Here’s the rare early morning post at LTG. The why for that is because I’m not sure what is in store come the afternoon, which is when I usually blog. The regular Friday group hike has been replaced today with the semi-annual 7-Eleven Hash run (which also takes place on July 11th).
Yeah, it’s a thing. I missed the July rendition this year because I was in Vietnam.
Anyway, we are leaving from the 7-Eleven in Barretto at 10:53 this morning (yeah, that’s seven till eleven), taking a Jeepney to Olongapo, and commencing our 7K journey, which will take us to seven 7-Elevens in the city and on SBMA (the old Navy base). We’ll travel back to Barretto when we are done and finish the Hash at Barretto’s other 7-Eleven market. I expect we will find a venue to celebrate this accomplishment, so it is unlikely that I’ll be in any condition to do my usual post about yesterday.
Which is the long way of saying, let’s get started with Thursday:
I woke up to this greeting from the full moon.
For our morning walk, I suggested to Swan that we pay a visit to the fishing village of Bantay Bayan and she agreed. After a 5K Jeepney ride, we began our exploration.
They’ve built a convenient new access road coming down from the highway since our last time walking here.The children of Bantay Bayan like cookies and lollipops, too.
I’ve always liked the vibe of this village and imagined what it might be like to live here. I was surprised yesterday when we encountered not one, but two, white guys living that dream.
A dead-end road led us to an angry bay. The high tide, coupled with the waves, dashed our hopes for a beach walk.Find your own place to pee, ladies!This abandoned beach resort always creeps me out in a Stephen King-like fashion.Our best (only) option was the highway walk back to Barretto.We haven’t been to Samba since the Kon-Tiki beach bar closed earlier this year.This pink house along the highway always catches my eye. Back in Barretto we are.It’s Fiesta time in Barretto! The big celebrations are on Saturday, but we’ll be out of town visiting a river resort in Botolon.The SOB is dead, but the Aftermath event has been reincarnated as the After Dark and debuts tonight at Wet Spot. The 8 pm start makes it pretty much a no-go for me.We finished our hike by grabbing some takeout food from Sit-n-Bull.The route we walked.
While we were at Sit-n-Bull, the manager told us that someone had died across the street earlier that morning.
At six floors, the Central Park Reef Hotel is the tallest building in town.It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.
Not many details have emerged as yet, but it was a 20-something young woman and likely a suicide. Sad to see a wasted life. I’m glad I changed my mind fifty years ago; I wouldn’t have missed this adventure since then for the world.
We started our evening out with dinner at Mango’s.
The bay was still in angry mode.I zoomed in on the village across the bay we’d visited during the morning, Bantay Bayan.My dinner date.The view from our table.The grilled pork chops on our table.That fireball in the sky.The end is nigh.
After dinner, we popped into the Outback Billabong bar. We usually frequent the pool bar when we are here, but since it was already dark, we sat inside with aircon and music. Met a friendly Aussie tourist and we had a nice chat. One of the topics we discussed was this:
A super typhoon is headed for Luzon. It looks like it will hit a bit north of where I am, but we will be feeling the impact of wind and rain regardless. Should make for a wild Sunday.
That’s the kind of excitement I don’t need or want in my life.
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria bar last night and had an enjoyable time. It has a very unique vibe and the dancers are so energetic that they dance even when they are not on stage. The manager told me he has thirty dancers now, which is likely the most in town. Most of them are relatively attractive, especially when compared to the girls I’ve seen in other Barretto bars. I’d rate Queen Vic the best girly bar in these parts, if that’s your thing.
Still plowing through February 2015 in the LTG archives. Today’s share is a photo-laden post about a weekend in Busan, the ROK’s second city. I always enjoyed visiting there. One more place on my list of things I miss.
Today’s YouTube video is a walk through the streets of Bantay Bayan. My photos didn’t really capture the essence of the village like this does.
You know what comes next:
It’s funny even without the political implications. I mean, you could make the joke, “Trump wants a ballroom because he ain’t got any.”That really stinks.It’s good to expand your vocabulary…
Okay, it’s gonna be a busy weekend, it seems. The 7-Eleven walk this morning and whatever comes after, then an early morning departure for a day on the river in Botolon. And a blowjob from Uwan on Sunday. Good times!
I hear some people been talking me down Bring up my name, pass it 'round They don't mention the happy times They do their thing, I do mine
Ooh baby, that's hard to change I can't tell them how to feel Some get stoned, some get strange But sooner or later, it all gets real Walk on, walk on
Ain’t got much to say, so we’ll keep it short and sweet today. Fair enough?
The Wednesday Walkers, all three of us, took the longish Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and did a walkabout on the GOVIC bypass highway.
My fellow adventurers, George and Swan.On the road again.We don’t need no edukasyon, we don’t need no thought control. Teacher, leave them kids alone!Does Cass still lay hoes?A heavenly hike.Hell, Mary. Aren’t you worried that those three wise men will figure out what you and Joseph have been up to?A tree I fancied along the way.And then back on the National Highway for a bit.The route we took on our 6K journey.
Come evening, Swan and I kicked things off at Sloppy Joe’s and shared some quite good chicken wings with fries. Then we went next door to Green Room, where I put my “buy one, get one” coupon to good use. When I’d drunk my fill, we headed for home sweet home.
I told you it was a nothing day. But I liked it all the same.
From the February 2015 LTG archives comes a post about coffee shops on Itaewon’s main drag. I was never much of a coffee drinker, but curiosity got the best of me one day, so I counted how many steps there were between the multitude of coffee houses. And I took a photo of each and every one. Go have a look for yourself.
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Smart Girl Philippines. In today’s YouTube video, she provides the nine reasons a Filipina wants to fuck a foreigner.
And now for these:
Nothing like getting back to your roots.That’s a shortcut I’m not taking.Well, I’m a boomer, but I don’t like 3, 5, 16, 19, or 20.
I’ve mentioned before the struggles I’ve been undergoing as I continue my journey through the uncharted waters of my seventies. Usually, I can turn off my brain, or at least drown it out with copious amounts of San Miguel Zero. But then those nights I can’t sleep soundly come around.
Like last night.
Lying there in bed, my mind inevitably starts traveling back to the past, reminding me of what I had and what I lost. My preference is just to let it go, or sometimes fantasize about what I might do to change things should I be granted a “do-over life.” Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Anyway, last night the struggle with my brain revolved around how disconnected I’ve become. I rarely hear from my children, and it’s been years since I’ve had contact with my two brothers. Long-time friends have also disappeared. I guess this is one of the consequences for choosing to live out what remains of my life on the other side of the world, far away from friends and family.
But here’s the thing. I don’t miss the vanilla American lifestyle I left behind and can’t imagine living in the nation of my birth again. I miss the people I’ve loved, even if it feels like they no longer love me. They’ve chosen to go their own way, just as I have chosen to go mine. Life goes on until it doesn’t.
Somewhat coincidentally (I was checking to make sure I hadn’t used this post title before), I found something I had written in 2008 expressing sentiments similar to what I’ve been feeling now. Back then, I was reflecting on my life after three years in Korea, lamenting what that had cost me, yet I was still unwilling to change course. That’s where I’m at today as well. The mistake I want to avoid this time is getting trapped in regrets over what I’ve lost and forgetting to embrace the good in the life I have.
So, as unconnected as I might be, I have my routines to fill the hours. Yes, they are mostly mundane and meaningless, but I enjoy them and will do my best to continue living the best life an elderly man can hope for. Let’s see how that works out for me.
And there’s no going back, so I’m taking the future one day at a time.
Take yesterday, for example. My new driver, Bong, who is a friend of Swans, arrived promptly at eight in the morning for my weekly grocery shopping excursion. There was an additional stop at the immigration office to extend my visa, and that went without issue. Then it was on to the Filipino supermarket, YBC, to stock up on the week’s candies and treats. Checking out can be a very frustrating experience, as I was reminded once again. It seemed to take forever for the woman in front of me to get her groceries squared away and paid for (she had them in three piles to be rung up separately. And then it took a long time for her card payment to go through. I stood by patiently, reciting my mantra, “take a deep breath, relax, and accept the Filipino way.” It’s not vanilla here; sometimes it’s a rocky road.
