A nice 69

Posted on 28/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Time marches on, and I’m still hanging on and enjoying the ride after sixty-nine years. I celebrated the milestone of my birthdate with a rooftop gathering at The Rite Spot, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves despite a dreaded storm raining on our parade. There wasn’t much wind, so we managed to hunker down under the awning and stay mostly dry. I have no particular insights or new-found wisdom as I enter the final year of my sixties. I’m slowing down some, but I’m still able to do the things I enjoy, and I hope that continues as I traverse the realm of the elderly. We’ll see how far I can go before I reach the end of the line. I plan to take my time getting there, but you never know. In the meantime, I’ll embrace each day and be glad to have it.

A birthday is, in reality, just another day. This year’s fell on a Tuesday, so the usual Tuesday stuff like grocery shopping was on the agenda. I did make a detour to the local hospital, where I left some blood for a PSA screening. I’m not sure if my recent urination issues are prostate-related, but we’ll see what the results say. I did my shopping at Royal BEFORE hitting the ATM this week because I needed to pee, and when you gotta go, you gotta go. At least I do.

***OMG! Breyer’s is my favorite brand of ice cream. And I love Snickers! Was this a sign from God that I should celebrate my birthday with a bowl of this?***

***Nope, turns out I don’t love it THAT much.***

Back home from the grocery store and Swan and some of her female family were busy in the kitchen preparing a feast for the upcoming party.

***Meat on a stick ready to be grilled***

***So much cooking going on that an extra stovetop was set up in the carport***

***Swan’s sis-in-law having a snack (rice is finger food here)***

***I contributed a pot of chili to the effort***

There were a couple of other Filipino favorites, bopis (grilled liver) and something called dinuguan (pork blood stew). As you might imagine, I didn’t sample either.

***Upstairs, the decorating was in the capable hands of Inday.***

***The view from The Rite Spot when the party got started.***

***Matt, recently returned from a visit to the USA, gifted me this nifty shirt.***

***One of my cakes had the age I identify as being correctly displayed.***

***Dave and Jo brought a cake from the Hash. They also made it clear that I’ll be getting the real Hash cake on Monday.***

***Michael was also celebrating his August 27 birthday…he’s got five years on me though.***

***It was also a welcome home party for Matt.***

As bad as the rain was, after the party ended we had downpours that lasted all night. I canceled the Wednesday Walkers group hike because where you gonna go in flood conditions?

***We are in the Orange Zone. So, I was prepared to just be lazy today. Hey, when you are 69, any excuse will do!***

So, I guess being another year older is as good an excuse as any to take a journey through the past. Feel free to scroll ahead:

***The early days. I’ll never forget how hot that photographer looked.*** ***(1957)***

***Rafting on the Kern River*** ***(1959)***

***Escorting my grandmother at my brother’s wedding (1972)***

***A family man in Prescott, Arizona (1978)***

***Single again in Pocatello, Idaho (1981)***

***A redneck in South Carolina (1987)***

***Climbing the bureaucratic ladder in Roanoke, VA (1990)***

***At the end of a long career with Uncle Sam (2010)***

***Dreaming of being a professional darter (2012)***

Wow, that was exhausting. Okay, let’s move on.

***And for some reason, the military can’t meet it’s recruitment needs. Draft the immigrants?***

Okay, enough politics. In today’s YouTube video, let’s see what the Filipina Pea has to say about choosing the wrong type woman in the Philippines.

Let’s try the humor:

***It takes a lot of balls to golf the way I do***

Well, I’m not sure what to make of Day 1 on the road to seventy. Am I lazy or old? Probably both. Nothing to do but stick around and see what happens next.

I was fourteen in the summer of ’69

A nightmare Hash

Posted on 27/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Luckily, I didn’t have to experience the nightmare firsthand. I wound up taking the My Bitch option to the Hash On-Home at Always Wet’s house on Rizal Extension. I had a few beers there, then left before the Circle commenced. I was one of the first to arrive, which wasn’t that unusual given my relatively short alternative trail, but what was weird was that the Hare, Vienna Sausage, had yet to return from marking the trail. His girlfriend (Always Wet) said he’d left at ten in the morning and was still out there. Hmm, it was 3:30 now, and the Hashers had started the trail at 2:00. What was going on? It was close to four when the first runner, Leech My Nuggets, showed up, and he wasn’t a happy camper. It seems that the Hare had gotten lost in the thick underbrush and rampant grasses at this time of year. Leech encountered Vienna during his retreat, and they found a different way down from Kalaklan Ridge.

But wait, it gets worse. The Circle normally starts at 4:00 p.m., but there were still several unaccounted-for Hashers at that time, so we waited. And waited. I still had the walk back into town ahead of me, so I decided to leave shortly after five. As I departed, five of the missing Hashers arrived via trike. Yep, they had been lost but eventually found a way back down from the ridge. I didn’t see Gary and his wife (new enough to the Hash to be unnamed), but I assumed they had taken a trike, too, and decided to go home. So, I proceeded on my hike back to town and went to the after-Hash venue at IDM to await my fellow Hashers. I was enjoying my beers and telling jokes to the waitresses I was treating to lady drinks (that always makes my jokes funnier somehow) when I saw my phone had a “missed call” from a name I didn’t recognize. When I opened Messenger, I saw this:

John, it’s Gary. We are stuck up on the mountain. Can you call please.

Oh shit. It was after seven now and pitch black outside. And it was raining. Getting down from Kalaklan Ridge is challenging under the best circumstances. But being lost up there in the dark is the stuff of nightmares. I don’t hear well on the phone, so I went over to another Hasher, Demolition Derby, and asked him to help with the call to Gary. Derby had Gary describe his surroundings and guessed that he might be on or near the ridgeline road. It’s dirt and rugged but easier to hike than a trail, especially at night. There are also occasional shacks and people to maybe provide assistance. Thirty minutes later, Gary messaged that “all was okay now.” We called back, and they had found the ridgeline road and were making their way down to the highway. They still had a long way to go. It was after nine when he messaged that they had made it home. Scary shit. I hope I never have to experience being lost in the middle of nowhere when the sun goes down.

Here are the “Hash” photos I took during my journey on the Bitch.

***One thousand steps–the end of the road in Alta Vista***

***2000 steps–a bitchy part of My Bitch***

***Mountain Mama Onelia with her cookies***

***4000 steps to the Mountain Dew house***

***Gamgam’s place at 5000 steps is looking a tad overgrown***

***Arriving at the*** *On-Home* ***venue***

***6000 steps finds me heading down Rizal Extension***

***7000 steps and still on Rizal Extension***

***The backroad at Columban College at 8000 steps***

***The temptation of an empty trike was more than I could bear, so I caught a ride the rest of the way to IDM***

***It appears to be a bit of a dick trail***

And now you know the rest of the story. The sad thing was, by the time we learned we had lost Hashers, the rest of us were in no condition to attempt a rescue. That’s why it’s best to stick with a group that knows their way around whenever possible.

Eight years ago I had a drunken birthday at Shenanigans in Itaewon:

***Things are still a little blurry about that night***

Today’s YouTube video is a brief update on the Philippines mayor who turned out to be a Chinese spy. It seems she has fled the country. Surprise, surprise.

And some quick humor (I have a party to attend to):

So, it’s my birthday and we are having a party at The Rite Spot. Except it is raining at the moment. Here’s hoping that ends soon. Swan and her family having been cooking up tons of food, mostly stuff I like (baby back ribs, chicken wings, etc). I’ve also got some chili brewing in the crockpot. I’ll give you a full report on the festivities tomorrow!

***Um, thanks. But I was hoping for a 69.***

A little off

Posted on 26/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Things weren’t quite right yesterday. Not horrible or tragic, but moments of disappointment cropped up. Didn’t let them ruin the day, though. When things are a little off, you appreciate when it all comes together that much more.

Another Sunday, another Candy Walk. We altered our course to avoid grumpy old men, but we found ample new faces for chocolate-induced smiles to replace the ones we disappointed with our absence. Swan is also making arrangements with the mother of one of our “regulars” to facilitate the child attending school this year. It’s difficult for people living hand-to-mouth to find money for school uniforms and supplies, and that’s something we are willing to help with. Swan wants to buy the necessities directly, as she fears handing over a lump sum of cash may not result in the desired outcome. What was “off” about the walk? My bladder. I felt like I constantly had to pee, even when there wasn’t much liquid to expel. And I had little to no capacity to hold it in until I found a place to relieve myself. Made for some uncomfortable moments during the walk. It seems somewhat better today. I’m doing a prostate screening in the morning.

