It being Wednesday, the first order of business was the group hike.
We took a Jeepney ride to the far side of Subic town and began our trek on Philseco Road.
A four-minute video of the next portion of the hike:
I mentioned in my previous post that yesterday was the eight-year anniversary of my discovery of Barretto’s top darts bar, Alley Hideout. Since I’ve retired from darts, I seldom visit this venue these days. But going places I haven’t been for a while is what Wednesdays are for.
We had a very nice time during our visit. Swan really enjoyed the vibe and said we ought to visit more often. I rang the bell, which provided all the girls a lady drink. It felt a bit like a homecoming. Maybe I ought to break out the darts the next time I come.
After leaving Alley Hideout, we crossed the highway for dinner at Mango’s.
We finished the evening with a nightcap at Green Room. The usual joking around with Chu and Sally (lady drinks included, of course), watching some of the other girls play lousy pool (like I’m one to talk), and chillin’ with our beverages.
When the waitress from Sit-n-Bull came around, I was feeling nostalgic and asked if she had any pecan pie available. She did, so I brought a slice home with me. And what’s the point of eating pecan pie without a scoop or two of ice cream on top?
I had a thirty-five-year career with the Federal government, and one of the highlights from those years was working with Mr. Kim Yong-tae. The most impressive man I ever had the honor of supervising. I blogged about the occasion when he was recognized for fifty years of service with United States Forces Korea here. Mr. Kim died shortly after I returned to work after my first retirement. Before he passed, he told me he regretted not spending his final healthy years with his family. I thought of him when my team tried to get me to stay on for “just one more year.” Nope, I didn’t want to die at my desk.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay tells the story of the man who found the perfect Filipina and then let her get away. Turns out, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the hill.
Time for a smile:
Okay, that’s all for now. I was planning to stay home today, but was reminded that I have my weekly chelation treatment this afternoon. And since I’ll be in town anyway, I might as well have a beer or two while I’m there. My blood pressure this month has been lower than I ever remember- in the one-teens over sixties. I’m going to ask Dr. Jo if I can stop taking my blood pressure meds now.
The day the music died
As I was scrolling slowly down this post, I knew this would be the caption. You’re becoming predictable! But frankly, it’s the caption I would probably have used, too. Derelict guitar, death of music, easy connection.
Great house, crappy location
Because of the forbidding-looking fence, or was there really something wrong with the general location?
I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down
This is a tree you’ve shown before, ja? Well, hello, tree.
re: walk/basketball video
Overall, much better focus. You’re still tilting the camera too much to the right, though. You really can’t tell? Just make the bottom of the cell phone parallel to the ground. Otherwise, you seem to be improving overall. Narration all the way through this time! Good commentary about local culture, some humor about “YouTube movie stars,” etc. All in all, thumbs up! Just work on that tilt.
Hello again
With enough wires to be reminiscent of Korea.
The view from our table
Why this is a great shot:
1. contrast of light and shadow (almost a chiaroscuro effect)
2. Swan off to one side, producing a wabi-sabi effect
3. horizon line = perfectly horizontal
4. the beach (and the railing by Swan) diagonals upward to the right, accenting the wabi-sabi effect and lending a bit of perspective
5. good contrast b/t intimate foreground and tiny people in the background
I could go on. This is stuff to remember for video as well.
Before he passed, he told me he regretted not spending his final healthy years with his family.
Do you ever think about your family in the States, or are you content to “black-sheep” it?
You heard of this guy, Kevin Kim?
Nope, but I have no doubt that assholes like me litter the annals of history.
And now I don’t even eat toast
So you comfort yourself with pecan pie and ice cream.
My blood pressure this month has been lower than I ever remember—in the one-teens over sixties.
Certain isometric exercises are supposed to be good for lowering BP. I was down to 109/73 this morning. One isometric exercise in particular, wall-sitting, is supposed to be especially beneficial for BP. I started doing it this week, 2 sets of 15 seconds. I wonder whether there’s any connection between my lower BP and the new exercise. Anyway, congrats on your own almost dangerously low BP. I still don’t get how you’re still alive despite all the shitty habits.
I’m going to ask Dr. Jo if I can stop taking my [blood-pressure] meds now.
I guess that’s how you’ll find out whether she’s in league with Big Pharma. Good luck with the chelation.
Kevin, I’m glad the caption worked for you. It was the Don of a new McLean pun.
That nice house is built on a busy road with nothing to view except the shit dwellings surrounding it. Nothing like advertising you are the richest person around. Which is why that spikey fence is necessary.
And now I’ve learned two new words! Thanks for the compliments on the photo; I was just lucky with that one. For the record, that’s not Swan sitting by the railing; it’s just some random stranger who happened to be there. I’m glad she enhanced the view with some perspective, though.
I don’t mention my family much, and I haven’t been home for six years now. Of course, no one has visited me here either. I’ve pretty much been ghosted, which hurts, but I try not to dwell on it.
Who can say no to pecan pie?
Dr. Jo didn’t seem concerned about my lower BP readings. She did ask if I experience light-headedness, which only rarely occurs. We are going to reduce my BP meds by half and see what happens.
For the record, that’s not Swan sitting by the railing; it’s just some random stranger who happened to be there. I’m glad she enhanced the view with some perspective, though.
Oh. My mistake. I guess I misinterpreted “view from our table.” Now that I look at the woman’s silhouette again, I can tell that that’s not Swan.