Royal is a comparatively American shopping experience, so there is usually nothing much to get upset about. My only issue was at checkout, when the cashier tried to entice me to buy eco-bags for my groceries instead of the cardboard boxes that are the usual method. When I declined the bags, she said the boxes were unavailable. I responded by pointing to the customer who was ringing out several aisles away, using boxes. Then the cashier disappeared for several minutes, presumably in search of boxes. Meanwhile, one of the baggers came by with boxes sufficient for my grocery load. The cashier eventually returned and began ringing up my purchases. Maybe it was my imagination, or perhaps she is just incompetent, but damn, it seemed like she was moving in slow motion. Anyway, if that’s all I have to complain about, I’m living a charmed life indeed.
Back home, I was feeling lazy and skipped the usual afternoon neighborhood hike. At beer o’clock, Swan and I made our way to Barretto and paid our monthly visit to my old darts bar, Alley Cats. I was reminded of how disconnected I’ve become from my former darting life. It’s still nice to see the familiar faces occasionally, though.
After Alley Cats, we crossed the highway for some dinner at the Outback Fish and Chips diner. We’ve had takeout from there in the past, but this is the first time we’ve actually sat down to eat there.
It’s an open-air joint, which I like. This is the view from our table.I’d been craving fish and chips for some reason. This is the mahi-mahi version, which I prefer to the standard dory variety. I wasn’t disappointed.
I had a 500 peso voucher from the final SOB for Whiskey Girl, so that’s where we headed next. At first, they declined to accept the voucher, saying they were no longer a member of the SOB. I was livid, saying this prize was given to me at the last event, and their refusal to honor it was tantamount to fraud. I was ready to walk out without paying for the drinks I had ordered when manager Mick interceded, saying he would accept the coupon but still claimed it should not have been given. So, I had four beers for free (one glass of wine I paid for) and left.
Then, we once again crossed the highway and popped into the newest bar in town, Gold Bar. We were warmly greeted by the manager and took our seats. I was a little surprised to see that I knew our waitress, Lydell, whom I first met at Snackbar several years ago. A little later, neighbors Jeff and Davina joined us. I didn’t take any photos, but Gold Bar is a clean, well-lit place —the kind I appreciate when I’m drinking inside. There is a pool table in the back and a small stage where four dancers were performing their swaying routine last night. They were attractive (i.e., not fat) by Barretto standards. It was a pleasant enough nightcap venue, and on those occasions we are visiting this side of town, we’ll pay them another visit.
Not bad for a Tuesday, eh? Except for the part about not being able to get a good night’s sleep.
Oh, I’ve often wondered why Filipinos don’t speak Spanish, despite being under Spain’s rule for four hundred years. This article explains what happened.
Moving on to February 2015 in the LTG archives, and this post about one of my best days as a darter brought back some nice memories.
A fifteen dart out in 501, the best I’ve ever thrown. The pros can do it in twelve, but they don’t use aiming fluid (beer).
Three years ago, I was still enjoying my visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
What’s not to like?
In today’s YouTube video, a white girl (or, more likely, an AI-generated image of one) shares her first experience in a Manila grocery store. She encounters the variety of snacks and flavors the locals enjoy. It is short, so bite your tongue and try to enjoy it.
And now let’s move on to the funny business:
Don’t ask me, I’m just a grammar spammer.IOU for this one.Puns can be killers.
That’s all I’ve got. Sorry for going a tad off the rails today, but that’s what happens sometimes.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was nothing special, but I’ve only got myself to blame for that. I opted not to follow the route the Hare prepared and set about on my course. Coincidentally, the Hare’s trail did intersect with mine for a kilometer or two, then headed back up into the hills. My path started with the My Bitch trail and then came down into San Isidro for a flat street walk to the On-Home at Smokes and Bottles in Calapacuan. I did manage to log 7K on my journey, and that ain’t bad for a fat old guy. Pubic Head (Scott) was going to a street walk to Smokes and Bottles from his house, but he decided to join me on my trail instead. It was good to be Hashing together again!
As we set out, I couldn’t help but notice that the new SBH3 shirt Swan was wearing had some ambiguity about it. I imagined encountering someone reading the Hare’s name (Anal Receptive) and taking it as an invitation to poke that ass.Into the tall thatch grass that is part of the Bitch experience.Swan posing for my Easter Mountain shot.Waiting at Mountain Mama Onelia’s place for Pubic Head and his contingent to arrive.The gang’s all here.That cabin in the woods I fancy.Making it just under the wire.The view from here.That really gets my goat.Well, lookee there, we are On-On the official Hash trail.The path was going our way, so we took it.Crossing Bridge #3. Not long thereafter, the Hare’s trail went one way and we took another.But our paths reconvened near the On-Home venue. The Hare (Almoranus) speaks German, and I *think* “saufn oida) roughly translates to “beer near.”On-Home at Smokes and Bottles, one of my favorite Hash venues.Some Hash Gash.That’s the Hare, Almoranus, on the right.The trail I mostly didn’t do……and the one I did.
After-Hash revelry at It Doesn’t Matter, then back to the house for a good night’s sleep before waking up thankful to still be amongst the living.
It’s still January 2015 in the LTG archives. Now, I personally have a very low tolerance for people who feel the need to act out and become a drama queen. Except when I are one. Live and learn.
Today’s YouTube video is also from the LTG archives. It was funny to see it again.
Let’s roll on into these:
Why not both?Man, you can say that again.What a stand-up guy.
Another day, another post. Let’s see what happens next.
Here’s the down and dirty on how I spent what the locals call All Souls’ Day.
As is our custom, we kicked off our Sunday with a Sweets Stroll.
Damn, dying at forty is sad. Filling the void with some sweet goodness.
Speaking of goodness, Swan made me a meat pie for lunch:
She’s a natural in the kitchen, and being with a Brit for many years expanded her repertoire.
But the feeding wasn’t over, I still had the Hideaway gals to tend to.
You are welcome!Down the hatch!
But wait, there’s more. At John’s place across the highway, I rendezvoused with Swan, who had just returned from family time at the cemetery in remembrance of her mother.
The dinnertime sky view from John’s.This should come as no surprise to regular readers.Bulgogi hit the spot for me.
After our meal, we ventured out to Red Bar and met up with the neighbors.
We usually sit outside, but Jeff was craving the aircon.
Swan said she saw on Facebook that there was live music at Jumpin’ Jacks starting at 7 pm. So, off we went. When the music didn’t start as scheduled, Davina graciously helped fill the void.
Thanks for that performance!It was almost eight before the scheduled act took the stage. That’s awfully close to my bedtime, so we didn’t stay for much of the show.
And that’s all there was to the day, but it was still blessed. I hope there are many more to come.
From the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute to my mother on the fourth anniversary of her passing. Gone but never forgotten.
Mom’s life was not an easy one, but in the end, her thoughts were only about the power of love. She urged us to love and to be loved because that was all that really mattered.
And Facebook also flooded me with memories from this day in 2018, during my last visit to the USA. We rented a place for the weekend at Seven Devils, North Carolina, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.
It was the last time I experienced snowfall.And the sunsets were amazing.It was also the last time I saw my children.Nothing lasts forever.
Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. You just live the life you have and make the best of it. Looking back still makes me sad sometimes.
Speaking of looking back, today’s YouTube video is about growing up in the baby boom generation. Those were some sweet memories. I’m glad I got to experience life the way it was. I’m also happy to be living life the way it is, but the clock is ticking for us boomers.
And now let me offer you these tidbits of wisdom that may be worthy of a smile or two:
What did she say?I’m fucking trying to get it write.Who gives a shit?
There you go. I hope you got what you came for. It’s Hash Monday and I’ll be hitting the trail again this afternoon. When I say “the trail,” I mean “my trail.” I’ve decided that making the effort to reach the official start at the end of Rizal Extension isn’t worth the hassle, especially since I’m not a fan of the previous trails by today’s Hare. Damn, the older I get, the more inclined I am to say, “Fuck it. I’ll do it my way.”
I heard this song as background music last night. It had been a long time since the last time it tickled my senses. In my old-man style, I sent myself a message with the song’s name so I’d remember it today.
This is the day Of the expanding man That shape is my shade There where I used to stand It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass At ramblers Wild gamblers That's all in the past
You call me a fool You say it's a crazy scheme This one's for real I already bought the dream So useless to ask me why Throw a kiss and say goodbye I'll make it this time I'm ready to cross that fine line
I’m glad I don’t live in NYC. They are fixin’ to find out what comes with being stupid.