***This carabao let us pass without incident***

***The new area we traversed yesterday***

***Oh, and I recovered this ribbon from an old Hash trail along the way. Hey, every litter bit helps!***

Next up on the Sunday agenda was the Hideaway feeding. Everything was going as it usually does, although there were a few more customers than I’ve seen in a while. I baked blueberry muffins for the girls this week for a change of pace. Things got a little off when I bought Joy a lady drink. She doesn’t do alcohol, and that’s fine by me. When Joy reached for a bottle of Coke, the cashier told her to use the bottle of Sprite that had already been opened. Joy did as she was told, but it really pissed me off. I’m paying 150 pesos for a soft drink; by God, the girl can drink whatever she wants. I’m the fucking customer. Joy kept telling me to calm down; she didn’t care. But that’s not the point. So, I ordered a lady drink for one of the other girls (something I rarely do) and loudly proclaimed, “But only if it’s a Coke.” I guess the cashier got the message because when the food arrived, she didn’t come to my side of the bar to have any. Like I give a shit either way.

***Joy enjoying her lasagna and garlic bread***

I was happy when it was time to cross the highway and meet Swan at John’s place for our Sunday dinner.

***Right after we sat down in our usual seats on the third floor, the skies opened up. Didn’t see that rainfall coming.***

Sadly, things were a bit off at John’s, too. Swan ordered her usual glass of red wine, and the waitress returned and advised that red wine was not available. WTF? How does one of the nicest restaurants in town not have wine in stock? It just doesn’t make any sense, and it was disappointing. We make a special effort to eat here each week because it’s good and also to support John’s business. The lack of concern for the customer left me shaking my head.

***Swan’s “calm down, it’s no big deal”*** ***face***

At least the food was good.

***And I munched on some birria tacos***

The rain let up some, so we marched on up the highway in search of our nightcap destination. I offered up IDM or Green Room, and Swan chose Green Room so she could share here leftovers with her waitress friend Chu. But something was off here too–the music was blasting so loud, I got up as soon as I sat down and headed for the door. That is so unlike Green Room. We did Alaska instead, and it was fine overall. They have a pool tourney on Sunday so there was a pretty good crowd. Owner Jerry usually keeps up with the music, but for some reason AC/DC songs were playing one after the other. I’m not a big fan, but I can handle their music in small doses. The music videos with that creepy guitar player in a schoolboy uniform was as irritating as the songs. So, I finished the free beer owner Jerry provided, then moved next door to Wet Spot.

Wet Spot also had a good crowd, including a “two-week millionaire” buying multiple lady drinks for the multitude of gals at his table and ringing the bell to provide shots for the rest of the staff. He spent more money in the thirty minutes I was there than I do in a month. Guys like that keep the bars in business, I suppose. Aine is still ignoring Swan, but there is nothing off about that–it’s our preference!

And that was how my Sunday went down.

Ah, the memories.

***Eleven years ago I was a darts master in Itaewon.***

***Seven years ago I was hiking the backroads of Pyeongtaek***

***Five years ago the Hash made me a birthday cake***

Today’s YouTube video features the SOB dance team from La Oficina. They are one of my favorites.

Even my humor is off a little more than usual:

***I’m sure he had the breast of intentions***

I’ve had another lazy day today. And I’ve decided not to Hash either. Once again, the trail begins and ends at the end of Rizal Extension. Vienna Sausage is the Hare and his trails generally don’t suit me. And I don’t feel like wearing a Hash cake this week. I’m thinking I might walk the My Bitch trail, stop by the Hash On-Home, the leave before the circle begins. Or maybe I won’t bother at all. I’ve got about thirty minutes to make up my mind.

Smokin’ some Hops and drinkin’ some Brews

Posted on 25/August/2024 by John McCrarey

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my Standard Saturday Solo Street Stroll was shorter than usual. I got to the end of my street, said, “fuck this,” then turned around and went back home. I just wasn’t feeling it for some reason.

So, I spent a lazy day at home doing jackshit other than blogging and napping. I was feeling energized when beer o’clock rolled around, and Swan and I headed into town. The first stop was Sloppy Joe’s. Swan was served a rancid glass of undrinkable wine. To his credit, the manager comped her a gin and soda instead. After a couple of drinks, it was time for dinner, and I had something special in mind–a rare visit to Hops and Brews. The last time we ate at Barretto’s only smokehouse, Pugon Corner, we were severely disappointed and vowed never to return. That same day, I saw a Facebook post from Hops and Brews saying they would start their own smoke yard. I figured it was time to give it a try.

***We were in luck–this daily special board greeted us as arrived. Might as well try a little of everything and see how they do.***

***There’s a nice ambiance about the place*** ***and service was excellent.***

***I don’t think big screen TVs for music videos get any bigger than this one***

***The Smoke Garden menu. I’ll definitely order a la carte next time.***

***Our platter of smoked meats. The ribs and pulled pork were especially good and the brisket was nice as well.***

We were going to do our nightcap at Green Room, but the place was packed, so we went next door to the nearly empty Wet Spot. Owner Dave came by our table, and we had our usual pleasant chat. One of the things we discussed was some recent complaints about Barretto on one of the internet forums, comparing our little town unfavorably to Angeles City. Well, that’s apples and oranges, and I’ll take our beaches and mountains over that shithole city any day. Sure, there are more bars in AC, so there are more options for the guys who have to pay for sex. The complaints about pricing were especially ignorant. We have bars charging as little as 60 pesos if you want cheap beer. Good luck finding that in AC. I’m no expert because I don’t barfine girls, but in Barretto, the transaction is between the guy and the girl, with the girl compensating the bar for leaving work early. So, sharpen those negotiating skills if you want cheaper sex. Damn, I’m glad I don’t have to live a nickel-and-dime existence in my retirement. And I’m also delighted I don’t have to pay for sex!

Went home with some pecan pie from Sit-n-Bull and had a sweet ending to the night.

Facebook reminds me how Lucky looked when I brought him home six years ago.

***Skin and bones with no fur. He’s a Lucky dog indeed, albeit a bit of an asshole.***

I see ignorant people:

***To me, this election is about whether we have a thinking majority or a stupid one.***

In today’s YouTube video, Rose Hall explains things to be on the lookout for if you want to avoid a toxic relationship with a Filipina. NOW you tell me! Anyway, it worked out okay for me in the end, but my big red flag was the drama queens. I have almost zero tolerance for that bullshit. Swan has gone into silent mode a couple of times (we’ve been together for over a year now), but we always manage to talk things through and come out stronger on the other side.

Ready for some lame humor?

***That’s what your tongue is for, loser!***

Sunday is the day of routines. Candy Walk is in the books. Next up, the Hideaway feeding, then dinner with Swan at John’s place. Life is good.

Hmm, turns out it is not about my blog. Oh well.

Too pooped to pop

Posted on 24/August/2024 by John McCrarey

It turns out good intentions are not a source of energy. I led the Friday hiking group on a journey that included a couple of moderately easy climbs but was mostly flat. And it was fun as long as it lasted, but somewhere around the 6K mark, my body started screaming, “That’s enough!” So, wanting to avoid arguing with myself, I sent the others on without me. I detoured over Bridge #3 and grabbed a trike to carry me home. Yeah, I call it pooped out, but the reality is I pussied out—shame on me.

***A short journey on the My Bitch trail***

***We saw several carabao and gave them all a wide berth.***

***About the biggest turkey I’ve seen in these parts***

***The fields in rainy season can get a little dicey. Surprisingly, we made it across and kept our feet dry.***

***Heading back to town, just a kilometer or so before I wimped out***

***You’d think I’d be ashamed of myself, but I carried on this morning by bailing on my Standard Saturday Solo Street Stroll. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.***

And yesterday afternoon was Filipino family day here at The Rite Spot. I guess it went okay, I was the only white guy and my Tagalog is practically non-existent, but everyone seemed to be having a good time. I was a bit surprised when my pending birthday was celebrated along with Swan’s sister. The crew had worked in the kitchen all morning making various Filipino delights, although I did not partake. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood for pancit with a side of chicken feet.

***Our guests seemed to be enjoying the views from The Rite Spot***

***Thanks for thinking of me and for getting my age right. (I identify as a thirty-year-old)***

***Been a while since I enjoyed watching the sun go down from The Rite Spot***

***The clouds made for some nice views***

***We had a few sprinkles but no real rain***

I bailed early because that’s the way I roll. Swan said the party went on until midnight. I guess that qualifies as voting with your feet. We’ll be doing a more foreigner-centric party upstairs this coming Tuesday.

Facebook reminds me of my former life thirteen years ago when I formed a darts association in Columbia, South Carolina.

The darts association lives on, but the name has been changed to Soda City.

***I assume the soda comes from the nickname of Columbia, “Cola.” The logo lives on, though.***

Evil is always on the prowl.

***Saw lots of other evil faces at the DNC***

In today’s YouTube video, Reekay follows up on the so-called “enhanced” review of tourist visa renewals. As I mentioned, when I recently renewed, nothing had changed (other than my wearing slacks and collared shirt) during my visit. That’s not to say that it won’t, but it seems there has been no significant increase in visa extension denials.

And now for the comics:

***Nothing like getting your money’s worth.***

***This one hits a little too close to home.***

Now, where was I? Oh, it’s Saturday night! I haven’t made any plans as yet, but I expect I’ll be feeding Swan somewhere and worshipping at the beer alter. See you here tomorrow!

