something along the lines of “more of the same,” but when I did a search, I saw that I’ve used a similar phrase a dozen times in this blog’s twenty-year history. That says a lot about both the content of LTG and the pathetic routines I write about. I’ll tell you what, though. The retired chapter of my life may be boring to read about, but I’m so glad to be living it here instead of some retirement community stateside. So, without further adieu, here’s today’s edition of same old, same old.

Tuesday is shopping day, and that was accomplished in a way that doesn’t warrant further mention. Well, Swan did ask me to pose for this photo at the Royal supermarket:

Back home, I helped unload the groceries, then headed out for my neighborhood walk.

My faithful reader(s) know that Tuesday afternoons are routinely spent on Baloy Beach. Yesterday was no exception.

Next on the agenda was grabbing some food at Treasure Island.

In other news from my Fool’s Day, I booked a room at the Wave Song Resort for Saturday in Pundaquit.

So, my promise to get out of town at least once a month has been kept for April.

In April 2006, I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace for the first time. I took some photos before my camera (remember those?) battery died. And I actually managed to post them here at LTG. Another memory in The Story of My Life.

Speaking of Korea, it’s Cherry Blossom Season! At least, it was eight years ago.

Today’s YouTube video is one I found on Facebook from a Hasher who joined us for Monday’s hike. It’s short and sweet and better than mine. Enjoy!

To the humor we must go:

Okay, that’s just about all I’ve got for today. Planning to check out a new old bar in town this evening. I’ll explain what I mean by that tomorrow. But before I go, here’s a couple of pictures I took on this morning’s dog walk.

Welp, if you can put the cart before the horse, there’s no reason you can’t put the day before the sun, right? But first things first:

A crap video of Section Three of the Candy Walk (at least it is less than four minutes long):

The giving wasn’t done yet; I still had the Hideaway feeding to attend to.

Then it was time to hit the beach.

Then it was off to our Sunday dinner at John’s place.

We took the leftover wings to our nightcap at Green Room for the gals to enjoy. And that’s where our evening came to an end.

I’m laughing at the Tesla fools:

Is Trump never wrong?

To the archives, then. My first post in February 2006 was entitled “Stupid is as stupid does.” In it, I recount the tale leading to the first ambulance ride of my life and, not so coincidentally, my first stitches. It certainly warrants The Story of My Life tag.

More common-sense wisdom from Reekay in today’s YouTube video. My personal journey included several visits between 2007 and 2009, followed by an ill-fated detour into another failed marriage, before I resurrected my dream of the Philippines and plotted my future life here prior to moving in 2018. I’ve encountered some bumps in the road along the way, but I’ve no regrets about my decision to retire here.

Are you ready for these?

And there you have it. Another Hash Monday has arrived, and I’ve got a bad feeling today’s trail won’t be to my liking (the Hare is also a Corona Hasher), but I’ll shortcut as needed. I ate lunch while finishing this post, so I’m ready to roll.

Yesterday was filled with the usual Sunday routines but with an added twist. An old dart league compadre from the Korea days is visiting Subic this week, and I’ve consented to show him around town. Last night, Jay joined us on the Arizona floating bar, then came along for dinner at John’s place. Next, we introduced Jay to Barretto’s Wet Spot. That’s all the fun I had in me, so we headed home, and I directed Jay to Johansson’s so he could practice his darts (he’ll be playing at Alley Cats this week). And later today, Jay will be losing his Hash virginity. Should be a good time.

The day began with the Sunday Candy Walk, and it was good to be back after our hiatus last week. My videos suck, but I try to finish what I started, so here is the six-minute section two of our standard walk (in case you missed it, you can see section one here.)

A few more photos from our walk:

A nap, a blog post, and a shower later it was time for the Hideaway feeding.

Time to hit the beach.

Then it was off for some dinner.

Jay enjoyed the upstairs ambiance. Food was good. Swan had her usual birria tacos, and Jay went with a cheeseburger. His request for some avocado on top was granted. Sorry, I didn’t get a picture, that was a damn big burger.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, and Jay, being the new kid in town, caught the eye of one gal who wanted his attention. She rubbed his shoulders some, and he gave her a lady drink, then sent her away. Well played!

So, back in Itaewon times, Jay was just one of the dart league buddies, and I didn’t know him all that well. He’s a teacher, and after leaving Korea, he spent a couple of years in Thailand. He’s currently working in Japan. He’s a Canadian, and I sense he leans to the left, but we successfully avoided getting into any political conversation. I called Canada the 51st state, and he responded that America is Canada’s underwear, so that was well-played. He is looking forward to some hikes during his visit, and I’ll gladly accommodate him in that regard. I also secured Jay a spot on a Wednesday dart league team and will introduce him to the Alley Cats darts community tomorrow. This being a tour guide is a nice change of pace!