Don’t worry, I’m not going there. Arguing politics online never changes any minds, mine included. Just glad I’m watching from a safe distance.
Here in my world, I had a mix of the same and something a bit different.
The dawning of another day as seen from my balcony.
Then it was time for the weekly Decay Dance.
How now brown cow?Litter here takes many forms. The locals don’t give a crap. What a pisser.There’s something you don’t see every day on the streets of San Isidro.Restocking the candy bag.I liked the juxtaposition of this dead tree and Easter Mountain.Doing her duty…those teeth ain’t gonna rot themselves, you know.5K of sweetness delivered.
Neighbors Jeff and Davina invited us to join them in the afternoon at Treasure Island on Baloy Beach. Sure, why not?
Kids enjoying the pool.Gals enjoying their card games.And at 4:30, the live music, featuring Engine Band, kicked off.Then the sun did its thing.
No Zero available, so I enjoyed a bucket of San Mig Light (six beers for the price of five). I guess you could say I kicked the bucket!
And as long as you are being bad, you might as well go all in. Damn, that banana split was delicious!
The combination of starting early and drinking beer with 5% alcohol content (versus the 3% I’m accustomed to) inevitably brought the evening to an early end.
Once home, Swan lit candles in remembrance of the dead, including two for my parents. They probably didn’t notice, but they weren’t forgotten.
This may well be a record for me:
Nine hours of sleep is a lot for me, but damn, I fell asleep at 7:24 p.m. I’ve got to build up some endurance for chrissakes.
It wasn’t a long day, but it was a good one.
Back to the January 2015 LTG archives, where I write about moving into a new high-rise apartment building and my commute to work in Seoul. Ah, to be young and in my sixties again.
Lots of Facebook memories from this day in my history:
Eleven years ago, I was darting with one of my best friends, Duke Gates. And now he’s disappeared himself from social media and doesn’t respond to emails. No one knows what happened or what is up with him.Seven years ago, I visited the USA for the last time. It was nice to see my mailman jacket still fit me. It wouldn’t now.Three years ago, I was in Cambodia and saw my good friend Dennis McPeters for the last time. I fear the worst in his case.I’d almost forgotten how cute those Cambodian gals are.A bar zone right across the street from my hotel. Phnom Penh had several streets lined with girly bars like these.The beer was good too!
Today’s YouTube video is from my pal Jambo. I promise this is the last time I’ll post a video from the SOB.
It’s a holiday weekend here in the Philippines. Yesterday was Halloween, today is All Saints Day, and tomorrow is All Souls Day. It’s a big deal here, and the cemeteries will be packed on Sunday with family gatherings and celebrations to remember those who have passed. Where I grew up, it was only about the trick-or-treating. Today’s YouTube from the Pea explains the Filipino traditions in more detail.
So, my Halloween this year consisted of an 8K street walk from the Subic marketplace back to Barretto. Then I attended the funeral for the SOB dance contest. It was a rather sad affair. I’ll get to that later in this post, but to keep things sequential, we’ll start with the walk.
My fellow Friday hikers, Swan and Gary.There’s no trick to handing out candy on Halloween.I ain’t afraid of that rickety bridge.Not exactly a walk in the park, but no complaints.Gary didn’t get board.There’s something haunting about this abandoned subdivision.
I walked through the gate for the first time yesterday. Big, wide streets, paved in concrete and tree-lined. Very nice despite the ghostly vibe. It felt a little like being in a Stephen King novel.
As we passed the graveyard, there were many people busy cleaning and painting in preparation for the coming All Souls Day.Spooky decorations at this beach resort.A brief interlude on the highway heading back towards Barretto.This loosely translates to: Fuck off! Don’t leave your trash here.Waterlines line our path.Oh look! You can see Alta Vista from here.That’s where I live.A nice Halloween stroll.
Next on the day’s agenda was attending the final SOB, held at Wet Spot.
Swan dressed up for the occasion. My costume was invisible.Neighbor and fellow WHS alumnus, Mike, was our tablemate at the SOB.The stage was nicely decorated for the event.And Wet Spot was jam-packed with attendees.I apologize for failing to get many good pictures from where I was sitting last night.
Only three bars competed last night, another reason the SOB has been on life support for quite some time now. All participating teams had nice costumes and put some effort into their performances. Creepy Halloween gear and sexy dancing seem to me to be incompatible, but I guess monsters need love, too.
Wet Spot finished first, followed by Queen Victoria and Green Room.That’s the scary manager from Queen Vic.I added all the teams I used to enjoy watching to my scorecard. Thanks for the memories!
And then it was all over and done with after more than twenty years of weekly competitions. Things change, and life goes on.
My final coupons from the SOB. I don’t like Whiskey Girl, but I might enjoy drinking 500 pesos worth at their expense. The Green Room coupon will be easy to use.
So, after making sure I had drunk enough to cover my 750 peso SOB entrance fee, I was ready to head home when the show ended at 8 pm. And that’s just what I did.
Back in January 2015, I linked to a post of mine written on New Year’s Day 2005 from Oklahoma, where I was visiting my parents as I looked towards an unknown future in Korea. Here’s what I had to say back then:
And that leads to my current insight on this New Year’s morning. I never really had a plan for life; I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroad, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose. No mulligans. But I have been extremely fortunate and blessed. Good people got hurt along the way, and for that I am truly sorry. But the roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck, perhaps, but even though I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be, it has been a very nice ride.
So it is time to look forward again. This year brings a new road in Seoul, Korea. And it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure. My point (if there is one) is just to say that I have discovered it is important to take the time to enjoy the life you are living, even as you chase rainbows. I think I missed the best part of Oklahoma, and it is only in looking back that I realize that I should have allowed myself to be happy there.
Reading the above this morning had me shaking my head, realizing I never truly learned that lesson. I spent a year in Pyeongtaek, missing the life I’d left behind in Seoul and looking ahead to my upcoming life in the Philippines. I was too foolish to appreciate all the good things that surrounded me back then, and it is only in looking back sadly at what should have been an enjoyable chapter in my life if I’d only allowed myself to live in the moment. So, for better or worse, I’m embracing this life of mine in the Philippines, warts and all.
Today’s post from the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute I wrote to my friend and workmate, Dennis McPeters, upon his retirement from government service. I met him back in our Postal Service days, and he had become one of my best friends over the years. I last saw him three years ago in Cambodia, where he was living. He hasn’t responded to my emails for over a year now, and I fear the worst. I sent him another today, just in case they have Gmail in heaven.
Here’s the YouTube video from the Filipina Pea I mentioned earlier in this post:
Smile while you can in life:
What’s up, Doc?Bada boom.If you say so, but it didn’t take me long to fnid it.
That’s enough for today, don’t you think?
It is hard to believe that this song is fifty years old now. Where does the time go?
It being Halloween and all, I suppose getting haunted by the past is par for the course. Earlier today, I posted something I had written back in April 2017. Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of how that “Brand New Plan” worked out for me. I wrote about that failure in a post called “FUCK ME!” Of course, looking back, it is easy to see now that I was lucky to get screwed over before I wasted more time and money on someone of such low character. Life’s best lessons are the hard ones, which is not to say that I’ve been all that successful learning from them. But here I am, still in the game. It’s late in the game, but I’ve got a good woman to see me through to the end this time.
Even one of my normal nothing days is better than a stab in the heart. Boring doesn’t hurt nearly that bad. Swan and I took a beach walk, then crossed the river for a street walk in Matain.
At the top of Baloy Beach.And near the bottom of Baloy.Where the Matain River meets the bay.Our ride across the river.Not so easy for a big guy like me to crawl in and out of the little boat. I managed somehow.On the Matain side of the river.A tad over 7K start-to-finish.
Swan wanted some “me” time at home, so at beer o’clock, I ventured out into Barretto on my own. I made Cheap Charlie’s my first stop.
The view from my perch.