Smoke on the water

Posted on 23/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Another Thursday has been quenched. Things kicked off with a solo walk of just over 6K. Nothing significant to report other than some leg pain I had to endure for most of the hike. It was bad enough that I wanted to sit down for a spell, but every time I got to a shady bench, it was otherwise occupied. So, I trudged on, and eventually, the pain receded, or maybe I just got used to it. I’m just going to have to accept that, along with the wisdom that comes with old age, aches and pains are par for the course.

***Just starting out and I see something lurking in the weeds up ahead***

***Next I encountered these lazy goats***

***These fuckers were in attack mode, and I was ready for a fight, but the cowards wouldn’t get close enough. I did toss a dirt clod their way.***

***Crossing Bridge #4. Or is it #5 now? Well, until the rebuild of #1 is complete and we see if the newly constructed crossing is intended to be temporary, we’ll leave the numbering unchanged.***

***Let sleeping dogs lie. Not sure why they just don’t tell the truth.***

***The Bridge #1 rebuild continues apace.***

When I got back home, Swan asked me if I wanted a meat pie for lunch. Sure, why not.

Swan said I needed a haircut and she wanted one too, so we headed into town for the barber.

***Ran into Lorna on the way into town. Poor girl was seven years younger than me. RIP.***

***A new barber (my old one died) and a little shorter than I’m accustomed to, but on the bright side, I won’t need another cut for a while.***

After we were done at the salon, I had a surprise in store for Swan. Loaded her into a Jeepney and took her to her favorite beach bar.

***We hadn’t been here for several weeks.***

***The beach was clean and the floating island resurrected after the typhoon damage.***

***Who’s that hot short-haired girl at the bar?***

***I zoomed in on that ship anchored in the bay to see what kind it might be. Still no clue, but it’s not a Navy vessel.***

***When it was time to eat, I opted for the chicken fajitas***

***Swan did those pork thingys with a side of mac and cheese.***

***A last look at the sun before we headed back to Barretto***

For our nightcap, we decided to visit Whiskey Girl, a place we hadn’t been to for several months. Nothing much had changed, except my regular waitress, Kim, had traded in her belly for a daughter. She wondered when I might be due, but I bought her a drink and changed the subject.

While we were at Whiskey Girl, a storm came through, and we could hear the rain pounding on the roof, even over the music. That was a bit of a surprise because we hadn’t seen any rain for a couple of weeks, and the skies hadn’t appeared threatening. But we definitely needed the cleansing that comes with rain. You may have noticed in many of the photos above that the sky looks almost smoky. It turns out it’s not smog, but something called “vog”–the gasses and dust spewed from the Taal volcano on the southern end of Luzon island.

***The view from my patio yesterday afternoon***

***The same view this morning after the rain***

Isn’t life grand?

I came across an excellent example of just how important punctuation truly is.

***I must have been late to punctuation class because I’m not very punctual these days.***

Facebook memories took me back to a luncheon with my team on this day back in 2017:

***I was the Human Resources Director, so I couldn’t play favorites. But Miss Song was special in my secret heart.***

Couldn’t resist sharing this political meme:

***It is genuinely scary to think that the typical American voter would fall for this bullshit. Wake up, sheeple!***

Today’s YouTube video shares the story of an American retiree who finds himself in a Filipino prison. My number one objective has always been to avoid doing anything that might result in my being jailed. I doubt I’d survive more than a month or two under those conditions. So, being smart and avoiding anything illegal (like drugs, even marijuana) goes a long way. Sadly, if you piss off the wrong person (like your ex-wife), you can be set up for a fall. Sort of like they did to that Trump fella in the USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLcQSNKcRYM

(For some reason, I can’t embed the video. Sorry about that. Just click the link above to see it.)

And now for some humor:

***It takes lickin’ and keeps on tickin’***

***Someone should erect a monument in recognition of the hard life of Sir Penis.***

So, Swan invited her family to the house this evening. I guess we will all hang out at The Rite Spot and do things Filipino-style. This is a big milestone in the relationship spectrum. I’ve met some individual members of Swan’s family, but having the whole crew over to the house is kind of a welcoming ritual where Swan shows that we are the real deal. My introverted nature is a little bit in the dreading mode, but I imagine a beer or three will help alleviate that. Wish me luck!

Pounding the pavement

Posted on 22/August/2024 by John McCrarey

The Wednesday Walkers took a little stroll on SBMA (the old Navy base), trekking out past the golf course, up into the Binictican housing area, and then through the El Kabayo horse stables before completing our 9K loop. It was almost all blacktop, but as the first timer to this area, Michael, put it, it is like being in another country—clean roads without much traffic and a quiet and safe vibe. No Jeepneys or trikes allowed!

***It had been a couple of years since we’d last walked these roads***

***It took a lot of balls to pose for this photo. We saw a couple of these vendors selling golf balls recovered from errant golfers.***

***One of several industrial parks on SBMA.***

***I’m told the golf course is Japanese owned and caters to an upscale crowd with 5000 peso a round greens fees.***

***They say the cart comes first, but I never saw the horse.***

***Pretty typical of most of our walk. A couple uphills, but not bad at all.***

***We did encounter this obstacle–a bridge under construction. We weren’t allowed to pass, but the guard directed us to a detour we could take.***

***The guards were friendly enough as we entered the housing area, but did take a photo of our IDs.***

***The area was called Forest View, but I couldn’t see the forest for all those trees.***

***The stables used to offer horseback rides, but they appear to have fallen into disrepair.***

***We did see several horses in the pasture.***

***After the hike we went to a local eatery called Vasco’s for some bayside refreshments***

***One of the original Subic Hashers, Roadwhore, lives upstairs from Vascos and he came down to greet us.***

Later in the evening, Swan and I enjoyed our visit to It Doesn’t Matter. The girls seemed pleased with the brownies I baked them. We did our nightcap at Wet Spot and I remembered to use my Sit-n-Bull discount coupon for some food to bring home. Aine continues to ignore, and that’s fine with us.

***I rarely break the 20,000 step barrier these days, but a long flat walk got me there yesterday.***

Today’s YouTube video from Reekay delves into the “friends with benefits” relationship issue. I gave that a try for a while, but the transactional nature (at least the way I was doing it) over time turned out to be unsatisfying.

And now for the funny stuff:

***If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!***

***That’s not the shaft she was looking for.***

***Sometimes you need to turn a blind eye.***

That’s it for today’s post. More to come tomorrow.

Never heard of this group or this song before. At least the title works for this post.

Gettin’ it done

Posted on 21/August/2024 by John McCrarey

It’s not like I have much to do, but by golly, I did it anyway. As usual, my Tuesday begins with a grocery shopping excursion to the Royal Duty Free supermarket. Nothing exciting to report about that event, but here are a couple of highlights:

I don’t normally buy hot cake mix, but when Swan saw this, she thought the price (60 pesos = $1.08) must be a mistake. I looked at the other brands, and they were three or four dollars. Unable to resist a bargain, we bought two. And yes, I watched them ring up at the cash register to ensure I wasn’t overcharged.

***Baby back ribs for half price! How could I resist? I bought two racks for about ten bucks each.***

***All those bargains added up and I spent a lot more than usual (about $150. over budget)***

I had my driver drop me off at Dr. Jo’s clinic on the way home so I could do a consult. The pulmonary doctor had increased my dosage of metformin, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. I’ve also had some folks mention that I’m again retaining fluid in my ankles. As I expected, Dr. Jo didn’t think doubling my metformin intake was a good idea, and she also tweaked some of the other drugs I’ve been taking for years now. She wants me to get some additional blood work, including a PSA test, to check my prostate. Hubby Dr. Chris sent me a couple of links regarding chelation therapy. He said that he and Dr. Jo are using this method to cleanse their arteries. I did some limited research and noted that it is not FDA-approved for this purpose, but after what the FDA approved for COVID, I have little faith in their judgment. Some of the drugs I’m taking now are related to test results in a Korean hospital ten years ago that showed a 20% blockage in one of my arteries. I’m still on the fence about chelation, but I’ll consider it a future option.

Speaking of heart issues, my friend and frequent commenter Kevin Kim is home from the hospital after his narrow escape from death. In case you missed it, here is his account of what happened. Keep fighting! You’ll be back on the path to restored health and walking across the Korean peninsula again soon. You can do this!

When I asked Swan what we should do for our evening out, she responded that she needed to visit our waitress from Alaska Club, Vanessa, and give her the notes and paperwork she retained from her studies as a caregiver student. So, we visited Sloppy Joe’s next door and waited for Alaska to open. We didn’t have to wait long because Vanessa stopped by our table on her way to work.

***Good luck with your studies, Vanessa!***

I had a “buy one, get one” SOB coupon to use, so we made Green Room our next stop. Swan’s generosity surprised me once again when, unbeknownst to me, she sent one of the waitresses out to buy some meat-on-a-stick to share with the other girls. I did buy a couple of lady drinks, at least. Later, my neighbor Jeff and his lady Davina joined us at our table, and we shared some drinks and chat. Another mutual friend, Matt, just returned from visiting the USA, and I suggested we throw a welcome home party at The Rite Spot. Jeff advised that he and the family would be in Angeles all weekend, so we are going to party on Tuesday. Coincidentally, that is my 69th birthday. So, I guess we’ll have a rockin’ good time.

