As I mentioned yesterday, I accepted an invitation to join in a feeding and toy giveaway event hosted by the RSL (Returned Services League, the Australian VFW). I’m technically a member, having joined a couple of years ago, but I’ve not actively participated in their charity events. Swan’s sister and brother-in-law brought us with them to the far reaches of Cawag, an area I’d never visited. It was a successful endeavor, with three hundred bags of food and rice distributed and toys and candy provided for a similar number of children. I have lots of photos to share, so let’s get to it:

The kids’ line went relatively quickly. The adults getting food bags were given a numbered card and called up in order, which took quite a bit longer. Having nothing better to do, I took a hike down to the river with the members of Swan’s family.

Honestly, I was rather impressed with the makeshift huts and picnic shelters. I might come back here someday just to hang out and sip some cold beverages. But not this time. We needed to get back to the event and wrap things up.

On the way back home, we stopped at a roadside viewpoint.

Of course, the day was far from over for us. We took a nap, I blogged, and then we headed out for some beach time. Our first stop was the seldom-visited McCoy’s. We know one of the staff there, and she wanted to talk to us about some Baloy beachfront properties for lease. Well, I’d love to set Swan up with the Rite Spot On The Beach, but it’s really just a dream. What she showed us yesterday was way too much money for something that wouldn’t suit our purposes. No expectations, so no disappointment. I’d probably jump at the chance to convert McCoy’s into something viable, but the current owner is not interested in letting it go.

We went next door to the new Baywatch venue to see how they are progressing. Hmm. The downstairs bar/restaurant is still vacant. The door leading to the upstairs bar was open, so we climbed up there to have a look. Um, we walked in, and nobody was there. I don’t mean there weren’t customers; I didn’t expect any. There was no staff present to serve us. I guess they were closed but hadn’t bothered to lock the place up or something. Meanwhile, they had a videoke machine set up in the open outdoor area downstairs, and someone was blasting bad singing at high volume. Nope, I wouldn’t have stayed even if they were open for business. It seems to me this venue has taken a GIANT step backward.

So, now what? Swan likes a barefoot beach stroll, so I suggested we head down the beach to Laharnyz. And, of course, she was all-in for that idea.

I have come to really like the vibe at Laharnyz. I confessed to Swan that I enjoy it more than Kon-Tiki, except they don’t have food service (I guess unless you are homeless). Swan said she likes the view here better, and when we get hungry, we can always walk up the beach to Treasure Island. And when the hunger pangs came, that’s just what we did.

And on our way to Treasure Island, we passed by a brand new venue on the beach.

So, we shared a platter of chicken wings at Treasure Island and enjoyed some live music from the Engine Band. Then we headed home, where my gelatin dessert was waiting for me. And so ended a different kind of day, but a satisfying one.

Now, there is something to be said for my “early to bed, early to rise” lifestyle. While we were on the beach, I had the pleasure to witness this:

This morning, I woke up even earlier than usual and was rewarded with this vision outside my window:

Oh, Pubic Head posted this picture from Friday’s Hash Christmas party:

I got hungry at the feeding and snacked on four small pieces of candy. When I looked up the calorie count later, they were 45 calories each! Ouch!

Today’s entry in the Korea chapter of The Story of My Life comes from January 2005 and tells the tale of my very first weekend in Itaewon. One tale I didn’t tell (I was still married to wife #3 at the time) involved my first experience with lady drinks. I no longer recall the name of the bar, but it was open in the afternoon, and I needed to pee, so in I went. After taking care of that business, I sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. A few minutes later, a friendly gal came and sat next to me, and we began to chat. Since I was a newcomer, she gave me information on places to see and things to do in Korea. Being the gentleman that I was, when I ordered another beer, I asked if she would like a drink. She gladly accepted my offer. We sat there for a couple more hours talking and drinking, and it was all quite enjoyable. I was surprised how a random Korean female could be so kind to a stranger. And when it was time for me to pay up and head back to the Army base (I was staying at the Dragon Hill Lodge), I got my tab and about had a heart attack. It was $300! WTF? Turns out, her drinks were twenty bucks each! Well, it’s a good thing I had a credit card in my wallet. An expensive lesson, but tuition in the school of experience is never cheap! You can click the link above if you’d like to hear about my house hunting and first dining experience in a traditional Korean restaurant.