I was surprised to be the only customer in the bar for most of my visit. Cheap Charlies used to have an early crowd, but the girls say it’s been slow lately. Speaking of the girls, there were a couple back to work that I knew from those long-ago days when I was a regular here. A lot has changed since then, including Cheap Charlie’s raising the price of a single lady drink to 250 pesos. That’s one of the most expensive in town. I’m not a cheap Charlie by any means, but as I explained to the girls, I won’t pay more than 200 pesos for a lady drink as a matter of principle. While I’m sure they were disappointed, they seemed to understand. They cheered up when I handed out some cookies and lollipops, then I ordered the gals some chicken fingers and lumpia from the restaurant downstairs. Coincidentally, the price of the food was the equivalent of two lady drinks. So, win-win.
I’m not sure what this church procession was all about. Is All Hallows Eve-eve a religious holiday?
When I finished the last San Mig Zero in the Cheap Charlies fridge (yes, once again, bars all over town have run out, and the supplier says it is unavailable), I crossed the highway and found a seat at a rather busy Green Room. Then it was next door to Wet Spot for my nightcap, before grabbing a trike for home.
I guess that proves that I only drink when I’m alone or with someone.
It is now January 2015 in the LTG archives, and the new year began with a life-changing event: my wife told me she was unhappy in our marriage. I asked if she was willing to work on improving things, and she responded, “Not really.” I tried for a year to change her mind without success. It still hurts, and I still don’t understand it.
Today’s YouTube video features Reekay talking about the perils and joys of building relationships within the expat community. From my perspective, friendships come naturally, but as an introvert, making them can be difficult. I have lots more acquaintances than friends, but the friends are people I share common interests and socialize with, like my neighbors and fellow Hashers.
Let’s try to bury the sad days in the past with some humor:
Feedback is a gift, and I appreciate it. Not always a gift I can use, mind you, but it’s the thought that counts.I may not be good at punctuation, but I’m never late, so I’m punctual.Does that make Travis a dick or a butthole? Or both?
A journey through the past, like I’ve been doing over the past couple of days, can be exhausting. As I’ve always said, it only hurts until the pain goes away. Tonight is the final edition of the SOB dance competition, and I’ll be there to add it to my memory box. I’m sure it will be a bittersweet experience.
I wrote this as a reader’s submission on the StickmanBangkok website back in April 2017. Stickman is going away, so I wanted to preserve it here, even if it didn’t age well.
A little background. In November 2015, I made my first submission to Stickman entitled “Regarding Korean Women“. One month later, my Korean wife bailed on our marriage, saying only, “I no have happy life with you”. I was devastated, and went on a two-month drink binge. Then I changed my mind about drinking myself to death and went on a diet and exercise program, losing 60 pounds so far. I’m feeling and looking better than I have for years, but my heart remains a mass of scar tissue.
Prior to meeting the Korean woman who became my wife, I was well on my way to finalizing my plans to retire in the Subic Bay area in September 2010. After falling in love, I had to make a choice. And I chose love over the PI. I moved back to the USA, bought a house, a car, furniture, and lived the American dream. I was retired and we’d spend 6 months in the States, and 6 months in Korea. Three years into this routine, the wife declined to come back to America with me. So I found a job in Korea and came back to her. And it turned out she wasn’t happy about that. Never expected I’d be alone again at 60 years old.
Nothing to do but pick up the pieces and move forward. In an odd twist of fate, I wound up getting promoted back into the job I had retired from in 2010. The pay is great, but my heart really isn’t into it. And now I’m planning to re-retire in September and move to Subic. It’s like déjà vu all over again! Only I’ve lost seven fxxking years of my life in the interim.
I’ve sold the house and everything I own in the USA (at a significant loss) and have no intention of ever going back there. Korea is too full of painful memories, and I’m ready to move on to the next chapter (the final chapter?) of my life. I’ll start in the PI, and if that doesn’t work out, I’m inclined to give Cambodia a try.
But this post is about love. Or more precisely, how I’m done with love. After the split with the wife, I started cruising the dating websites. I was pretty good at ferreting out the scammers (having been scammed a time or two back in the day). Met a couple that I thought had potential and spent a lot of time chatting on Skype. The first was Maria, and she wound up scaring the hell out of me by professing her undying love before we had even met. I kept telling her to back up and slow down as I was nowhere ready to go to the being in love place. We met up in March in Cebu / Mactan and had a good time together. I promised to see her again for her birthday in June. This time we met in her hometown on Samal Island. Again, I enjoyed her company but was unwilling and unable to return the love she wanted to share. Finally, as an act of mercy, I ended it with her. Felt bad about her pain, but the truth is, it was self-inflicted. I warned her and warned her about the love thing. I just wasn’t willing to do that.
Then a friend introduced me to a Korean woman. Now, I had sworn off Korean women (pretty on the outside, cold as ice inside). But she got under my skin. I took her to visit the Angeles / Subic area in September. She enjoyed her visit but was put off by my plans to retire there. She asked me, “Who would want to live in a poor country?” She was also not happy with the old men parading their young Pinay beauties down the street. Suffice to say, things ended badly with her. And that’s when I finally knew I was truly and forever done with love. I’m just too old for that shit.
Meanwhile, I had continued to have irregular communication with one of the first gals I met on FilipinaCupid. I liked her because she was smart and could actually carry on an interesting conversation. I would have preferred meeting Loraine over Maria to begin with, but Loraine had confessed to having a guy in the States sending her support, so I backed away. After the Korean gal ended the relationship, I got in touch with Loraine again. Turns out she was in a long-distance, but unfulfilling relationship with some sad sack back in the States. Didn’t matter to me; I wasn’t looking for love anyway, and I still enjoyed our chats.
Loraine had been an OFW (overseas Filipino Worker) in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. The Vietnam job had ended badly, and she was back in the PI, unemployed, and, because of her age, basically unemployable. So, I had made plans to visit Puerto Galera over the 2017 New Year holiday. Loraine had spent quite a bit of time there, and since I enjoyed her company online, I figured I might like her in person as well. I offered her a job as a tour guide, and she accepted.
We got on quite well during the trip, and I was glad I’d brought her along. Especially when I wound up sick and she was able to provide the TLC I needed. Which gave me an idea. Why not hire her full-time as my personal assistant/caregiver to take care of my needs when I move to the PI?
So, I made her a job offer. Monday-Friday, paid holidays and vacations, outstanding pay and benefits, including room and board. Her job would be to do all things a girlfriend/wife might do. I simply want companionship without all the bullshit that comes from a “loving” relationship. Loraine did not hesitate to accept my offer and appears excited about the opportunity.
Will it work? Who knows. I’ve already advised her that falling in love with me or any other overt indications of jealousy or similar behaviors would be grounds for termination. She’s been warned. And since she is an employee, I won’t be bothered with all those requests to support the family; that’s what her paycheck is for.
I think it’s a good concept that gives me what I want and need with relatively minimal risk. It will be interesting to see if the theory plays out in practice. We recently completed a successful ten-day test run during an exploratory house-hunting trip to Subic. I’ve put her on a retainer (1/2 salary) pending my move in September. She’s using this time to attend massage training and caregiver school.
I think I may have found the perfect alternative to love and all its baggage. Can I actually pull it off? Stay tuned!
As is my custom, yesterday I joined the Wednesday Walkers for a healthy adventure in the hills. Well, maybe it was more lucky than healthy, because none of us got hurt. I had the bright idea of doing the portion of Monday’s Hash trail I had elected to skip. So, we did a street walk to where the mystery trail I didn’t take began its ascent. It’s surprising this far into my Barretto hiking life to find a trail I haven’t traveled before, but that’s what happened yesterday. We hadn’t gone far before I realized two things: I made the right call on Monday by skipping this portion of the Hash trail, and I will never voluntarily take this route again. It was an ass-kicking bitch, at least for me. So, as much as I enjoy trying a new path, once was more than enough for this one.
Fellow sufferers: Swan, George, and Gary.The easy part.No paddle required.The path that led to hell.It’s hard to capture the steepness of the climb in a photograph, but when it takes hands and feet to claw your way up, it sucks big time.Another thing on our shitty trail to overcome was barbed-wire fences.This one required an underwire breach. Picture my fat body trying to squirm under that fucker. It wasn’t pretty, but I made it without a scratch this time.We’ll end the hike on a high note.The route of our 6K trail from hell.
I’m not going to say it was the worst Hash trail ever, but it was in the top ten.