No politics or memories to share today. You are welcome!

Today’s YouTube video is from my favorite, The Filipina Pea. She discusses how Filipinos view foreigners. The stereotype of being the rich white guy is just part of it. I laughed at being called “Joe,” which happens quite a lot. I perpetuate it by answering kids who ask, “What’s your name?” with Joe. Living in a town full of expats is a lot different than living a rural province life where you might be the only foreigner in town. I’ve noticed when we hike in areas that foreigners don’t frequent, being stared at is a pretty common occurrence. Anyway, the Pea is always worth your time. Give it a watch.

You wanna know what’s funny?

***Let he who is without sin cast the first stone***

A different kind of hike with the Wednesday Walkers this morning that I’ll tell you about tomorrow. I asked Swan about tonight’s mission, and she suggested I bake some brownies to share with the gals at IDM. Great minds think alike! No wonder I love that girl.

That’s all for now. Thanks for coming!

A Hare-y Hash trail

Posted on 20/August/2024 by John McCrarey

We came. We saw. We marked the trail. We sat on the ice. Just a typical day in the life of a Hare with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. I joined my counterparts (Pubic Head and Blow My Pipe) in laying the powder, paper, and chalk marks to guide our fellow Hashers on Run #1615. All who did the trail survived (as far as we know), and that is the primary indicator of success in my book. It was a short trail at a little under 5K but had a challenging climb up to Kalaklan Ridge and a steep down before ending at the On-Home held at Hasher Tung ‘n Gruve’s beachside residence. I didn’t receive any negative feedback on the trail, and a couple of Hashers were surprised that the fat old guy made that climb.

Yeah, about that. It was an ass-kicking up, but thankfully, it wasn’t a killer. Honestly, if I didn’t feel obligated to my fellow Hares, I would have turned around early and called it a day. I’m not sure what it is lately; I just don’t seem to have any energy or stamina. I fear it may be the vestiges of old age, and the only cure for that is one I’d prefer to avoid. We will see what the future brings. In the meantime, I’ll try and keep thinking positive thoughts, and hoping this too shall pass.

***Ready to get started. Blow My Pipe had the powder, I threw the shredded paper, and Pubic Head manned the chalk.***

***Marching up to the end of Coral Street in Barangay Lower Kalaklan***

***The road ends and our path to the top of the ridge begins***

***The only bridge crossing on our*** ***trail***

***I’ve crossed worse. Just stay off the green!***

***I was even slower than usual on the climb***

***My tree of the day was as dead as I was feeling***

***Our host provided grilled chicken and hot dogs to the Hashers gratis***

***Our gracious host, Tung ‘n Gruve, was honored with the Hashshit***

***The trail we laid. The yellow line is a “hard” option Blow My Pipe added. It has an additional down and up. The “easy” trail is actually longer, but mostly flat.***

Another Hash in the books. It is always nice to live to tell about it.

***I saw that bumper sticker on a parked car and chuckled. I remember reading that women can turn into good drivers. So, if you are a good driver, be on the lookout for women drivers!***

***Estrella, I think you are the oldest I’ve seen on a funeral banner. Hope it was a good life for you.***

Memories today include my kids enjoying life on the farm circa 1981:

***Monroe, Oklahoma was the place to be***

***Eight years ago I was living the life in Itaewon with Eun Oke. It didn’t last.***

Coincidentally, in today’s YouTube video, Reekay talks about the perils of dating crazy women. Now, Eun Oke’s craziness only manifested when she’d been drinking to excess, but sadly, that was pretty much all the time, at least when she was around me. I’d try to get her to slow down, but that would trigger an outburst. Finally, I had enough and walked away for good. For years afterward, even when I was living here in the PI, I’d get a video call on Messenger at three in the morning from my drunk ex. I eventually just stopped answering. Another example of there are worse things than being alone.

Today’s attempt at humor:

Not sure what’s on tap for the rest of my Tuesday, but it will likely involve some cold bottles of San Mig Zero. I’ll fill in the gaps tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this clip from Deliverance. Who knew Joe Biden was such a talented banjo player back in the day?

The world would be a better place if you’d stuck with music, Joe.

An abrv. post

Posted on 19/August/2024 by John McCrarey

The rare early morning post here at LTG. And shorter than usual, too. I’m one of the Hares for today’s Hash and we are meeting to mark the trail at 0930. I don’t expect there will be time for blogging afterward. So, here we go.

Another Sunday, another Candy Walk through the streets of San Isidro. Swan says we sweetened the day of 211 kids this week. Don’t ask me how she keeps count.

***Swan’s bag and backpack loaded and ready to go***

***I hadn’t noticed earlier, but we both selected the same shirt to wear yesterday***

***We take the same route every week. A little boring, but the kids are always awaiting our arrival, so we don’t want to disappoint***

***Kids were at church, so Lola took the candy for them this week***

***A trike with FIVE kids crammed inside stopped for some sweets***

***It appears you had a good run, Pablo.***

***The last group and the last of the candy.***

He’s not in the picture, but a grumpy old man told Swan not to hand out candy here anymore because the kids throw the wrappers on the ground. While I admire his anti-littering zeal, it seems unfair to punish all for the actions of the few. Swan says she wants to skip this street next week.

Later in the day, I did my feeding at Hideaway. For a change, there were actually a few customers in the bar, which certainly enhanced the vibe. We’ll see if that continues.

Then, I crossed the highway for my dinner date with Swan at John’s place. Our old waitress, Em Jhae, was back from Pampanga for the weekend and working a shift for some extra coin. It is always nice to see her again. We took our usual seats in the third-floor open-air bar and got down to business.

***John had been advertising this all week. I’d given up on Fish and Chips because most places use crap fish like dory.***

I was too late for the lunch special, but was willing to pay full price to see what this Pacific pomfret John had been raving about was like.

***And that’s the kind of tender consistency I like in a fish. Tasted good too!***

***Swan debated between the roast beef and pulled pork, but in the end, went with the pig.***

We did our nightcap at Alaska Club. Coincidentally, John was there playing in the pool tournament. I did my usual thing of rewarding the dancers with a fifty peso note each for actually dancing while on stage. And I also bought a lady drink for our waitress, of course. Then Swan recognized one of the dancers as someone she knew from way back in 2010, so I called her down to join us (and bought the requisite lady drink for her). So, Swan had a nice time catching up with her old pal. When I was ready to go, I paid the tab and waited for my change. When the waitress returned, she had another beer in hand, courtesy of owner Jerry. While I enjoyed my freebie, I was shocked to see Swan order two more lady drinks for our company. Good for her! I paid, of course, explaining to the girls that Swan and I have a 50-50 relationship–she buys, I pay.

***Good times with an old acquaintance.***

And that was our Sunday.

Eight years ago, I took my new girlfriend on an Itaewon bar crawl. I have a picture from each bar in my Facebook memories for today. This one was taken at the 7th and last stop, Debut Bar.

***At least one of us is still standing.***

I promise, after the elections I’ll stop posting this political shit.

***I tagged my nephew Justin on this one.***

Today’s YouTube video discusses the fact that foreigners are not allowed to own property in the Philippines. There are workarounds (like putting the property in your Filipina’s name), but those can be perilous if the relationship goes south. One friend of mine put his house in his ex’s name, but has a twenty-five-year lease. He’ll be dead before that’s up, and he won’t care.

Humor time:

Anyway, our trail today will include a climb up Kalaklan Ridge. I’ll let you know how that works out for us tomorrow.

Treasure this day

Posted on 18/August/2024 by John McCrarey

It hasn’t rained for three days now, and my weather app says the temperature has been higher than normal. Add in the bout of laziness I’ve been experiencing lately, and it is not a healthy combination. Nevertheless, I managed to get up off my ass and do a modified Saturday Solo Street Stroll. Instead of the streets of Barretto, I walked the neighborhood. And to further motivate myself, I decided to document all the house construction currently taking place. Exciting shit, eh?

***I live on Bryce, a short street with a cul-de-sac on each end.***

***This house is being built on the corner, where Bryce intersects with Roosevelt***

***A block or so up Roosevelt from me they just recently broke ground on a new place***

***I was hoping they’d find a way to incorporate that big ol’ rock into the design. Alas, they are slowly chipping away at it with a jack hammer. Good luck with that.***

***On the other side of Alta Vista is my old street, Shenandoah Bend***

***This monster at the end of the street is almost finished***

***Right next door, this one is just getting started***

***And they’ve just broken ground on this one next door to the other one.***

***And this one is going up on the other end of Shenandoah***

***Where this big-ass house is nearing completion***

***Back on my side of the subdivision and one of the main streets, Alta Vista Avenue***

***And it’s been slow going right across the street on this one. I have no idea why in some cases it takes over a year to build a residence, but that is true with this house.***

***Talk about raising Capitol… (yes, I know it should be capital. Just having some pun.)***

***And last but not least, this house is almost done and is one of my favorites.***

***Wasn’t that fun? Just a little over 3K but still better than sitting on my lazy ass.***

And when the best time of day rolled around, Swan and I hoofed it out to Baloy Beach for an evening of fun, food, and music at the Treasure Island Resort.