Ain’t it the truth:

My dating days are hopefully over and done with, but for any readers who may still be searching for “the one,” The Filipina Pea has some insights and advice on dating Filipinas. Good luck to you!

To the humor we must go:

I thought this was funny (I used to live in Arkansas, a whole other chapter in my life story):

A Letter From A Redneck Mother To Her Son

Dear Son,

I’m writing this slow ’cause I know you can’t read fast. We don’t live where we did when you left. Your dad read in the paper that most accidents happen within twenty miles of home, so we moved. Won’t be able to send you the address as the last Arkansas family that lived here took the numbers with them for their house, so they wouldn’t have to change their address.

This place has a washing machine. The first day I put four shirts in it, pulled the chain and haven’t seen ’em since.

It only rained twice this week, three days the first time and four days the second time.

The coat you wanted me to send to you, Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

We got a bill from the funeral home, and it said if we didn’t make the final payment on Grandma’s funderal bill, up she comes.

About your sister, she had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether if it is a boy or a girl so don’t know if you are an Aunt or Uncle.

Your Uncle John fell in the whiskey vat. Some men tried to get him out, but he fought them off playfully, so he drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.

Three of your friends went off the bridge in a pickup. One was driving and the other two were in the back. The driver got out. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. The other 2 drowned. They couldn’t get the tail gate down.

Not much more news this time. Nothing much happened. If you don’t get this letter, please let me know and I will send another one.

Love, Ma

Alrighty, then. Time for me to feed the Hideaway girls. Then I’ll join my lovely lady for dinner at John’s place. I’ll be back with more tomorrow.

I have the Friday group hike coming up at 0900, and the Hash Christmas party is a 1:00, so it is now or never if I’m going to dispense my daily dose of bullshit here at LTG. So, let’s get to it.

At my age, every day is special, and yesterday was no exception. That’s not to say I did anything special, but I still enjoyed filling in the hours, however comfortably and well. We did a walk to the Subic Market and dispensed some sweets to the children we encountered along the way. Swan picked up her Christmas present from me while we were there. Later, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Jewel Cafe and some liquid refreshments in the Green Room afterward. Yep, just another typical day in paradise. Here’s some of what it looked like:

And here is my gift to Swan:

To be honest, I’m a little worried about her driving this on the highway. Traffic moves fast, and these are slow. But she is a grown-up with a driver’s license, so hopefully, she’ll exercise good judgment on the road.

When it was time to head into town, we walked. Walk out, trike home is just the way I roll.

We both had the Jewel filet mignon for 499 pesos each. It’s a small cut but very tasty. The last time we ate these, they had gravy on the meat; this time, I ordered it on the side. And plopping the steak on top of the mashed potatoes was something I’d never seen. It was easy enough to move it, but it just seemed strange.

So, I calculated that I could afford to indulge the potato calories. I limited my evening intake to six gin and sodas. And when I got home, I discovered I was out of my preferred sugar-free pudding dessert. So, I made a batch of blueberry/pineapple smoothies instead.

And the Friday weigh-in results:

• Today’s weight: 240.6
• Last week: 245.2
• Reduction: 4.6 pounds.
• Starting weight: 267.1
• Overall reduction: 26.5 pounds

Slow but steady progress. At least I’m moving in the right direction.

Today’s memories courtesy of Facebook:

No time for me to parse a YouTube video today. Sorry!

I do have these tidbits of humor to share:

And that’s all for now, folks. Back tomorrow (I hope).

The hourglass that is your lifetime comes in many sizes; in most cases, the bigger, the better. If a grain of sand is the equivalent to a day in the life, here’s what my particle of yesterday looked like:

Then, I was off to an appointment with Dr. Jo for the second installment of my chelation therapy. Other than getting a needle poke for the injection, it was pretty painless. This will likely be a regular event for the next several weeks. It’s 2000 pesos a pop, but if it helps clear those blocked arteries, it is worth the time and money.