Things got better as the day went on. Since we had skipped our Tuesday visit to Baloy Beach, we went yesterday. Started out at Champs Sports Bar at the Baywatch Resort.
A Champs view.Swan enjoying the Champs view.What’s going on? When we weren’t watching the beach, the music videos were entertaining.Good music at a reasonable volume is one thing Champs gets right.Sun, clouds, and mountains. What’s not to like?We always enjoy the show at sundown.
Then it was time to mosey on up the beach.
Toes in the sand time.Dusk descends.Dinner time at Treasure Island.Who’s the lucky one?
After our meal, we had the trike drop us off at the 7-Eleven, and we visited Snackbar for our nightcap.
Nice to see you again.
And so another day in the life came to an end.
From the December 2014 LTG archives comes the story of the consequences of an altercation my friend Jeremy engaged in that resulted in the death of a Korean man. Jeremy spent 5 years in a Korean prison for his crime. He’s back home in the USA these days, and we still engage occasionally on Facebook. He is suffering from a severe case of TDS, and sometimes my posts trigger a typical lefty reaction.
Facebook memories were full of women from the past today:
From six years ago, Ilene with her then boyfriend. I dated her briefly a couple of years later. And I just saw on Facebook the other day a post about her getting married. Congrats and good luck to you both!Six years ago, I was dating Marissa. She must have been feeling horny that day.Fourteen years ago, I was in South Carolina with the Korean woman who would become my wife.Eighteen years ago, in Itaewon, with that girl who moved to New York to make her dreams come true.
What a long, strange trip it’s been.
Today’s YouTube video says if you are still doing these things at 70, you are doing it right. I guess that’s half-right in my case. It has that crappy AI narration, so enter at your own risk.
At least I haven’t lost my sense of humor (if you can call it that):
I wouldn’t mind being a judge.Give credit where credit is due.Don’t swallow the P!
Sometimes it feels like I’m only forgetting the good parts.
One of those days yesterday where everything just felt a little bit off. I’ve struggled with bouts of depression throughout my life, and thankfully, my black thoughts have not reached that level yet. Still, another night of little sleep set the tone for the day. My f’n brain just won’t shut up and let me rest sometimes. The transition to my elderly seventies continues to be a struggle, the hardest part being acceptance that the end is coming, ready or not. That, coupled with the realization that dreams of the future are a thing of the past, enhances the reality that, like it or not, what I have is what it will be until it is gone. I do take some comfort in knowing it could be a hell of a lot worse.
My driver, Danny, who has been with me since I first moved to the Philippines, told me on the way to the grocery store that he was resigning. That was more than a little surprising. We stopped at the ATM, and when I got back in the car, Danny and Swan were arguing loudly in Tagalog. I told them I didn’t want to hear it. Later, I tried to get Danny to explain to me why he was quitting, but all he would say was that he didn’t get along with my girlfriend. Later, I got a message from Danny’s son, reiterating that the problem was his relationship with Swan. Yeah, Swan has been interjecting herself in the price negotiations over what Danny charges me. Danny asked for 20,000 pesos to drive us to La Union and back. Swan said that was too much, and she did the car rental route with driver, gas, and tolls, and it cost us 16,500 pesos. Apparently, that was the final straw for Danny. Oh, well. I don’t need the drama, and if he isn’t happy, by all means, he should find a new client to overcharge.
My legs were stiff in the lower calf area, which is unusual for me. Must have been stress from those ups and downs on Monday’s Hash. It made walking painful, but I forced myself to go out and hike the neighborhood after grocery shopping. It was good to ease my mind with music from my Spotify playlist filling my earbuds. My legs felt better when I was done, too.
An Alta Vista view.
Swan needed to go to the drugstore to refill my prescriptions, so we skipped Baloy Beach and did our evening out in Barretto. I took my usual perch at Sloppy Joe’s and watched the world pass by outside. Swan did her shopping and, when she returned, said she wasn’t hungry. I was, and ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which was pretty good for pub fare. Next, we paid a rare visit to the Alaska Club and enjoyed the music and company of our waitress, Alex. She got two lady drinks, and the five dancers each received a 50-peso tip in appreciation of their efforts. We did our nightcap at Cloud 69, and also had a nice time there.
The only occupied table at Cloud 69. I guess that makes us their best customers.
And the sands in the hourglass of life finished with another day.
The dollar continues to grow stronger against the peso. It’s actually over 59 pesos to the dollar this morning, about the highest I’ve seen it. Conversely, I noted in buying my imported foods at Royal yesterday that the prices have gone up considerably. For example, Betty Crocker brownie mix is $5.90 a box, up from $5.30. I guess it all evens out.
From the December 2014 LTG archives, this post commemorates the tenth anniversary of Long Time Gone. Time flies, and I enjoyed reading my reflections on my life since moving to Korea. More changes were on the horizon — painful ones — but I survived and here I am. I also quoted one of my favorite Sara Teasdale poems:
It was a night of early spring, The winter-sleep was scarcely broken; Around us shadows and the wind Listened for what was never spoken.
Though half a score of years are gone, Spring comes as sharply now as then— But if we had it all to do It would be done the same again.
It was a spring that never came; But we have lived enough to know That what we never have, remains; It is the things we have that go.
Truer words were never spoken.
Eight years ago, I was walking the straight and narrow path towards the future in the Pyeongtaek chapter of my life.
Today’s YouTube video says the science is settled on these twelve myths. I don’t believe it.
Smile for me:
T-t-to-too bad f-f-fo-for you.Better a Reaper than a Raper, I suppose.Any cock will do, Susan.
On and on it goes. Today’s hike with the Wednesday Walkers was an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you about that tomorrow. Now it’s time to find out what Wednesday evening has in mind for me.
As Hash runs go, yesterday was not really to my liking. The trail markings were inconsistent, resulting in some wrong turns. The trail itself was muddy and slippery in places, especially with the numerous ups and downs. When I’d had enough, I bailed and did a street walk back to the On-Home venue, the new Cyclone Bar.
The Hashers gathered at the Alta Vista clubhouse for the start of the trail.Ant then we were On-On!The stragglers.And now we have the obligatory Easter Mountain shot taken care of.Off the pavement.And up the first hill.The view from here.And one of that bay they call Subic.Country living.Swan going down.Steppin’ on down.Hanging out at the On-Home.Then, making our way to the after-Hash gathering at It Doesn’t Matter.The Hare’s trail in red and my black alteration.
You have to take the good with the bad, and I’m just glad that I can still participate, even when I do it my way.
It’s December 2014 in the LTG archives now. I’ve accepted a job offer in Korea, rented out my Carolina house, and made the long journey back to The Land of the Morning Calm. I didn’t know then that my American life had come to its conclusion.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger named George, one of the few I’ve actually met in person, and I occasionally see around town. He doesn’t post as frequently as he used to, and truth be told, I was never a consistent viewer. I noticed this one today because he mentions that life in Subic has become a rut for him. I’ve had similar feelings, and like him, I try to alleviate the “same-old, same-old” routine with intermittent travel. He lives on SBMA, which I would find more boring than Barretto. It is what it is, and at this stage of my life, I’m just going to ride it out.
Humor time:
Who’s the lucky one?That’s spineless.Why make it so hard on him?
It is always good to be back home, and I reckon that’s a pretty strong indicator that I’m generally happy with my Barretto life. La Union is nice, and I’ve always thought of it as a potential alternative should I ever feel the need to move on. This is the third year in a row I’ve attended the LUH3 Anniversary Hash run, and it’s still an enjoyable change of scenery. The three-plus-hour drive getting there ain’t much fun though.
Speaking of which, when you are unlicensed and carless, this is one way to get around:
Rent a vehicle for the weekend from one of Swan’s friends: 3600 pesos
Fuel for the vehicle: 3000 pesos
Expressway tolls: 1900 pesos
Payment for driver: 5000 pesos
Lodging for driver: 1900 pesos
Food money for driver: 1000 pesos
Total for getting there and back again: 16,400 pesos($280)
That’s the way I roll these days.
We once again enjoyed our room at the Go Resort in Bauang. Clean and comfortable, complimentary breakfast, and friendly staff. My only complaint is that the Wi-Fi sucks.
Here are some photos from yesterday:
The Go Resort is on the ocean, but there ain’t no beach.The open-air dining/bar area is very much to my liking.A nice pool that I’ve never used.My breakfast companions.