***The Engine Band was rockin’! Again, live music in this kind of setting always sounds a tad off to me, but their classic rock mix of songs made up for it.***

***It was the largest crowd I’ve ever seen at Treasure Island. The staff was working hard, but the service didn’t suffer.***

***Swan had a grilled pork chop and judged it tasty, but not as good as the thick and juicy pork chops we enjoy at Mangos. She also said the mashed potatoes came from a powder mix.***

***I went with these tacos. Simple, but good.***

***I’d never seen the bay turn red like this before.***

***And there was some color in the sky as well.***

It’s been said that a joy shared is a joy doubled. We enjoyed our Saturday on the beach together.

Yesterday will be a memory some day, just like these are now:

***1973 with my high school sweetheart and first love, Karen Michelle Rush.*** ***Strange, I have a beer belly now, but didn’t have a pot belly then.***

***My last visit to Korea was in 2019. That’s Kevin Kim and my nephew Justin engaged in a political discussion over dinner. Sadly, Justin is a totally indoctrinated lefty.***

I hope you’ll indulge my sharing some political viewpoints that reflect my perspectives:

***Oh, yes she has. Just hasn’t done anything good.***

***See, you have accomplished something! You are one of the best fuck ups around. Or maybe you just suck.***

***If you base your vote simply on what’s best for you, how could you not vote Trump? Are you better off now than you were four years ago?***

***Yeah, when Facebook is censoring ads for a Reagan movie, you know things have gone to shit.***

This is parody. Or is it the near future?

A man calls Pizza hut to order a pizza…

CALLER: Is this Pizza Hut?

GOOGLE: No sir, it’s Google Pizza.

CALLER: I must have dialed a wrong number, sorry.

GOOGLE: No sir, Google bought Pizza Hut last month.

CALLER: OK. I would like to order a pizza.

GOOGLE: Do you want your usual, sir?

CALLER: My usual? You know me?

GOOGLE: According to our caller ID data sheet, the last 12 times you called you ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meatballs on a thick crust.

CALLER: Super! That’s what I’ll have.

GOOGLE: May I suggest that this time you order a pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole wheat gluten-free thin crust?

CALLER: What? I don’t want a vegetarian pizza!

GOOGLE: Your cholesterol is not good, sir.

CALLER: How the hell do you know that?

GOOGLE: Well, we cross-referenced your home phone number with your medical records. We have the result of your blood tests for the last 7 years.

CALLER: Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetarian pizza! I already take medication for my cholesterol.

GOOGLE: Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your medication regularly. According to our database, you purchased only a box of 30 cholesterol tablets once at Lloyds Pharmacy, 4 months ago.

CALLER: I bought more from another Pharmacy.

GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your credit card statement.

CALLER: I paid in cash.

GOOGLE: But you did not withdraw enough cash according to your bank statement.

CALLER: I have other sources of cash.

GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your latest tax returns unless you bought them using an undeclared income source, which is against the law!

CALLER: WHAT THE HELL!

GOOGLE: I’m sorry sir, we use such information only with the sole intention of helping you.

CALLER: Enough already! I’m sick to death of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others. I’m going to an island without the internet, TV, where there is no phone service and no one to watch me or spy on me.

GOOGLE: I understand sir, but you need to renew your passport first. It expired 6 weeks ago…

Let’s hope for the best.

Today’s YouTube video is something different: A British movie from 1991 called Filipina Dream Girls. It’s said to be a dramatization of a romance tour to the Philippines. I’ve never heard of such a thing as a “romance tour,” but I guess before the internet, you had to meet the girls here somehow. It’s a comedy of sorts, and British humor sometimes doesn’t translate, but seeing a 1990s version of the PI was nice. And damn, Filipinas were even hotter than they are now back then. Or at least the ones in this movie are. If you have an hour or so to kill, it’s worth a watch.

Oh shit, I didn’t realize that it was age-restricted. I’m only half way through, but haven’t seen any nudity or reason to age restrict. But you know YouTube knows best. Just click on the link.

And now for the funny stuff:

***Shit, this is so bad it made ME groan. But, it will make the others seem that much better. Promise!***

***I hope you are behaving yourself, Kevin!***

***What do you mean you can’t hear me?***

Now it is time to prepare for my Sunday evening rituals. I’ll feed the girls at Hideaway, then dine with my sweetie at John’s place. Should be fun.

Taking my balls to Tibag

Posted on 17/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Only four were in attendance for the Friday group hike, and since Michael had his car, I suggested we take a stroll in the seldom-visited Tibag area. I’m not sure why, but something about Tibag appeals to me. It’s way too isolated to seriously consider living there (I’m no Tibagger), but the vibe is nice. I screwed up and didn’t take any photos in the village, so you’ll have to make do with some scenes from the surrounding countryside.

***My fellow Tibaggers…(l-r) Michael (Aussie), Erik (Yank), and Gary (Brit)***

***Taking the back way out of the village***

***That chicken bucket from Jollibee is a long way from home.***

***Most of the traffic we encountered on the road were trucks headed for the landfill.***

***It’s a narrow road, so two at a time was a little dicey for pedestrians***

***A shortish hike at a tad under 5K, but it felt just about right to me.***

***After the hike I had the group over for lunch and liquid refreshment. Swan served up some amazing burgers and fries (which I also neglected to photograph). Good times!***

My next adventure was attending this week’s SOB dance competition. The Green Room doesn’t have a stage, so it’s a tad hard to get a good vantage point. I arrived a few minutes after the 4 p.m. opening and got the best seats available. Swan and Erik shared the table with me. The only problem with an early arrival is having to pay for beers (and lady drinks) until the show starts at 6 p.m. Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

It was a very close contest, with Green Room beating La Oficina by one point. That’s how I scored it, recognizing that the home team has a slight advantage. Swan liked La Oficina best. Once the videos get posted, I’ll share them here and let y’all decide who’s right.

Drinking steady from four to eight stretches my capacity to the limit. So, it was in the trike at the end of the show and hitting the sack shortly thereafter. As Fridays go, I’d rate this a good one.

Some past memories to share today:

My stepdaughter Hillary did two tours in Afghanistan when her National Guard unit was activated after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She was in a civil affairs unit doing things like building schools for the girls. She said the experience changed her life.

Twelve years ago, we spread my father’s ashes. He had donated his body to the medical university, and when they were done with him, they sent him home to us in a cardboard box.

***We began in Enid, Oklahoma and shared some of the ashes with my mother.***

***Then we drove to Dad’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee and poured the rest of him in the Mississippi River.***

***I’m told Dad used to hang out and fish in this spot growing up, so it seemed like a fitting place to leave his ashes***

***My Dad (top, third from left) with his fishing buddies***

***Older brother Keith does the pouring as Jee Yeun looks on***

***Watching the river carry Dad to the sea***

***The poem we read as we said goodbye***

Back to the present, and the insanity that is the current state of our nation.

***I’d ask how dumb do they think we are, but I’m not sure I’d like the answer. The latest rumor has Biden resigning in October so Kamala can run as the incumbent.***

Today’s YouTube video is from the Filipina Pea. She explores the issue of whether Filipinas are brainwashed in their beliefs and toxic actions. Some interesting interviews exploring this issue.

Some humor would be good right about now, doncha you think?

***A bad pun to start will make the rest seem better***

***What doesn’t go in you, goes on you!***

***Enough with the limp humor, how hard can it be?***

So, that brings you up to date here in my little part of the world. I’m going to take Swan to Treasure Island Resort this evening for some beach views and live music. I intend to be back here tomorrow to tell you all about it!

Yeah, I know I posted this song in the not-too-distant past, but I couldn’t resist since today’s theme is Tibag. Besides, it is less than two minutes long.

I’ll take it

Posted on 16/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Yesterday may not have been perfect, but it was good enough for me. We began the day with a walk to the Subic marketplace, where Swan needed to replenish her candy supply for the upcoming Sunday Candy walk. Strolling on the National Highway is no fun, so to the extent we could, we detoured onto back streets to avoid the traffic. It added some distance, but we got to the market in just under eight kilometers.

I wasn’t feeling real motivated, and there were several times when I was tempted just to say “fuck this” and take a Jeepney instead. But when I saw this on the wall early in the hike, I answered affirmatively:

***Not many kids about because it was a school day, but Swan took care of the ones we saw.***

***Even the ones who wouldn’t stand up and get it.***

***This gal was a couple of months younger than me***

***He was three years older. At least he lived to see his 72nd birthday***.

***There she was just a walkin’ down the street…***

***Swan grabbed a snack from this vendor…I took a pass.***

***A new resort under construction. Pool looks nice.***

***I don’t recall ever seeing a green ship before***

***Two boxes of candies for this week’s Candy Walk. Mission accomplished!***

***Our circuitous path to the marketplace***

Back home after a 200 peso trike ride, and Swan made me chicken fajitas for lunch.