It being Tuesday, Baloy Beach was next on our agenda.

So, I mentioned a while back that Swan had bought some almond flour and keto sugar. Yesterday, she put her new ingredients to work and baked a carrot cake.

I’m sorry to say, looks can be deceiving. It tasted dry and unsweet, lacking the flavorful richness I’m accustomed to. That small slice cost me 180 calories, and it was unsatisfying to my sweet tooth. Needless to say, I won’t be tempted to indulge again.

One year ago, the next step in my recovery from nasal nodule surgery was removing the internal bandages.

Today’s YouTube video is from one of my favorite vloggers, The Filipina Pea. In this installment, she responds to viewers’ emails in a fashion reminiscent of Dear Abby. Some of the situations these guys get into with their Filipinas are so bad as to be almost funny. Not that I have any room to talk. My biggest diversion (perversion?) was dating the eighteen-year-old and not grasping how weird it truly was until my granddaughter celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Nope, I couldn’t continue on that road after that. Still, I never even considered asking out the mother of a girl I had been dating like one of Pea’s fans. Pea is wise beyond her years in the advice she provides.

If that wasn’t funny enough, how about these:

So, I had a good hike this morning and have no plans as yet for this evening. Something special is coming here to LTG tomorrow. I hope you’ll come back and read all about it.

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

Well I woke up Sunday mornin', with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more, for dessert
Then I fumbled through my closet, for my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt
And I shaved my face and combed my hair and, stumbled down the stairs to meet the day

I’m no Kris Kristofferson, so after my forgotten Saturday night, my head didn’t hurt, and I didn’t have a beer for breakfast. Maybe I should have.

We rode home with Tiny Cunt (Keith) and his girl for a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour trip. Along the way, we passed the cleanest city in the Philippines.

Anyway, we arrived home a little after eleven. Swan prepared a nice ribeye steak and broccoli lunch, and then I got to work on yesterday’s massive post. When I finished that, it was time to prepare myself for my Sunday evening endeavors.

Hideaway had a decent crowd, so that was good to see. The girls enjoyed their food and thanked me profusely. I had two gin and sodas, then headed across the highway to John’s Place for dinner with my sweetheart.

With dinner over and done with, we moseyed up the highway to The Green Room to enjoy our nightcap. Swan brought some of John’s delicious chicken wings to share with our favorites there. Three more gin and sodas, and we called it a night. I satiated my sweet tooth with some canned cranberries, then hit the hay.

Here are a few other photos from my weekend on the farm:

So, been there, done that, got the t-shirt:

And life goes on until it doesn’t.

Speaking of which, this was my life twelve years ago:

It was good to see that our soon-to-be former President is being appropriately honored by the USPS:

Today’s YouTube video once again raises the question of why some folks are quitting the Philippines. I don’t know anyone bailing for other than medical issues, but maybe my circle knew the things the vlogger identifies and came anyway. I know nothing here took me by surprise. Sure, there are frustrations, but that would be true wherever I lived.

And now the jokes are on me:

Hash Monday has arrived once again. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and the On-Home will take place at his house here in Alta Vista. Leech is one of the best when it comes to a well-marked trail, which I always appreciate. He also provided my fellow short cutter, Pubic Head, with a map in advance so we could plot our deviations. And so we have done. I’ll let you know how that works out for us tomorrow.

I came across today’s music video in my Facebook memories. Arizona was the best place I’ve ever lived (at least in the USA), and this song has always had a special place in my heart. It’s from the opening credits of the movie Junior Bonner and was filmed in Prescott, the town where I used to live. The songwriter and performer, Rod Hart, played in a bar band in Prescott and I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live on several occasions. Give it a listen:

Morning, Arizona morning
Almost sets me free
Makes me glad to be alive
Wondering, why I started wandering
Should have stayed right here
Underneath the clear blue skies

Sadness, changing now to gladness
With the rustle of the breeze
Through the pinon trees where I lay
In the morning, Arizona morning
A place where I can smile
And see a hundred miles away

The birds are flying high above the morning
Singing to the colors of the dawn
And in my mind, I hear a gentle warning
You've been a rounder and a rambler much too long
And a rover, wishing it was over
All my battles won, resting in the sun this way