Then it was time to hit the highway.
An impressive tree in downtown Agoo.Enjoying the cloudy horizon as we cruised down the expressway.The offramp for the immaculate city of Concepcion.A couple of the Subic Hashers hitched a ride home with us.I looked up at the sky and shouted, “Are you threatening me?”Something about that hump of a mountain always catches my eye.
After our return home, we joined our next-door neighbors, Jeff and Davina, along with the other side neighbors, Martin and Joss, for a home-cooked meal.
The Bryce Street squad.Davina’s latest creation is something I’d never had before, what she called a “Spanish-chicken-and-vegetable-paella.” It was tasty indeed.
And yes, it was good to be imbibing San Mig Zero once again. In moderation, of course.
Lots more adventures on the horizon: a day on the river in Botolon on November 8, a week in Surigao at the end of November, the Haggis Hash in Pozorubio in December, two weeks in Vietnam to kick off the new year, and a Valentine’s Hash in Baguio come February. Yeah, I’ll work on filling in some of those gaps. Life is good, live it while you’ve got it!
I’ve reached the end of November 2014 in the LTG archives. I was depressed back then, and re-reading those old posts was depressing. My wife, the woman I loved, was not going to rejoin me in the USA, so I was working diligently to find a job in Korea to facilitate my returning home to her. And I finally got a job offer as a contractor, pending USFK approval. I had a roommate move in to my house in anticipation of him becoming the renter when the job came through. So, the month ended on a relatively high note.
In my mind I’m going to South Korea, Riding on the Blue Line, Having galbi with some rice wine And it seems just like a friend of mine That I’ve left behind Yes, I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
Jee Yeun she’s my smiling sun, Want to hike with her and watch it shine, Watch her climbing Bukhansan. The lonely fear’s disappearing now, I’m flying, ain’t I? I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
There ain’t no doubt in no ones mind That Seoul’s the finest town around, The cars and the bars it all suits me fine. And hey, babe, we’ll be together, I’m trying, ain’t I? I’m going to South Korea in my mind.
Dark and lonely late tonight, I think I might have heard Incheon calling. Want to catch that flight and drink some Hite. And signs that might be omens Say I’m going, going I’m gone to South Korea in my mind.
I’ve done my best to make this work But I’ve got to cross that ocean soon And it seems like I’ve been far away forever, You must forgive me If I’m up and gone to South Korea in my mind.
Needless to say, things weren’t destined to turn out the way I had hoped.
The Filipina Pea brings us the news from the Philippines in today’s YouTube video. Jeepney’s disappearing? I’ll believe it when I see it. They are also building a mass transit rail line from Manila to Angeles. Drove by the construction near Clark on my weekend travels and noted no progress had been made whatsoever in the last year. As I say about the alleged Barretto bypass highway, work may be ongoing, but no one seems to be in a hurry. I’m not going to live forever, you know.
Let’s try these on for size:
That’s one way to achieve the “do-over” dream.What a way to go!You get your money for nothing and your chicks for free.
Another Hash Monday is here; let’s see if I survive it.
And here is that James Taylor song I bastardized. At least I was in Carolina when I stole it.
We are all gonna die of something. Beer helps ease the pain.
The big news from my Saturday was that for the first time in my Hash career, I did TWO separate Hash trails on the same day. And I actually enjoyed them for the most part. Here are the options I faced that led me to my decision:
The 3.2K trail was too short. The 12K long trail was a non-starter for this tired old man. The 9.6K medium trail was on the long side for me, but I was considering giving it a shot until one of the Hares advised against it because of a tough hill climb.
What to do? I opted to join the group departing at ten a.m. The short trail started with and followed the long trail for the first 3K. At the junction with the medium trail, the short trail ended, and the long and medium trails continued together to the On-Home. It took me a little over one hour to finish the short trail, but I had no regrets about my choice. Trying to do over 9K on a hot day would have been pushing it. The downside (other than waiting 30 minutes for the slowpokes to complete the short trail) was getting back to Bauang before 1 p.m., and the Hash gathering didn’t begin until 3. And then I had the bright idea of doing the 2:30 short trail, a 4K walk to the On-Home venue. La Union Hash called it their “VIP trail,” which is their nice way of saying what we call the “wimp trail” in Subic. Regardless, doing both short trails gave me a sweet 7K-plus experience that was the right fit for me.
The morning gathering at the Tropical Garden Hotel, where the Hare gave trail guidance prior to our boarding four Jeepneys (two to the start of the long and short trails, and two to the medium trail). A thirty-minute ride on a crowded Jeepney.The route we rode.And at last we are On-On!Through the ‘hood.Into the fields. Over the creek.The way ahead.Another Hasher posted this photo of a handsome old guy blazing his way over the trail.Happy Anniversary to the La Union Hash House Harriers!A baboy destined to be lechonsomeday.You know it’s a low bridge when a shorty like Swan has to duck.One of the nice things about visiting another Hash is that all the scenery is new.Near the end of the short trail.Our journey ended where the medium trail began. Two Jeepneys were waiting to carry the short trekkers back to the Tropical Garden Hotel.The way of our first short journey of the day.
Swan and I returned to our room at the Go Resort and rested for an hour before heading back to the Tropical Garden, where the VIP short trail began.
The Hare, Cock Roach, tells us what lies ahead on the backstreets leading to the On-Home venue.‘Tis the season for drying rice.This is much better than walking on the busy highway through Bauang.No creek wading for the VIPs.The Hare (that’s him, leading the way) told us that back in the late 20th century, this was a railroad bed.Trying to avoid wet feet along the road.A creepy-looking forest.Making our way back towards the highway.Dispensing some more sweetness.The route of our 4K VIP trail.A poolside On-Home at the Marand Water Park Resort.Hanging with that girl of mine.There was a raffle drawing and I bought twelve tickets for 1000 pesos.
One of them got drawn, and I selected a pair of hiking shoes.
They still had the price tag on them: $47. That’s about 2500 pesos, so I done good.And best of all, they fit! What are the odds?
We also got a swag bag that included this nifty towel-like thing.
I’m not sure what I’ll do with it besides put it on a shelf with the rest of my Hash trash.I will say that LUH3 has about the best damn Hash shirts around.Then we circled up around the pool.And LUH3 GM Booked Up led the circle.
The Circle ended at six, but the beer stayed open until seven. Of course, Zero was not available, and being mindful of my drinking history in La Union, I exercised discretion and left shortly after the Circle concluded. The Hash provided Jeepney transport back into Buang-proper, and given our early departure, we had the Jeepney all to ourselves.
And for the first time ever, I rode in the front seat of the Jeepney back to our hotel.
I had a couple of more beers at the hotel and also a delicious banana split. Swan stayed up late playing cards with the girls, but I was snug in my bed before 9 p.m. So, no misbehavior on my final night in La Union.
I’d say that qualifies as a good day for an old fucker.
From the November 2014 LTG archives, I wrote about the circumstances of my first marriage thirty-nine years earlier. What triggered those reflections was receiving a letter from the Catholic Diocese advising that the ex-wife was seeking an annulment. I had no objections to her getting right with God after marrying a heretic like me.
I also found today’s YouTube video in the LTG archives. It’s a short comedy piece entitled “What Kind of Asian Are You?” I enjoyed seeing it again after all these years; perhaps you will too.
Hey, we are on a roll with the comedy, so let’s do these:
Who gives a shit?That’s a lot of shit to learn.That’s some serious shit…
And enough of this shit. I made it back safe and sound to Barretto, and I’ll be hanging with the neighbors tonight. I’ve got my Zero bottles chillin’ in the fridge to welcome me home at the appointed hour.
135 kilometers and three and a half hours, door-to-door.
Arrived safely in the lovely town of Bauang in La Union after a long drive. Today’s Hash starts at 10, so I’ve got to dash out a quick update before heading out. Regular posting will resume tomorrow.
Some scenes from along the road:
The old Spanish gate on SBMA.Rolling down the expressway.Mount Arayat, an extinct volcano in Pampanga.On the MacArthur highway in the province of La Union.Entering Bauang.Checking into our room at the Go Resort. We wound up in the same room we had last year.
The Hash festivities began with a gathering at the Blue Cat bar, one of my favorite venues in Bauang.