***On the tortilla and ready to gobble. Well, I did add a dash of sour cream after this photo.***

When beer o’clock arrived, I decided an evening at The Rite Spot was in order.

***The view from the roof. And surprisingly, no rain at all yesterday.***

***That bay they call Subic in the distance***

***My Lucky boy keeping a lookout from the steps***

***The Australian wine my buddy Michael gifted me.***

***It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do a sunset series. Here goes:***

***Swan served up this delicious beef and broccoli dish for my dinner***

I watched a couple of YouTube videos on the big screen, including one about Japan’s capture of Manila in December 1941. Let’s hope history in the form of China doesn’t repeat itself. I had a good night’s sleep, and I woke to another fine day in paradise. Keep ’em coming!

Facebook reminded me that eight years ago I met a Korean lass named Eun Oke. We had some good times and some bad times, but in the end I grew tired of her drama. It was fun while it lasted. Mostly.

***Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She was the first woman I dated after Jee Yeun (wife #4) broke my heart.***

Reekay holds court in today’s YouTube video, sharing the stories of three foolish men who got fucked by Filipinas, and not in the good way. What was it Forrest Gump said? Stupid is as stupid does. I’ve had my share of fuckups and been scammed a couple of times, but not at this level.

And now for some humor:

***Let’s get something straight between us.***

***Like a broken clock, this is funny twice a day. Sorry if you missed out!***

Gonna do the SOB tonight. Had a nice time on today’s hike in Tibag. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

This video is fun to watch. From the fat guy rockin’ it to the all white audience groovin’ on Little Richard.

Up the creek and through the village

Posted on 15/August/2024 by John McCrarey

I was back out yesterday with the Wednesday Walkers group, and we trekked up to Balon Falls, then onward through an Aeta native people’s village, and then back down again to where we started. It had been a couple of years since I’d been out that way, and everything had a fresh feel about it. Here, have a look for yourself:

***Ed provided our transportation out to the border of Castillejos and San Marcelino where we began our hike.***

***I *think* the river is the dividing line between the two towns***

***I guess you could say our group was a Preda*** ***tour.***

***The first of several water crossings on our hike***

***The trail got a little dicey in places***

***The closest thing I saw to a “falls”***

***Even the high water litters in this country***

***Not one of the easy parts of the trail***

***Into the Aeta village. I guess laundry is part of the culture***

***More laundry and a cookie delivery***

***It appears the village has a nice school***

***Oops, looks like I’m falling behind***

***Waiting on the slow guy. Hey, those cookies aren’t gonna deliver themselves***

***We made this guy’s day when three of our group purchased fresh avocados from him.***

I also enjoyed my Wednesday evening in town with Swan. We kicked things off on the rooftop at BarCelona.

***The standard view from my BarCelona stool***

When we were ready for a change of scenery, we headed downstairs to The Green Room. Waitress Chu is always happy to drink with us, and I found watching some excellent pool players quite entertaining. We did our nightcap next door at Wet Spot, and we were surprised when my neighbors, Jeff and Davina, came in for a drink. Later, owner Daddy Dave and I had a lengthy and pleasant chat about the good ol’ days in the bar business. A very enjoyable night on the town, indeed.

Ah, one of the blessings of a long life is all the memories.

***Thirteen years ago, I was bat-shit crazy in Bali***

***And in 2015, I had my name on the cash register at my favorite Itaewon bar, Shenanigans.***

***The biggest humiliation of the scamdemic in 2020 was being forced to wear these fucking face shields to enter any business. What a joke!***

Speaking of jokes, how about that Indian woman running for President?

***As hard as it is to believe, policy-wise, she’d be worse than Biden.***

Today’s YouTube video comes from Rose Hall. She weighs in on the older-younger romances so prevalent here in the Philippines. Swan is only twenty-eight years younger than me, so I wouldn’t know. The video is not very long, and the scenery is especially nice in this one. Have a look for yourself.

Let’s see if I can find some humor:

***She must get hot when the sun is out***

That’s all for now, folks. Back tomorrow to tell you about today.

I ain’t done yet

Posted on 14/August/2024 by John McCrarey

We’ll kick things off today with some good news–my buddy Kevin Kim is still alive, barely. He gives a harrowing account from the hospital of what happened to put him there. He is a lucky man, indeed! The road ahead for him sounds like it will be a painful battle, but for a guy who has walked Korea end-to-end numerous times, I know he has the strength and willpower to overcome this broken heart and come out stronger on the other side. Keep fighting, my friend!

***My goal is to live as many more days as possible. But I’ll settle for 5,121 additional days of life.***

My Tuesday began with a trip to the immigration office to extend my tourist visa for another sixty days. This shouldn’t be a problem because I’m in compliance with all the rules associated with a tourist stay. Still, I’ve recently been seeing vlogs and reading posts indicating that stricter reviews of applications and additional scrutiny of the reasons for long-term stays in the Philippines have been occurring. This includes an interview with an immigration officer as part of the approval (or denial) process. Accordingly, I was a tad more nervous than usual as I prepared for my visit to the Bureau of Immigration office in Olongapo City.

Ready to roll to immigration. I haven’t worn pants for a long time, but shorts are technically not allowed when visiting the immigration office. I’ve ignored that rule in the past, but wasn’t taking any chances yesterday.

I was the first person to sign in and hand over my passport and paperwork. The only agent I saw behind the counter was busy preparing forms and getting ready to do her job. She got around to me after about fifteen minutes. She did the usual typing into the computer, then called me to the counter to collect my 2800 peso extension fee. I sat back down and waited, then five minutes later, she called my name again. I stood at the counter, and then she handed me my passport and an approved extension through October 17. No questions asked!

I wore a relieved face as I completed my grocery shopping at Royal.

I was in a generous mood, so I baked a batch of brownies to share with some bargirls, although I wasn’t sure where. Like me, Swan enjoys the outdoor bars more than the girly bars, so I figured we’d start at Sloppy Joe’s. Our waitress there used to work on the Kokomo floating bar, and she told me on a previous visit that she missed my brownies. She seemed pleased when I gifted her a freshly baked batch to share with her co-workers. Mission accomplished.

Next stop was It Doesn’t Matter for some more outdoor ambiance as I drank my beers and Swan sipped her wine. I brought along some lollypops so the girls there would have something to suck on. We ordered some food, which proved to be a fiasco. Ashley, the manager, apologized and advised us that the kitchen was managed separately from the bar. She gave us a round of free drinks anyway. We didn’t let the kitchen snafu spoil our good time.

One of the things I enjoy about the outdoor venues is taking in the views. Last night, I saw a couple of European expats out on the street.

***It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a VW Beetle from Germany hanging around***

***And this British MG was looking good for its age.***

***Thanks for taking such good care of us, Ashley!***

We our time was done at IDM, we headed for home where some sweetness awaited:

***Swan’s cherry cheesecake hit the right spot before heading to bed.***

And so ended another day of living.

Facebook memories carried me back to a day spent with the kids in the early 80s when we lived in Poteau, Oklahoma.

***Daughter Renee’s daughter started college this week at the University of South Carolina. Damn, where does the time go?***

Politics, anyone?

***Walz says it’s not stolen valor; it’s redistribution. Why should real bravery be limited to heroes? That’s not how communism works.***

Today’s YouTube is from a vlogger I’m not subscribed to, but his catchy heading sucked me in. He claims to love Angeles City. I despise it for the most part. Watch the video and decide for yourself if you want. Perusing the comments, I see most of the viewers agree with me that AC is a shithole. All that it has to offer are those whore bars, but that was never my thing.

Ready for some humor?

***Join the Navy and do work on a submarine!***

Alright, a nice hike today I’ll share about tomorrow. Beer o’clock is on the immediate horizon, so we’ll see how our evening in town turns out. Hasta la vista for now.

Works for me

Posted on 13/August/2024 by John McCrarey

Another Hash Monday is in the books, and I’m here to write about it. The Hare, Leech My Nuggets, notorious for his hard trails, offered us oldsters what he called a “cripple’s” version yesterday. I took it, and it was close enough to perfect for me. The version I did featured one steep but relatively short climb and then a couple of smaller ups and downs before a junction with the familiar My Bitch trail leading back to Alta Vista and the On-Home at Leech’s house. The long version featured an ass-kicking climb to Kalaklan Ridge, then back down to join the portion I did. I chose wisely.

***Hashers gathering at the trailhead on the far side of Barretto. I walked the 2K to get there from my house.***

***And we are On-On! That’s Leech My Nuggets up front with the powder to mark the trail for us “cripples”***

***Someone is unclear on the concept of “taking the trash out.” It doesn’t mean dumping it in the yard outside the house.***

***A brief glimpse of Easter Mountain***

***Our path. The purple line is the way the “cripples” went.***

The nice thing about the On-Home in Alta Vista is that it is easy for me to get home from there. Not even tempted to go into town for some after-Hash imbibing.

