Comments Posted By Brian
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I am sure that it is a result of the camera angle/flash or no flash/ etc. but the vertical slit for your pupil seems vaguely reptilian. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 21/August/2023 @ 12:09 am
It ain’t much, but it’s all I got
I read it as Alcazar Grove.
Whatever it is, your faithful readers await what lies behind the sign!!
» Posted By Brian On 18/August/2023 @ 11:31 pm
I have seen vouchers that say, “This voucher has no cash value”, but it appears that this one did not.
On the other hand, you did basically get 5 beers for free, so there is that……..
IMNSHO, I side with the bar in this. If it is “buy one, get one”, technically, you did not “buy” any beers. The voucher gave you 500 pesos of food/drink in the bar. And you didn’t purchase the voucher. You won it.
Anyways, there is quite the variety of bars in your neck of the woods, and if this sticks in your craw, then take your business elsewhere.
» Posted By Brian On 18/August/2023 @ 12:45 am
In general terms, I agree with Kevin’s comment about avoiding alcohol to prevent stupidity, but on the other hand……….
Alcohol – because no great story ever begins with someone eating a bowl of lettuce!!!
» Posted By Brian On 16/August/2023 @ 11:46 pm
I was expecting the below song to be the musical accompaniment to your post
……..Lets Go to the Hop………..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVcTueT2No
» Posted By Brian On 16/August/2023 @ 1:53 am
Marisel is a cutie, but “look but don’t touch”!!
Remind me again, when does the rainy season generally end?
» Posted By Brian On 14/August/2023 @ 10:44 pm
John, in relationships, you seem to be either 0 mph or 100 mph. Doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. If you are attracted to someone, it is full speed ahead, blinders on, Katy bar the door, (add any other cliche in this space), etc.
This is purely speculation, but objects of your attraction may not have the same accelerator as you have. From their perspective, they may be interested in going quite a bit slower. Maybe you come on too strong?
I realize that you have indicated that you are trying to take things slower with Swan, but the recent passing of her partner/husband appears to be pretty raw. It has only been four(?) months, and it seems as though you have already put out feelers to her about moving in together etc.
(No offense intended, just giving a 10,000 foot perspective from someone who obviously does not know the full situation! LOL)
» Posted By Brian On 06/August/2023 @ 8:49 am
A second plug for the documentary @Kevin mentions above. Saw it when it premiered on the big screen. Two thumbs up. Interesting backstory as to how Peter Jackson got involved. One interview I saw with him talked about how someone need to recreate the sound effect of some WWI artillery piece, and Peter Jackson was like, “Oh, I have that in my collection. We can fire it off and you can record the sound!!” LOL And it went from there.
» Posted By Brian On 03/August/2023 @ 3:37 am
Couple of comments on your expenses:
Does your grocery expenses include food for your workers? $1300 USD for one person for a month seems really really really high!!!
I would have thought your dining and grocery bill would be flipped.
In any case, you are spending almost $2000/month on food for one person (if that is just for you)? WOW!!!! That just seems like a crazy amount.
(of course, if that amount includes the food you buy for Joy et. al., your helpers, etc, then it is a bit more understandable, but still seems high.)
» Posted By Brian On 01/August/2023 @ 11:06 pm
QUOTE
One of the Philippines-related forums I engage with does not allow the word flip to be used. They have some algorithm that automatically changes “flip” to “Filipino.” So, if you write about the popular footwear “flip flops,” it becomes “Filipino flops,”That reminds me of a story about a Christian website that did something similar with the word “gay”. They would not allow that word to be used and it would “autocorrect” to something they deemed more acceptable. Anyway, there was a world call track athlete named Tyson Gay. Anytime a news story would appear with his name, it would automatically be changed from Tyson Gay to something like Tyson Homosexual. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 01/August/2023 @ 10:53 pm
While I usually agree with @Kevins thoughts, on the matter of keeping the blog private or not, I agree with you John.
Even in a committed relationship, I think it is okay (and actually healthy for the relationship) if there is some part of your life that is yours alone. Of course, there are boundaries to that, but I do think that everyone needs their own space.
» Posted By Brian On 31/July/2023 @ 12:40 pm
If you can’t be with the one you love…
When I saw the title of this blog post, I immediately thought of another song:
Glenn Frey – The One You Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmV9vk2950o
..I know you need a friend.
Someone you can talk to
Who will understand.
What you’re going thru.
When it comes to love.
There’s no easy answer.
Only you can say.
What you’re gonna do.
etc.» Posted By Brian On 31/July/2023 @ 12:20 pm
“Always entertaining watching the worst drivers in the world (at least that I’ve seen) pass by.”
I always laugh when people express a fear about using a self-driving car. I want to tell them to spend some time overseas in places like the PI, etc., and they would be wishing for the improvement in driving that would come with self driving cars.
» Posted By Brian On 19/July/2023 @ 10:20 pm
Yeah John, also a bit of a double standard I bet.
“There is nothing to these back rubs. Only for fun, etc.”
What would you think if you were in a relationship and your partner is frequently getting back rubs, shoulder rubs, etc. in a bar by some guy that is not you.
You would be okay with that?
» Posted By Brian On 17/July/2023 @ 11:47 pm
As usual, Kevin is spot on. You do seem to go from 0 – 60 in a relationship in the blink of an eye. Look at it as more of a marathon than a sprint.