In the morning, Arizona morning
Coming home today, wishing I could stay
Wishing I could stay

Here’s the movie (slightly shorter) version that I had posted on Facebook all those years ago:

And I also came across this short video talking about some of the backstage shenanigans that resulted in a bar band performer doing the opening song in a Sam Peckinpah film:

In a rush this morning before my departure for the weekend adventure at the Haggis Hash up north in Pangasinan. The low down on yesterday was taking Swan on her longest hike yet…nearly 10K. The best moment for me was when she told me she had been ready to quit as we walked uphill on the highway at about the 6K point, but once we started strolling along the riverside, it was fun again. We finished up at a restaurant in Calapandayan we’ve been wanting to try and enjoyed our meals and the view.

Later in the day, we paid a rare visit to Cheap Charlies. I reasoned that I could get a fairly priced gin and soda, and if we got hungry, we could order some food from Foodies, the restaurant on the ground floor. And that is just what we did!

Swan ordered something called Kare Kare, a Filipino stew. I forgot to get a photo. Sorry!

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I enjoyed chatting with the owner, Daddy Dave.

A little bit of a disappointment at this morning’s weigh-in: 245.2, down only three ounces since December 1. Overall, I’ve lost 21.9 pounds since beginning the diet on November 1. In more positive signs, my belly circumference is down an inch to 48 and two inches off the waist to 44. I’m getting there.

Here is how I looked fifty years ago:

Gotta skip the YouTube video today…no time!

Okay, I need to pack up the laptop, as my ride will be arriving shortly. I’ll post updates during the weekend as time allows.

The Wednesday Walkers took a long thirty-minute Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and proceeded to do an almost 8K stroll on the backroads of town. It’s almost crazy the lengths we will go to in order to see some relatively new scenery. There, I made this post title somewhat sensible now, right? Here are some photos from our journey:

Swan and I spent a good portion of our Wednesday evening at BarCelona.

We had our nightcap downstairs at Green Room. We shared a table with my friend Tom, who regaled me with stories from the good ol’ days in Barretto (he’s been here for twenty-five years). It’s tame here by comparison to what he termed “the Wild West,” when things were a lot crazier. I’ll take it the way it is, thank you very much.

We ordered our dinner to take out from Sit-n-Bull.

But you do what you gotta do, right?

I’ll do my weekly weigh-in in the morning. The last pair of shorts I bought had a size 42 waist. When I loosened my belt as I prepared for bed, the shorts dropped to the floor, still fully buttoned. I’ll take that as a good sign!

Today’s memory is the view from my apartment window in Seoul twelve years ago:

Today’s YouTube video gives a glimpse of life in Barretto in 1992 when it was still the “Wild West.”

And the daily dose of humor:

I’m not sure what’s in store for this evening, but tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Pozorrubio in the province of Pangasinan to participate in this year’s running of the Haggis Hash. It’s always good to get out of town for a change of pace. Don’t worry, I’ll be posting my lame crap from there so my loyal reader(s) won’t miss out on the fun!

And the “first time hearing” video:

I did my weekly grocery shopping at Royal yesterday, but I wasn’t royalty. Yes, I had lost my crown. Well, not technically lost; it had fallen off while I was flossing. At least I didn’t swallow it. So, after shopping, I visited my dentist. The crown isn’t in the best of shape, and the stub of my tooth doesn’t provide much room for grounding, but Dr. Barrera agreed to reattach it and see what happens. So, I left forty-five minutes later with a freshly glued crown, feeling like a king again. Then I took a 5K stroll amongst the peasants to celebrate having one less hole in my head.

After the usual R&R at home, the gal and me did our Tuesday on Baloy Beach thing.

So, they’ve hired a bunch of new girls, some of them quite attractive. Whenever an unattached male came aboard, the girls swarmed him like hungry mosquitos. But they were not overly aggressive and graciously accepted the “no thank you” response. The music was loud, but the playlist was good. I reckon I can handle my once-a-week visits here satisfactorily. The views make it all worthwhile.