***The clouds as I walked home after the Hash***

***And the clouds when I woke up this morning***

Before going to bed last night, I randomly selected the first episode of a Netflix series called “1899.” It was entertaining enough, I suppose, but just now reading the Wikipedia link, I see that it was canceled after two seasons and that the storyline did not reach a satisfying conclusion. Nope, I’m not going to waste any more time on this one.

I still have not heard anything from or about Kevin Kim. Something is going on, and I hope it is not as bad as my imagination is leading me to believe. Kevin lives alone but has friends and co-workers who should be around to provide whatever assistance he may require. I just don’t have any way to contact anyone in Korea that might be able to provide an update.

***Please send positive thoughts or prayers his way***

It’s election season, so I’m doing a little more political posting than normal. Y’all know where I stand:

***Hopefully, the country makes a right turn***

Today’s stroll down memory lane was eight years ago, and it was more than a stroll, it was a climb:

***Up a shitload of steps to the top of Namsan mountain in Seoul***

***A real ass-kicker. (Especially with a pocket full of vape pens)***

Today’s YouTube video is from Reekay, who offers advice on telling your Filipina no. One of the nice things about Swan is that she almost never asks for anything, and if she does, it is usually for a charity project she is involved in. As Reekay suggests, Swan gets a monthly allowance to do with as she pleases, and she lives well within that budget.

Today’s lame attempt at humor:

***I don’t have a drinking problem…I drink, I get drunk, I fall down. No problem!***

Speaking of which, we’ll be heading into town soon for some beer and wine. I’m thinking a nice outdoor venue, either Sloppy Joe’s or It Doesn’t Matter. Hell, maybe both. More tomorrow!

A sweet rain

Posted on 12/August/2024 by John McCrarey

I’m worried about my friend and fellow blogger, Kevin Kim. He hasn’t updated his blog, approved comments, or responded to my emails. Kevin has been dealing with some heart-related health issues, and his sudden disappearance doesn’t bode well. I hope whatever is going on resolves itself in a positive way. Hang in there, Kevin!

Several days ago, we encountered a crying kitten on the next street over from us. Swan and I are both dog lovers, but we felt sorry for this apparently abandoned feline. We left her some water and food and hoped for the best. We were surprised to find that the kitten had moved and taken up residence under the neighbor’s car. Swan has been feeding her there, and it appears a mutual adoption might be taking place.

Swan has been busy all morning erecting a cat house for the still unnamed kitten next door. I’m pretty impressed with Swan’s carpentry skills. The way she handles that hammer is a good reminder for me to not piss her off.

Dogs and cats are not generally a good mix, so the plan is to place the shelter outside our fence and provide food and water as needed. So, we shall see what happens. Our concern is that if the neighbor starts the car while the kitten is sleeping under the hood, it could make for a deadly mess.

We also engaged in our regular Sunday candy walk, despite the threatening skies.

***Making the best of what life has to offer***

***They came in from the rice paddy for some treats***

***Lakeside living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be***

It being Sunday and all, I had the traditional feeding of the girls at Hideaway to attend to. Still only four of them, which I suppose is plenty when that is double the number of customers. Still, having two fellow drinkers in the bar was twice as many as last week. Owner Griff was there, too, so it was nice to see him again.

Next up was dinner at Pugon Corner to celebrate the birthday of Swan’s sister, Cathy.

***When this place first opened, it was great. My only problem was that it was not conveniently located.***

So, I arrived at Pugon prior to my guests. The waitress brought a menu and advised that none of the smoked beef selections were available. I can kinda sorta understand that; with business slow and beef expensive, why bother? I was there for the pork anyway. I ordered a Zero beer and was not surprised they didn’t have that; lots of places don’t. So, I ordered up my alternative, San Miguel Light. Despite it being on the menu, it was out of stock. I pushed back a little on the waitress, saying it doesn’t make sense not to keep a popular beer like that in the fridge. She apologized and offered to send someone to the store to buy some. Sure, why not? Bring me five. When Swan and Cathy arrived, they were told no red wine was available. Oh well. Cathy had a Red Horse, and I shared my Light with Swan.

Once again, I was disappointed that a restaurant specializing in smoked and grilled meats didn’t have the baby back ribs available. So, we settled for the pulled pork, grilled pork belly, and chicken wings. The food was okay, but nothing special.

***My dining companions, Swan and the birthday girl***

I won’t be back to Pugon Corner. Coincidentally, Hops and Brews just announced they now have a smokehouse. Much better venue and conveniently located.

We did our nightcap at Green Room and enjoyed ourselves, then triked on home bringing an end to our Sunday.

Some memories to look back on:

I came across this photo of a ’64 Triumph TR4 and recalled the night as a drunken teen when I drove my friend’s TR4 through a brick wall. The aftermath of that night included Grand Theft Auto. I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations for that crime has now expired.

***Eight years ago, I hosted a team-building luncheon as the newly appointed (and former) director for the best damn team of HR professionals I ever had the honor to lead.***

***Seven years ago I wandered around on the lonely streets of Anjeong-ri after my move to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. I wish I had appreciated the year I spent their more at the time.***

In the political realm, memes like this are going to get nastier and nastier as we head into November:

Anyway, let’s move on to today’s YouTube video. Our hostess warns of hidden risks for expats and visitors to the Philippines. It’s mostly just common sense, but the scenery is easy on the eyes.

And now for a taste of humor:

***I just bought some WD40 the other day, but haven’t tasted it yet.***

***That resistance was more than a language barrier***

***Eh, I saw this before with Star Trek characters. Sorry for the repeat.***

It is Hash Monday and Leech My Nuggets is the Hare. No worries, we’ve already got our shortcut planned. The On-Home is at Leech’s place here in Alta Vista, so I won’t have any trouble getting home. I’ll be back tomorrow (I hope).

For all you Navy guys out there.

Over the bridge

Posted on 11/August/2024 by John McCrarey

***As seen from my patio–the end of Bridge #1***

Signage has warned for weeks that the only access bridge to most of San Isidro would undergo much-needed repairs. I wondered how they were going to pull that off without totally isolating several thousand residents. Now, don’t get me started–why a decrepit one-lane bridge was the only vehicular river crossing was inexplicable and idiotic to begin with. One of those “only in the Philippines” moments. I assumed they would close the bridge for a few hours each day and lay a new sheet metal covering to replace the rotted and rusted-out road surface. So, when I saw the scene above with the old bridge destroyed and a new pedestrian crossing erected, I was like, what the hell? But then the next day, that white crane was on the OTHER side of the river, and I’m thinking, how in the hell did they get that over there? So, my walk yesterday was in search of an answer.

***Another wet morning turned my path to a puddle***

***Wait a minute, this road wasn’t here the last time I passed this way***

***Oh my! The did build a new bridge a couple of kilometers upriver before they tore down the old one.***

***Back across the river on Bridge #2. I reckon a new numbering order is going to be needed. The new bridge would be #4, making the old #4 number #5, and so on.***

***The ongoing construction of the replacement bridge. That new “pedestrian” walkway is also being used by motorbikes.*** ***Luckily, no room for a trike.***

***Just over 5K on my journey of discovery***

We spent our Saturday evening hours mostly at It Doesn’t Matter. I was surprised when one of our new Hashers, Michael, dropped in. We had a nice chat, and he is one of the most interesting people I’ve met here. Traveled and lived all over the world, and still going strong at 73. We went to Green Room for our nightcap and ordered some takeout to bring home for dinner. I watched the final episode of Cuck On Earth, and it was my favorite. I rate the series well worth the time.

That was Saturday, and Saturday’s gone.

Facebook memories reminded me that two years ago, I finally got the jab. It’s not like I had any choice. My three years as a tourist were up, and I had to leave the country. I wasn’t allowed back in unvaccinated.

***I did the Sinovac and have thus far suffered no repercussions.***

I saw this on the internet this morning so it must be real.

In today’s YouTube video, The Filipina Pea weighs in on the controversy surrounding the tourist visa extension requirements. As I said previously, I’m visiting Immigration for an extension on Tuesday, and this may very well impact me. I’m wearing slacks and a shirt without my ball cap to ensure I’m viewed as a respectful visitor. I hope they let me stay.

Let’s try some humor:

***She prefers a man with a bulge in his pants. A thick wallet.***

In the near future, I’ve got a Hideaway feeding to attend to. It’s the birthday of Swan’s sister, so we are going to treat her to dinner. Swan wants to go to Pugon Corner for our meal, and so we shall. I’ll share how that goes tomorrow.

Nothing much today

Posted on 10/August/2024 by John McCrarey

I’ve already told you about my yesterday morning in La Paz, San Narciso. I spent the rest of the day here at home in Alta Vista, and there ain’t much blogging fodder in that, is there? But posting here is one of my daily rituals, so I’ll tell you how I filled those hours anyway. I’ll keep it short and sweet to ease your pain.