The view from Blue Cat.The view inside Blue Cat.My table at Blue CatHash Gash on the beach.
Sunset on the ocean is a different look than the ones I see back home.
The clouds added some color.I like it!Thanks for the show!
At the conclusion of the Blue Cat Hash gathering, the male Hashers were invited to gather at the only girly bar in town, Footloose.
Who am I to say no to such an invite?I had to be discreet with my photography, but there was a lot more to see later in the performance, if you get my meaning.
So, no one has Zero beer in Bauang, and a long night of drinking SML left me somewhat out of sorts. It’s all a little fuzzy after that, but I did wake up in my bed this morning, so I guess things ended well, even if I don’t recall how I got there.
We’ll leave it at that for now. Gotta run, well walk, to the Hash meet-up.
The world leader in litter. From what I’ve seen, it is a nationwide effort.
I’m off to Bauang, La Union, this morning for a Hashy weekend. I’ll dash off a quick post before I go.
I had the bright idea to trike out to Naugsol yesterday morning for a hike with Swan. It didn’t go as planned because once we were on the scene, neither of us wanted to fuck around with wading across the river. So, we did a 4K street walk instead. We brought along lots of candy bags, but soon realized that with school in session, we wouldn’t be seeing many youngins.
A bridge that was too dicey to cross. I’ve gone across it in the past, but wasn’t feeling so brave yesterday.A candy delivery for a kidtaking a river bath.The kids at this school came out for some treats. And the teacher didn’t complain about tooth decay.That mountain named after Easter.Twin peaks are the breast!It wasn’t much, but what there was wasn’t bad.
The visit to the pulmonologist went well. She listened to me breathe and heard no obstructions. My blood oxygen level was within the normal range. She gave me something that dissolves in water to drink before bedtime, which might help me clear the phlegm I hock up with some regularity. Otherwise, it doesn’t look like a lack of lung capacity will lead to my demise. We’ll see if I survive tomorrow’s Hash.
After the doctor visit, I got a haircut, then we had dinner at Jewel Cafe.
I did the filet mignon, as usual. A little bigger this time.
Then we finished our evening at Green Room. I sponsored a match (100 pesos to the winner, 50 to the loser) between a couple of the girls and enjoyed watching the action. Dropped some coin on lady drinks as is my custom, then we headed on home to rest up for our trip today.
Back to October 2014 in the LTG archives. It’s funny to be reminded of things you thought were important at the time, but have no recollection of until you read about them again. That happens more frequently the older I get. Anyway, this post recounts me losing it over some darts drama.
Here’s a bonus entry from the archives you may find funny: Are you coming?
Fifteen years ago, I shared this account of a bad morning I experienced:
Death to Aria! I was attacked in my sleep last night. The battle raged from 0200 to 0300. I was unable to digest why it was happening and was in danger of being completely liquefied. I retreated from the bedroom and eventually purged the intruder. When I awoke a few hours later, I found myself on more solid ground. I’m just glad the attack didn’t occur on the subway, or I would have been in deep doo-doo.
And twelve years ago, I posted this music video to my Facebook page:
Today’s YouTube video is about a vlogger’s bad week in Angeles City. It is good to keep things in perspective. My bad days aren’t this bad.
And now to bring things to a close:
If you say so.You got me goin’ in circles…The old dirt road.
Almost time to hit the highway. I’ll check in from up north in the morning.
That bulge in your pocket makes all the difference!
Yes, I know “grouphike” isn’t one word, but I used it that way so it would fit better with those other nine-letter words: adventure and nightmare. That’s the most accurate description for this week’s trek of the Wednesday (hey, nine letters!) Walkers. I had suggested to the group that we head out to Subic Hills and take the back way from there to Castillejos. It’s a hike I’d done three or four times, but it had been a year or so since the last occasion. Things change, and we found ourselves in a sticky situation early on, but fought our way through. And then our trail was blocked, so we blazed a new one, only to discover our way ahead was impeded by a fence. The fence was too weak to climb over, so we crawled under. In doing so, I took some flesh off of my knee, but on we trudged, wading the river and finding our way back to the highway. There, we got a Jeepney home to Barretto. Exciting shit, eh? Here are some pictures to help with the visualization:
This week’s iteration of the Wednesday Walkers traveled to the far side of Subic-town to begin our adventure.A short stroll through the streets of the Subic Hills subdivision to start things off.Leaving the pavement behind, it seemed nothing had changed since the last time I was here.Peaceful and pretty out this way.
Until this happened:
What had once been a well-groomed trail was now completely overgrown with thick plants and vines, making forward progress extremely difficult.And painful. The vegetation included sticker bushes that seemed drawn to bare skin. They also had a Velcro-like effect when they touched clothing.
We eventually fought our way through, but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
This old abandoned shack was a familiar landmark once we had escaped the thorns.Down in the valley, this road was more like a canal. Still, compared to what we had just gone through, it seemed good enough.Enjoying the valley views.One of several friendly locals we encountered during our journey.The next crap we had to go through. Well, as I am wont to say, there is freedom to be found in wet feet.Sloshing through the fields.And then I left a little piece of me behind.Through the river we go.Safely on the other side.Onward to Castillejos.An unfriendly 6.5 kilometers.My wound after twenty-four hours of healing.
The rest of the day went fine: Drinks at Red Bar, dinner at Sit-n-Bull, and a nightcap at Wet Spot. Then home again. That’s just how this old-timer rolls.
It is now October 2014 in the LTG archives. And damn, even eleven years ago, the emptiness of my life was something to blog about. It didn’t help that the woman I loved wasn’t with me. Little did I know that she wouldn’t be joining me in the USA ever again.
Today’s YouTube video is also from the October 2014 LTG archives. But this video is a news clip about my son’s decision to donate a kidney. I raised a good one. He’d probably say no thanks to you. And so it goes.
I could use a little humor right about now:
Taco Bell was the place I’d go when I had the marijuana munchies.Oops!Yeah, it is for the best that I’ve retired from driving.
Alright, time for a quick nap before I head to the hospital for my appointment with the pulmonary doctor. Here’s hoping I have good news to share tomorrow.
Any of those is better than the crap playing too loudly in many bars.
I’m running a bit late today, so I’ll make the catch-up post as short and sweet as possible. Typical Tuesday for the most part, so not a lot to say about it anyway. When we finished grocery shopping, I sent my driver and helper home to unload, and Swan and I walked the half-kilometer or so to the mall to restock my wardrobe. It was only 9:30, and the mall doesn’t open until ten. Perhaps it was coincidental, but I remembered this place that was perfectly suited to satisfy my sudden craving for a waffle.
Not as good as the Waffle House back home, but good enough.Something pleasant to look at while waiting to be served.What I came for…that waffle is topped with banana and walnuts.
Then it was on to the SM Mall next door, and the department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair. That’s less than half price, so instead of buying the three pairs I intended, I bought seven. Should be enough to last a lifetime.
The bounty I brought home: Shorts, a wallet, six pairs of socks, a swimsuit, three underwear, and two shirts. That’ll keep me dressed between laundry days.
As we made our Tuesday pilgrimage to Baloy Beach, we decided to change things up some and dine at Harley’s instead of our usual Treasure Island.
The view from our table.You can see Barretto from here.We shared the mixed grill platter and a shrimp cocktail.Cheers to another day with my love.Harley’s faces the wrong direction to see the sunset, so this will have to suffice.We don’t visit Harley’s that often, but always enjoy it when we do.
After dinner, we walked back to Barretto and paid a rare visit to Nipsey’s Bar. That meme I posted above applies…crap music at a loud volume. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down. Even good music played at a distortion level is hard on the ears. We didn’t stay long and likely won’t be back.
We did our nightcap at Nipsey’s sister bar, Cloud 69, and it was fine. We shared drinks and chatted with our regular waitress, Sheryl, and one of the friendly baklas.
So, I wouldn’t call it a diamond of a Tuesday, but it was at least a ruby.
In this post from the September 2014 LTG archives, I write about settling back into my American lifestyle. One big difference between living in Seoul and Columbia, South Carolina, is the lack of public transportation. I could drink like a fish in Korea, then catch the subway home. As much as I like drinking, I don’t believe in drinking to excess and driving, so I needed to ensure I was always under the legal limit after playing darts. I bought a breathalyzer and always gave it a blow before starting the car. I was never over the limit and learned that three low-alcohol beers an hour kept me in the safe zone. Of course, nowadays I don’t drive at all, so I just have to worry that the drunks driving here don’t run into the trike I’m riding on the way home.