In health metrics, for the first time since I’ve been recording my blood pressure on a daily basis, I had a reading under 100! 98/64 was unfamiliar territory for me, but when I looked it up to make sure I wasn’t in the danger zone, I discovered I was still in the “normal” range. In a bit or unrelated news, the top shelf of my closet is filled with clothes that no longer fit me. Yesterday, I randomly grabbed a pair of shorts from the past and I’ll be damned, but they fit me again! That’s my kind of progress!

When was the last time SNL did something funny? Long enough ago for this to be worthy of note:

Today’s stroll through the LTG archives brought me back to this post in October 2005, when I discovered the poet Charles Bukowski. I’ve always been a fan of poetry, so how I went so long without reading his work is strange indeed. But, better late than never, I suppose. Here’s my favorite:

The Laughing Heart

your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

From Facebook memories of this day in the past:

Today’s YouTube video shares some news items from around the PI. Flirting with a man’s wife isn’t too bright, but kicking his ass when he complains about it is downright stupid. The nightmare of Filipino jail is the reward that comes from ignorance. I’d like to know more about the hikers who were rescued after being lost for several days; I hadn’t heard about that.

Take these for what they are worth:

Okay, I’ve got a Hash to attend to. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

Another day of liquification, but what goes in you must come out. It’s a shitty situation, but this too shall pass. It will be good to feel solid again. But enough of that crap, let’s focus on the positive.

Kicked off the morning with the Sweet Saturday walk. Neighbors Martin and Joss asked to come along, and the more, the merrier. They seemed to enjoy it. As we entered the first neighborhood, we saw a baboy transitioning to lechon.

I’ve eaten lechon many times, but seeing how this one was being roasted was interesting. The fire surrounds the pig and generates the heat, but the meat is not directly over the fire. There was a man behind that barrier in the back, cranking the skewering pole in rotisserie fashion. Hard work for a good meal.

Later in the day, we walked into town for a change of scenery.

We did our nightcap at Green Room. Waitress Chu challenged me to a game of pool, and feeling a tad bored, I accepted. She was leading in the first game but then scratched on the 8-ball, giving me a backdoor victory. Chu wanted a rematch, and I granted her wish. I actually played better than expected, and we were both down to the 8-ball at the end. She shot and missed. I didn’t.

One of the side effects of whatever it is that is ailing me is feeling fatigued. Even though it was Saturday night, I was over and done with it at 7:30. That’s early, even by my low standards.

Today’s journey through the LTG archives brought me to a post from October 2005. I’d just returned from an excursion to Phoenix, Arizona, for some work-related training. It was apparently quite the trip. When the session ended, I rented a car and drove through the Mojave desert. Then, I stopped in Laughlin, Nevada, for some gambling at the blackjack tables. On the way back to Phoenix, I crossed the border at Yuma and had some fun in Mexico. But here’s the thing: until I read that post, I had absolutely no recollection of that trip whatsoever. That freaks me out some, but it’s good to know this blog serves some purpose if only to remind me of things I’ve done. That makes the post worthy of a tag in The Story of My Life.

On this day in history via Facebook memories:

And then, six years ago, this guy came into my life:

My neck is sore from simultaneously laughing and shaking my head at the bullshit stuff my lefty friends have been posting on Facebook. Of course, I counter with my own memes to drive them even crazier.

Today’s YouTube video shares mistakes expats make in the Philippines and tells how to avoid them. Common sense ain’t real common in these parts. Yeah, I’ve had my share of fuckups, too.

Laughter is the best medicine. Here’s your daily dose:

I’m sure you’ve had enough of this nonsense for now, so I’ll let it be. Until next time.

I got to pick the route for the Friday group hike, and since we had my virgin neighbors along, I wanted to introduce them to my old friend, the My Bitch trail. We took a different route up and a new way down, but in between were the usual views that I enjoy. Martin and Joss were not disappointed, and although they are distance walkers (15K is their norm) on the flat streets of Manila, they found the Bitch plenty challenging. Here is some of what they got to experience:

I attended my first SOB in over a month last night. A shockingly low turnout of only eleven guests to watch the performance. I’ve seen better shows, but no complaints. My fellow judges agreed that Voodoo put on the best dance routine, with Alaska a close second.

I hope things turn around; I’m sure they lost money due to low attendance last night.

As usual, we came straight home after the show was over at eight. I was tired and not feeling so good for some reason. Today, I’m hoping the arria dies soon.

Today’s dive into the LTG archives brings us the story of the day I was stuck, poked, prodded, and probed back in February 2010. Say what you will about Korean healthcare, but their one-stop annual physical facilities are like something I’ve never seen before. Lots of pictures documenting my station-to-station journey on the road to better health. You’ve been warned.

From Facebook memories of this day in my history, comes these:

With all these Nazi accusations being bandied about, this is a useful guide to determine who the real Nazis are:

In today’s YouTube video, The Filipina Pea doesn’t hold back on the harsh realities of life in the Philippines. She’s right, but I ain’t leaving.