» Posted By Brian On 16/July/2023 @ 1:15 am
Kevin speaks truth. Re-read his comment every once in a while.
You mention that Swan does not like going to the bars. So, what are your expectations for yourself as to nights out in the bar? Right now, it is a 7 nights/week process. Are you okay with two nights/week? Two/month?
Hopefully you are correct in that your nights in the bars are a social pursuit, and if you have an alternative, it will not be difficult to give it up.
Good luck!!
» Posted By Brian On 10/July/2023 @ 7:01 am
There could have also been another Neil Diamond song used – Yesterday’ Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vMXo4dkfgA
“Yesterday’s songs
Don’t stay around long
Not much anymore
Yesterday’s words
Don’t make themselves heard
Like they did beforeetc”
» Posted By Brian On 10/July/2023 @ 6:54 am
I remember reading/hearing Dolly Parton jokingly thanking Whitney Houston profusely for all the royalties Dolly continued to receive from that song. Lots and lots of money.
» Posted By Brian On 07/July/2023 @ 1:11 am
I use Moneydance for monthly spend. It is not a true budget program, more of an expense tracker, but basically works as the same thing.
I used to use YNAB, which is really good, but they have gone to a subscription model (which I detest), so I switched over to “Moneydance”. Paid once, no ads, no data scraping, etc.
» Posted By Brian On 03/July/2023 @ 1:02 am
I’m a big Steve Earle fan. Dont know if you are familiar with him, but he considered Townes Van Zandt a mentor and recorded an album of his songs.
Here is his version of To Live Is To Fly
» Posted By Brian On 01/July/2023 @ 11:30 pm
I am guessing that the toilet would flush, but not refill, since it requires the electric pump put water back in the tank, and the flush is generally just gravity driven. So John, you should be good for one use.
Pretty view from the top of the hotel. How was the food (other than the appetizers)?
» Posted By Brian On 01/July/2023 @ 5:15 am
Good luck on the (potential) new digs. Looks pretty decent from the pics.
Are the shirts provided as part of the Hash dues or are these an extra purchase? Might be just me, but outside of a Hash event, I am not sure I would walk around wearing a shirt like that. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 26/June/2023 @ 9:52 am
I haven’t yet been in a bar that puts a “time stamp” by each round. Is this something common there, or just something Sloppy Joes does. I like it and seems like a good idea – helps minimize any potential bar tab disputes.
» Posted By Brian On 24/June/2023 @ 2:50 am
Sounds like all in all, it wasn’t a bad trip. Re: Pattaya sign – if you ever make it back there, it is a good hike up to the sign. Get some great views from there also. Probably would remind you a lot of your hikes in the PI, or maybe even Seoul. Quite close to the city, but far enough that it almost seems like a different world.
I think that any place that has a large expat population, there is a “Cheap Charlies” bar.
Glad the phone issue was resolved with minimal difficulty.
» Posted By Brian On 21/June/2023 @ 12:32 am
The hotel looked pretty decent from the pic. But, what hotel nowadays does not provide internet access to its guests??? LOL
» Posted By Brian On 19/June/2023 @ 9:14 am
John, glad that the doc experience was pleasant enough, The second opinion appears to agree with info you had received previously. Now, just time to get those sinuses cleaned out!
@Kevin – Pattaya was nothing 50-60 years ago. It came into its own with the Vietnam war, when Pattaya became a popular R&R stop for US soldiers. It developed its reputation back then, and it has kind of carried through til today, though it does seem to be getting a bit tamer with the change in the tourist market. No longer exclusively the domain of single Western males; now you see a lot of Chinese (or at least did), Indians, Russians, and even local Thai families, etc.
They have been talking about a high speed train from BKK — Chon Buri — Pattaya — Rayong. Progress is two steps forward and one step back, but at some point John, you may be able to catch a high speed train from the airport to whisk you down to Pattaya.
» Posted By Brian On 15/June/2023 @ 11:54 pm
@Kevin Kim For Western food in Thailand, you will pay western prices. Not outrageous, but you are not going to get the USD$1.50 street meal either.
» Posted By Brian On 12/June/2023 @ 9:56 pm
LOL on the WhatsApp. I have that also, and occasionally get the spam message. e.g. “Hi Mike, havent heard from you in a while. Just wondering if you are still selling nutrition supplements? Would like to talk to you more about it.”
First time I got something like that, I did reply with “sorry, wrong number”, and then the game began with them trying to reel me in.
Now, I just respond with “Yeah, I still sell the supplements. And you still owe me $50 from your last order. I am really pissed and if I ever see you again……” but I make the language more colorful. Usually shuts them up and I dont hear from them again.
+1 what Kevin said about the upcoming trip.
» Posted By Brian On 12/June/2023 @ 1:15 am
Is Whiskey Girl owned by a “silent” owner, who hired a manger, and that manager has now left/fired? Or was the old manager also the owner who sold to the new manager?
From your various bar crawls, it seems as if there are already too many bars for customers. Maybe they are more crowded after you end your evenings. But all too often, it seems as though you are the only, or one of a few, customers in a bar.
Safe travels. Looking forward to hearing how this trip to Pattaya goes.
» Posted By Brian On 11/June/2023 @ 7:15 am
«« Back To Stats PageEdit to ask: What ended up happening to the house that you originally lived? Has it ever been rented out again?
» Posted By Brian On 09/June/2023 @ 2:58 am