Today’s YouTube video is once again from Reekay—this time, he addresses expat burnout. It’s going on eight years for me now, and I still have no issues or regrets about the move. Of course, many irritations come with living here, but you either learn to accept them or let them drive you crazy. I’m blessed to have the resources not to have to reside in the midst of the worst of it. And the mantra still applies: “Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.”
A little humor helps, too.
Yeah, that does sound shitty.The bars here in Barretto all have music boxes with that issue.Do you have a date for All Saints Eve?
And on we go from here. An exciting hike today in a not-so-good way. I’ll share the gruesome details tomorrow.
Another Subic Bay Hash anniversary is in the books. By all accounts, it was a good one. And everyone made it back alive, which given the difficulty of the trails is never a given. I wisely took the wimp route and did the short five kilometer trail. It had two moderate climbs, but damn, they kicked my ass. Had I stuck with my original plan to do the 7K route with a steep climb up Kalaklan, I may not have been here today to tell you about it. I think I might have to embrace the fact that I am indeed an elderly man and take joy and pride in my ability to still get out and about in the hills. I just need to recognize my limits.
The three trail options: insane, crazy, or hard.The Hares were still busy marking trail, so they asked me to do the pre-hike guidance for my fellow short trail walkers.And off we go!There were quite a few like-minded Hashers who opted for the shorter trail.This part of the first climb was especially, um, tiring.Credit where credit is due, the trail the Hares laid was through some new terrain for me, which isn’t easy to do after all these years of Hashing.Even the downs had their challenging moments.Up we go again.What goes up, must come down.A couple of virgin Hashers joined in the fun. That’s the owner of John’s place and her daughter.Getting passed by one of the folks who did the medium trail, Egghead from the Corona Hash in Angeles. In our defense, they did start an hour earlier than us.And we took a moment now and then to hand out some sweets along the way.On Home at Bella Monte.
We had ninety-nine Hashers in attendance for the anniversary run (we are normally in the thirties). Hashers from Angeles City, Puerto Galera, and Manila joined in the fun.
Thanks for another year of Hashing with the SBH3!The Hash Gash are pretty as a picture.Hanging out before the Circle.Time to circle up!The old farts taking a chair.It’s nice on ice!Eh, not so much.So many in attendance yesterday, we needed TWO blocks of ice.A couple of posers.
Oh, did you notice my new Hash shirt?
Another year, another anniversary shirt.
We did the after-Hash hangout at It Doesn’t Matter, then made it home happy to be alive.
It’s September 2014 in the LTG archives. In this short post, I talk about heading back to the USA from Korea as part of our regular “six months there, six months here” rotation. I casually mention that my wife was not returning with me because she needed to take care of her mother. She was supposed to join me in a couple of weeks. I didn’t know then that she would never return.
I came across this photo as I slogged around the internet this morning:
Sedona, Arizona. One of my favorite places. I lived an hour or so south of there in Prescott from 1978-1983. The drive on US Highway 89A to and from Sedona was amazing. What a life this has been.
Another new to me vlogger for today’s YouTube video. I’ll always remember the two things that stood out for me during my first visit to the Philippines: the most extreme poverty I’d ever witnessed and the kindness of the Filipino people. This Canuck had a similar experience.
Let’s get this stuff out of the way:
What color is the pot? Asked the kettle.I’ll have a taste of that!Man, I hate when that happens.
It’s been a good Tuesday so far, with more to come. Down the road, I’ll be spending this coming weekend in La Union to participate in their anniversary Hash. I’m going to keep it On-On as long as I can.
Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.Wait a minute, that Stephen King guy is still around.
To be clear, I hate King’s politics but love his writing. I’ve read most of his books, my favorite being The Stand.
So, to explain the title of this post: Nothing is something because without nothing, you would not appreciate the something in your life. My yesterday was a great example of that. Even by my low standards, it was a nothing day. They call it a “tropical depression” for a reason, I guess. Suffice to say, because of the rain, I never left the house until beer o’clock. As I departed the neighborhood under the protection of an umbrella, a passing trike driver asked if I wanted a ride. Usually, I walk into town, but this time I accepted the offer. The driver asked me where I was going, and I responded honestly, “It Doesn’t Matter.” He knew the way. The Hash barhop was scheduled to begin at five p.m., and I arrived thirty minutes early. The rain continued, and by six, only a handful of hardy Subic Hashers were in attendance, so the barhop plan was canceled.
The attendees at the first and last stop of our Hash barhop.
Swan and I did a nightcap at Green Room, then called it a night.
Some other tidbits from yesterday: I had a total of 4079 steps, by far the lowest of the year. My “sleep score” as measured by Fitbit was 52 for the second day in a row. That’s rated ‘poor’.
I blame it on my brain. Sometimes it won’t shut the fuck up!
I don’t remember much about my sleep cycle, but last night there was a song I don’t remember playing over and over in my head. And then I’d awake from some dream fragment, and my brain insisted on analyzing it for hidden meaning. Plus, I have to get up and pee every hour or so, so that doesn’t help a good night’s sleep.
It’s not all bad news; my blood pressure this morning was 119/75. My average over the past ten days is 128/73. Anything under 130 I consider a good indicator, given my high blood pressure history.
I’ve scheduled an appointment with the pulmonary doctor on Thursday. Coincidentally, it was exactly one year ago that I saw her for the first time. Back then, I was having difficulty breathing, and my blood oxygen levels were in the dangerously low range (I checked just now, and I’m at a healthy 98). I’ve not used my oxygen tank or nebulizer for months, and I’m happy about that. So, why the appointment? I’m still hacking up phlegm, and I’ve noticed that hill climbs are getting a tad more tiring lately. I’m hoping to keep from deteriorating to where I was last year or at least get some reassurance that I’ve got nothing to be concerned about. Other than old age.
I’ve been reading a weekly blog about Thailand called StickmanBangkok for several years now. I was sad to see his post this morning saying that he is giving it up to focus on his life in New Zealand (Stick moved back to the homeland five years ago). Even though I rarely visit Thailand these days (I like Vietnam better now), it was good to read about what is happening there. Stick also includes links to local news stories, and these two caught my eye today:
Elderly American falls to death in Pattaya. He was 72 years old and jumped from the roof of his apartment building. I guess I’m technically elderly too, but that ain’t the way I want to go
BLIND GERMAN MAN UNAWARE OF THAI WIFE’S DEATH INSIDE THEIR HOME. The German man was 69 (they didn’t call him elderly, at least), and he was waiting for his wife to come home from her taxi driving job. Turns out, she had hung herself. She was his only means of support, so he is especially fucked now.
So, I’ll take my nothing day over what those two had to deal with. And by golly, I can even turn a nothing day into a post here at LTG. You are welcome!
Speaking of LTG posts, back in August 2014, I made a visa run to Osaka, Japan, and wrote a play-by-play account of the experience. Those were the days!
Today’s YouTube video is from another new vlogger I found. Here she offers her insights on the “poverty trap” that keeps Filipinos poor. Obviously, I’m no expert, but I have seen some of this in my time here. The video is only five minutes long, so it’s an easy watch. Make sure the cc captions are on, though, because she throws out some Tagalog phrases now and then.
Lame is as lame does:
Sounds like you got burned, Captain.She sounds like a keeper to me. I just hope they always see eye-to-eye.I know the most religious vegetable because at church the pastor always says, “Lettuce pray.”
It’s another Hash Monday, and today we celebrate the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers’ 32nd Anniversary. There are three trail options: 12K, 7K, and 5K. I was thinking of the midrange option, which involves being transported to Gordon Heights in Olongapo City, then a trek up, over, and back down the Kalaklan Ridge. I saw the map and was a little concerned about the steep descent, and asked the Hare about it. He told me the up is a killer and suggested I’d be wise to stick to the short trail. Well, if the Hare says it, it must be so. 5K for me it is! At least the sun is shining again today, and I’ll find out if something really is better than nothing.
Remembering one of my favorites, Keith Whitley, who departed this life at thirty-four years old.