But wait, there’s more:

That’s all there is for this time. We’ll see what happens next.

And prospects for prosperity are looking good! That’s my way of saying the blood work results were better than I had hoped for–everything was within the normal range, and nasty things like cholesterol were below standard. Dr. Jo was impressed with the marked improvement over my previous results last July and suggested I keep on doing what I’ve been doing. I’m sure diet and exercise are factors, but the chelation treatments have also likely contributed to my healthier results. Dr. Jo and I agreed to do the four-week chelation cycle every other month going forward and see how that works out for me.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Swan was busy in the kitchen preparing for a gathering at The Rite Spot.

The food was good, the company outstanding, and the beer icy cold—a winning combination. Neighbor Martin (the guy on the left side of the table) spends most of his time working in Manila, so we hadn’t enjoyed his company in quite a while. His wife, Joss, paid me a nice compliment when she told me she hadn’t recognized me at first because of my recent weight loss. My high school compatriot Mike (at the head of the table) regaled us with stories from his extraordinary life. Starting with his time with the army in Vietnam, his career as a music promoter with some of the biggest bands in rock-n-roll history, and some of his adventures from the early years of his retired life in Brazil. Martin was so impressed that he tried to talk Mike into writing his story, and he’d use some of his connections to make it into a movie. Mike was non-committal about doing so, but he’s going to the USA next week to retrieve some of his papers and photos. We shall see.

The party went later than expected, and regular readers will be shocked to hear I was up until well after ten p.m. last night. I’m glad my health is up to the challenge! Martin and his wife also asked to join this morning’s group hike, and it was great to have them along.

There is some good news: despite my recent transgressions, today’s weigh-in has me down to 228.9 pounds. So, since I began this quest on November 1, 2024, I’ve lost 38.2 pounds overall and 2.8 pounds since my March 7 weigh-in.

Things I saw and shared on Facebook today:

Today’s stroll through the LTG archives brought me to this post from October 2005. It’s just another day-in-the-life type entry, much like I’m still writing twenty years later. I do use more pictures these days, though. I was a CIV III fanatic back then. I’m not sure why I stopped playing.

I’m pretty sure I posted this poem I wrote in high school previously, but here it is again. Of special note is that my creative writing teacher seemed to almost like it. He was normally very critical of my work.

Facebook memories carried me back to the lonely life I was living in Pyeongtaek during my final months in Korea seven years ago.

Today’s YouTube talks about why people move to the PI and where they hope to find what they seek. It’s short, and I enjoyed the street scenes from Cebu City, a place I briefly considered before opting to live my small-town lifestyle.

Take these as you will:

And that’s all I’ve got for today. I’ll be attending my first SOB in a while tonight, so that’s something a little different to do. With my health metrics on the upswing, I might be subjecting y’all to this daily punishment for a long time come. Unless I get squashed crossing the National Highway.

Back at it in Barretto again. As they say, if the shoe fits, wear it. Mine are plenty comfortable. The Tuesday routine starts with grocery shopping. Nothing exciting about that, just a weekly chore that feels good when it’s done. Yesterday, I wore my Trump T-shirt to the supermarket. I ran into an American acquaintance there, and we had a brief chat. Then another Yank neither of us knew approached and asked out of the blue if I thought Trump would rescue Duterte, the former Philippines president, from the clutches of the UN’s International Criminal Court. I responded that I hadn’t heard anything about Trump intervening and shared my opinion that Duterte had done some fucked up shit, but I didn’t think it was appropriate for the ICC to get involved–leave it to the Filipino people to decide what, if anything, deserves prosecution. The stranger seemed to agree with that approach, and we all got on with the shopping. I’m glad he wasn’t one of those insane folks suffering from TDS.

With nothing better to do, I made a video of the drive back to Barretto. It’s an eleven-minute trip.

But wait, you think that was boring? How about my after-shopping neighborhood walk? No, I didn’t make a video of that journey, but I did take photos of the national parks I encountered along the way.

Wasn’t that fun?

Alright, now that we got that out of the way, who wants to go to the beach?

Nothing out of the ordinary on the floater, just an enjoyable way to pass the time rocking on the water, enjoying the music, and, of course, imbibing some beers. As is our custom, at sundown, we moved to Treasure Island for dinner.

To clarify, we split one enchilada and brought the other home. Three wings each, and the rest for takeout. I had some wings for breakfast this morning. And after checking my calorie intake for the day, I saw some room for dessert, so I baked up a batch of brownies when we got back home.

Today’s journey through the LTG archives brought me to this post from September 2005, where I honored my daughter on the occasion of her 30th birthday. It’s a worthy entry in The Story of My Life.

Yesterday’s YouTube video talked about why expats were fleeing the Philippines. Today’s YouTube talks about why they are coming. I report, you decide.

Maybe these will put a smile on your face:

And that’s all there is for today’s post. I’ll be back tomorrow with more of this goodness.