When it was time to eat, we went ashore and ordered dinner at Treasure Island.

A bit of a hiccup on the way home. The peanut vendor I have helped out occasionally messaged that he was unable to restock his peanut tray because all his funds had been used for medical expenses. Well, I respect the fact that Emmanuel works hard selling his wares in the bars of Barretto rather than resorting to begging on the streets. So, I agreed to help him out and told him to meet me at 7-Eleven at 7:30. I had the trike driver stop there on our way home, but there was no Emmanuel. He had messaged earlier that he was on his way, so we paid the trike and waited for him at SnackBar. He got there about ten minutes late, and I lit into him. He said he had walked from his home in Subic, and I gruffly said that he should have left earlier. I told him it was extremely rude to ask for money and then not be on time to receive it. Yeah, I was being an asshole, and it might have been the gin talking. Anyway, I messaged an apology this morning, and he thanked me. So, all is well.

“The past beats inside of me like a second heart.” I saw that on Facebook this morning, and it seemed like a nice introduction to today’s installment of memories. Just this one from eight years ago:

I’m seeing a slew of videos about expats regretting their move to the Philippines. Today’s video features a well-spoken Filipina giving her thoughts on the subject. I honestly don’t let things like the “skin tax” bother me, and there are easy enough workarounds. My major complaints, like noise and litter, aren’t enough to make me want to leave. I just remember my mantra: Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.

Laughing can help, too:

Anyhoo, I’m a lucky man enjoying the mundane lifestyle I’ve adopted. I can tell my boring drivel is tortuous for my readers; my current stats say I’ve lost about half of my blog visitors over the past few months. Thanks to the rest of you for sticking around. If you have any suggestions for things you’d like me to write about, feel free to let me know in the comments.

I guess I’ve reached the stage of my Hash career where I shortcut without shame. The Hash should be something I enjoy, not a chore. Yesterday was no exception. The Hare’s laid a good and well-marked trail, but when it was time to climb up to the Black Rock ridge, the like-minded Hash group and I opted to go longer and flatter. And it worked out just fine that way.

A better day on the diet journey as well.

Weather is warming up here again, but nine years ago I was experiencing this:

And eight years ago, my still undiagnosed lung issues had me hocking up phlegm all night long.

For today’s YouTube video, we’ll have a little fun with Mikey Bustos. He’s such a Filipino!

And here’s some more fun:

Okay, thanks for dropping by. I’ll be back with more tomorrow.

I’m not sure how anyone would not have heard this song long ago, but these guys claim this is their “first time hearing” reaction:

…was also the first day of the month. Otherwise, it was pretty much like every Sunday around here. I’m not complaining; keep ’em comin’!

The Hideaway feeding was also pretty much standard fare. There’s a new girl working now, so that’s one more mouth to feed. I was surprised to see the bar was packed, even without a pool league match. That’s a good sign. One of the other customers was an old acquaintance who lives in San Antonio. It was nice to see him again after many months.

Speaking of eating, it was time for my Sunday dinner date with Swan.

We were once again the only customers at John’s place, but the service and food quality remained up to John’s high standards.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. Things went a tad overboard when a customer bought me a drink, and shortly after that, the bar comped me one. I suppose it is better to be fat than rude, so naturally, I accepted the generous gestures. It was a gin and soda night, and my comfort zone with that drink is limiting myself to six beverages. The two freebies put me at eight for the night. I was slightly buzzed but in control of my faculties.

And this is the price I paid for my over zealousness:

Today is the seventh anniversary of my longest walk.

It’s been a while since we last checked in with Reekay. Today’s YouTube video takes on the “real women” of the West and their unfavorable views of Asian women, who many men find much more desirable. I didn’t technically move to the PI for the women, although I obviously enjoy the unique qualities that come with a good-hearted Filipina. It just took me way too long to find the right one for me.

And maybe these will put a smile on your face:

And now it is Hash Monday once again.