***The intermittent rains precluded spending time at The Rite Spot On The Roof.***

***I enjoyed the sunset from my patio downstairs instead.***

I fired up the television, tuned into Netflix, and began watching a “mockumentary” a friend recommended called Cunk On Earth. I don’t recall viewing this comedy genre before, but I rather enjoyed the series. I wasn’t familiar with the show’s star, Diane Morgan, but she did a nice job. I especially liked the interactions with real-life experts on historical events and seeing their reactions to her intentionally stupid questions. It’s a British comedy, and their humour can be as cringe-worthy as a misspelled word (or lack of a comma), but you still gotta laugh. The episode where she talks about the American Revolution was the typical loser’s perspective, but it gave me a chuckle anyway. (I recall I had an English bloke as a history professor in college, and he recounted how the “ungrateful” colonists revolted because they didn’t want to pay taxes for the protection our merchant ships received from the Royal Navy. Yeah, right. We said we wanted representatives in Parliament, and King George told us to fuck off. Anyway, that’s history now.) Cunk On Earth is only five thirty-minute episodes long (I saw four of them yesterday), and I say it’s worth watching.

And when it was time to eat, this is what Swan and Teri put on the table:

Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and sausages on the side. My contribution was brownies for dessert. We had the downstairs contingent, Inday and her guy, along with Swan’s sister, join us for the meal.

I saw this humorous take on Facebook today, and it left me thinking it’s a great example:

A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington, DC when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings the girl to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly. A reporter has watched the whole event.

The reporter addressing the Harley rider says, “Sir, this was the most gallant and bravest thing I’ve seen a man do in my whole life.”

The Harley rider replies, “Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.”

The reporter says, “Well, I’ll make sure this won’t go unnoticed. I’m a journalist, you know, and tomorrow’s paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living, and what political affiliation do you have?”

The biker replies “I’m a U.S. Marine, a Republican and I’m voting for Trump.”

The journalist leaves.

The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page:

“U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT & STEALS HIS LUNCH”

And THAT pretty much sums up the media’s approach to the news these days!

***A sad example of how our media speaks “the truth”***

Facebook also hit me with the usual memories today:

Eleven years ago, on the eve of his departure from Korea, we said goodbye to my pal Duke at a gathering at Hooters in Seoul. You might notice that none of the waitresses actually have hooters, and it wasn’t long before Hooters in Korea went bust.

Actually, now that I think about it, Duke left in 2009. And since he’s wearing a jacket, I’m sure it was not in August. It was eleven years ago that I posted that picture on Facebook.

I also posted this nine years ago, and I don’t regret it:

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”

-- actor John Barrymore

"I dream of having no regrets."

--faker John McCrarey

Today’s YouTube video is from the Filipina Pea; in it she shows what living large in the Philippines looks like. She features a one-bedroom condo near Dumaguete that rents for 75,000 pesos per month. I pay 40,000 for my comfortable house in Barretto. The money I save on rent goes to pay my helpers, who occupy two of my downstairs bedrooms. I don’t have all of the amenities that come with that condo, and admittedly, they are very nice, but I’ll stick with The Rite Spot and the Barretto lifestyle. Thank you very much.

And now for your daily dose of humor:

***Forgive me if you’ve seen these before. When you are old, everything is new again. Or so it seems.***

Talk about déjà vu, I was just thinking of an apéritif. Maybe champagne, but that might be cliché. But then, I’m no connoisseur. I hope that’s not a faux pas. Let’s just call it laissez-faire and be done with it.

That’s all, folks! I did a rainy and muddy solo walk this morning and I’ll share some photos from that adventure here tomorrow. Not sure what’s in store for our Saturday night, but whatever we do, we are going to need an umbrella. ‘Tis the season!

Streets of La Paz

Posted on 09/August/2024 by John McCrarey

I’m back from my twenty-four hours in San Narciso. We arrived around noon, checked in, had lunch, and then took a pleasant beach and street stroll. Swan brought along candy to hand out to some lucky kids, but there weren’t very many out and about on a Thursday afternoon for some reason. The Mope Resort has undergone some upgrades since my last visit, including adding a swimming pool and a bar near the beach. We didn’t swim, but we gave the bar a go last night and enjoyed the venue and views. We got hit with a rainstorm and had to move to a more protected area to enjoy the rest of our beers (they didn’t have wine, so Swan made new with Red Horse, a popular local brew). Another walk this morning, then hung out in the room until our 11 a.m. checkout time. More rain just as our driver arrived, but we made it safely back to Barretto.

I’ve got some pictures of the overnight getaway to share:

***This helpful map is painted on the wall at Mope. We were in Barangay La Paz (top center)***

I chatted with the Filipina owner and asked her about the origins of Mope. She said her husband’s name is Matt, and Mope means “Matt’s Out of Pocket Expenses.” I don’t know if she was serious or not. I met Matt the next day (an Aussie bloke), and he told me he works half the year back home to help pay for things. So, maybe that really is what Mope stands for.

***I was a little surprised that when I went to Booking.com, the only thing available was the “basic room.” It was no problem for one night, and it was only 1600 pesos.***

***The room was indeed basic. No TV, no windows, and no hot water shower. It did have aircon and housekeeping brought those chairs when we requested something to sit on.***

***We headed downstairs for a looksee and some lunch***

***Indoor motorcycle parking. Probably belongs to the owner’s husband.***

***You can always make it workout at Mope!***

***I’ve never heard of a “urine detector.”***

***The beach looking in the other direction. Those are the Capone Islands offshore from Pundaquit.***

***The Mope Resort as seen from the beach***

***Somebody looks ready for lunch! Those surfboards are available to rent, but even as a California kid, I never learned to board surf.***

***The chicken burger was pretty impressive***

***I’m not sure what Swan had, but it came with rice.***

***After lunch, we took a walk and Swan did her candy thing.***

***The beach still hasn’t recovered from the recent typhoon.***

***The clouds above the South China Sea were impressive***

***A small lake blocked us in this direction***

***You can’t get to that village on the other side from here***

***Well, wading across that river was an option we chose not to take.***

***It might be fun to try and walk to Pundaquit someday. But what’s that in the distance, a shipwreck?***

***A passerby told us it had washed up during the typhoon.***

***Another beach view before we hit the pavement***

***One of several abandoned houses we saw on our walk. This one looks like it used to be a mansion.***

***We looked and looked, but never saw a pot of gold.***

***There was this streetwalker, though***.

***I was raised in the Foursquare Pentecostal church. I rejected that indoctrination in my rebellious teens. This is the first one I’ve seen in the Philippines.***

***This resort is for sale. Man, I could create my own beach bar. Ah well, dreams like that are for the young.***

***Swan finally found some more kids to treat***

***I’d like to give this place a try next trip. It was too far from Mope to visit last night. Also it’s the only other bar/resto I saw on our walkabouts.***

***But we still have time to dispense some happiness in the form of candy.***

***I understand that was a restaurant at one time. Been closed since my first visit here.***

***Made it back to Mope right at beer o’clock and plopped down at our table near the beach to watch the storm roll in.***

***We were forced to take refuge from storm in a better covered area.***

***Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!***

***As the evening progressed, we met a couple of locals***

***And I sprang for some food to share***

***And remaining true to my nature, I went with the clubhouse sandwich, a traditional Filipino favorite. Well, it was last night anyway.***

We drank our fill, headed up to the room, and had a basic night’s sleep. Downstairs this morning for coffee and pancakes, then another walk.

***A ship at sea. Not sure what that long extension over the bow is for.***

***And just before we departed for home, another storm rolled in.***

The drive home was thankfully uneventful. Swan did stop at a nursery to buy some planting soil, and then we restocked the candy supply at the Subic marketplace. And now that I’m home, I’ve decided to stay here. Yep, I am not going out on a Friday night, not even for the SOB. But don’t worry, I’ve got beer in the fridge. It’s looking like more rain, so the Rite Spot may be a no-go. It could be that rare night when I watch TV.

Four years ago, I posted a poem on Facebook that I had written fifty-two years ago in high school. Get ready to cringe:

Alone in my fantasies
Alone with my dreams
But when I wake with the dawning
One sullen fact remains
That I am alone in my love for you---
The sun doesn't shine; it rains.

Today’s YouTube video has some worrisome news regarding tourist visa extensions. I’ve been living here for over six years as a tourist. Under current immigration law, I can extend my visa in 60-day increments for thirty-six months. Then, I’m required to depart the Philippines, and when I return, the clock is reset. That may be changing. Coincidentally, I’m going to the immigration office on Tuesday for my next extension. I guess I’m going to find out then whether the rules have changed.

Anyone up for a laugh?

***That’s a bit of a boner, isn’t it?***

Okay, I’m outta here. Not sure what I’ll have to post tomorrow, but that won’t stop me.

Here’s a bonus for you. When I was pulling up that Marty Robbins tune, I came across a video of a vlogger’s reaction to hearing it for the first time. I’ve never watched reaction videos before, but I see now there are a whole slew of them. It was kind of fun to watch someone hear a song by an artist I grew up with.