Vienna Sausage is the Hare once again, and I’m unsure what his message in German on that pole is supposed to mean. Google Translate gives me this: Pleasure Palace Frederick the Rough Sanssouci, which makes about as much sense as not shortcutting his trails. In fact, I’m going to start from Alta Vista instead of the VFW, and I’ll likely consider my safety and comfort as I determine how much of the rest of his trail is worthy of my time. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

You can’t taste the goodness of the Thanksgiving gathering at The Rite Spot, but at least you can see how it looked.

I apparently neglected to photograph the fruit salad and candied yams. There was also dressing and gravy.

I wasn’t sure how many to expect. I put the word out; some acknowledged it, while others kept their options open. A couple I was expecting messaged later that they couldn’t attend. I told folks we’d start drinking at three and eating around four, but not many people were present when we kicked off the feast. I figured we’d have plenty of leftovers, but some members of Swan’s family showed up later (that’s how Filipino time works), and we filled the seats.

We had bought some takeout containers to give away whatever leftovers remained. Quite a few folks brought the sides and desserts home with them when the party ended. My one-day reprieve from the diet was over and I didn’t need any temptations hanging around the house.

And now for the damage done:

Back on track today. No breakfast and a 7K hike that included another climb up to the Kalaklan Ridge. I weighed myself just now, and I’m at 246.6, DOWN one pound from yesterday. Go figure.

Anyway, it turned out to be a nice gathering, and I enjoyed hanging out with the guys and downing lots of beers. I’m thankful for that opportunity.

Facebook memories presented a video I posted twelve years ago of me playing in the finals of a dart tournament: “Finals of 11/17/2012 KDF tourney in Seoul featuring Alister “All-Star” Tarbett (Scotland) versus John “The Walrus” McCrarey (USA). Best of 5 501 legs. John took the first two legs, Alister came back to take the next two, setting up a classic showdown in the final leg.”

Today’s YouTube video advises avoiding ten common mistakes retired expats make. I’ve made some of these, but after more than six years here, I’ve learned to avoid most self-inflicted problems.

Today’s dose of humor:

Okay, what’s next? I’m skipping the SOB this week in favor of a relaxing evening on Baloy Beach. I guess I’m just In The Mood.

May your blessings on this day of giving thanks be plentiful.

Busy morning getting ready for the Thanksgiving gathering on the rooftop. My last portion of the feast to prepare is the candied yams, but I’m waiting for the oven to free up. Turkey is done, but now it’s the chicken’s turn to get roasted.

Meanwhile, up on the roof:

Three more hours until guests start arriving, so I’ll share some of my yesterday. The Wednesday Walkers took a two Jeepney (blue and red) ride out to Olongapo City’s Gordon Heights barangay. There’s a road to the top of Kalaklan Ridge (half paved, half dirt), and we took it. It was a 1.6K uphill trek to the ridgeline. I don’t know why, but road climbs, especially straight ones, kick my ass more than trails. Once at the top, we had the usual amazing views that made the struggle worth it. Getting down was a bit of a challenge, too, because the grass was thick and high, making it hard to stay on the trail. We fought our way through and had an overall enjoyable hike.

I told Swan I was treating her to dinner at Sit-n-Bull (I had a 15% discount coupon I needed to use) and asked if she wanted to have a drink before dinner. She said she did. So, Outback, BarCelona, or Sloppy Joe’s to start? As I expected, she answered “Outback” without hesitation. It has beach views.

And then off to dinner.

A nightcap at Wet Spot, then home for a good night’s sleep before the big day.

Speaking of which, I weighed in a day early so I could assess the damage of the Thanksgiving cheat.

• Today’s weight: 247.6
• Last week: 248.6
• November 1: 267.1
• Net loss: 19.5 pounds

Belly is still 49″ circumference. Waist is down to 43.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen:

Looking back to ten years ago, I was alone in Columbia, South Carolina for Thanksgiving. That didn’t stop me from preparing a feast:

Today’s YouTube video carries us back to the first Thanksgiving and dispels the so-called myths surrounding this American tradition.

And give thanks for these jokes:

Anyway, time to get ready to greet the guests who will be arriving soon. Oh, I almost forgot, we had an earthquake this morning.

Okay, Happy Thanksgiving to both of my readers. I will give you a full report on the celebration and feast tomorrow.

And surely you knew this would be the song of the day: