Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Yeah, it’s all good. I don’t frequent the bars with dancers much, but the SOB is a weekly indulgence. And that pole dancer was pretty impressive as an acrobat.
And I got my Thanksgiving leftovers fix in at Sit-n-Bull yesterday. So, I’m on a roll.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2022 @ 5:27 am
Re: the caption. Your comment made me think of the old “blind squirrel finding a nut” saw. I quoted the Kilmer poem from memory and see that was not quite right either. Anyway, glad I finally hit a funny bone!
The soup and everything else was tasty–I cleaned my plate. Just needed another round. And yeah, I was sorry to see no candied sweet taters. I’ll do better next year.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2022 @ 6:50 am
Full report on the dinner coming later today, but it was a nice gathering. Food was okay; what little of it there was.
Well, you’ve taken that joke a lot further than I ever did. I never bothered actually checking the Old Testament for verification of the punchline. Now, it also has an “I made you look!” element of humor. Thanks for the laugh!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/November/2022 @ 5:36 am
Kev, Shit, I can’t believe I misspelled Joseph twice. No idea what I was thinking other than I wasn’t. At least I’m building my resume for a future presidency.
I’ve had Thanksgiving dinner at Arizona in the past and had no complaints. When I saw the sign at Papagayo this year, I wanted to give it a try. If they don’t have candied yams, I’ll be kicking myself later. Nope, John’s not doing a TG menu that I know of. He posted something about Christmas, but it was providing space for private parties. Several other places in town are doing the traditional dinners, though, so lots of options.
Verily, verily I say unto you
If you can’t remember your psalms
The Bible will do.
–from the Book of John» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2022 @ 6:25 am
Yes, Joseph chose wisely. I often think of Barretto as just a bustling retirement community for like-minded male geriatrics with a taste for brown-skinned young women and cold beer. Those oldsters back home don’t have a clue what they are missing, poor bastards.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2022 @ 6:15 am
Kev, not much in the way of historical structures here that I’ve seen anyway. I saw an old Spanish fort out in Cebu, but the old Filipino tribes were more like the Native Americans as far as building relics–more nomadic and transitory. What I saw on the hike was relatively new.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2022 @ 6:29 am
Well, that’s one of the aspects of the Hash I most appreciate–the experienced Hares finding new trails in interesting places. It’s hard for me to go out hiking in places I don’t know on my own, though. Too much can go wrong, and worrying about it takes the joy out of the adventure.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2022 @ 6:24 am
You don’t bring me flowers anymore
Heh, didn’t picture you as being a Neil Diamond fan, Kevin. I enjoyed some of his stuff back in the day as well but never bought one of his albums (the true indicator of fandom–I had over a hundred albums in my collection, even as a poor boy). My hangout bar in Itaewon when I first moved to Korea was named Sweet Caroline’s and at some point every night that song was played, with everyone expected to sing along (or at least do that “bam-bam-bam” chorus line). Good times! I’m not sure if Diamond is still active or not; he’d be in his 80s by now. I saw a video of him in concert a few years back and he looked like an old geezer then.
I haven’t really paid that much attention to the pizza, but yeah, I think it is one of their loaded versions, and they just add pineapple and call it “Hawaiian.”
Sorry about the comment form issues, WordPress does these updates, and I have to live with the consequences. I have no clue how to activate the autofill for the URL address.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 6:12 am
Fixed it for you!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 5:59 am
Brian, you could be right. We had a messenger chat yesterday, and she apologized and said she regrets making that comment. I also think I overreacted and clammed up instead of pushing her to explain at the time. It is also important to remember that despite speaking better English than most gals in Asia, it is still a second language, and sometimes misunderstandings occur.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 5:59 am
Yeah, I’m currently at the highest elevation in the subdivision, and my future home is a couple of street levels below me. That said, it is still perched high on a hill with no obstructions blocking the views. I’ll see the beauty that surrounds me much better from there.
The main complaint I’ve heard about Hops & Brews is their prices are high. Still, you have to pay for all that high-class ambiance somehow. I would have loved to have some chicken on my plate but was going to order a second plate to get it. I think they’ll figure it out eventually.
I’m pretty sure Agnes has learned her lesson and understands the consequences of any future failures.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2022 @ 6:06 am
I’m not sure, the food was advertised as authentic Jamaican jerk prepared by a Jamaican jerk master, so I’m assuming that he is Jamaican. And yes, he does appear to be a taste tester for everything he cooks.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2022 @ 5:58 am
Kev, actually, that nice hike was in the morning BEFORE the encounter with “Earl,” but I had my regular solo walk the following morning. I don’t expect I’ll have any Earl problems in the future. If he wants to apologize, that’s fine. If not, I don’t care enough to be bothered about it.
It’s funny you mention Korea; Jim and Scott told me that the church had been built by Korean Christian missionaries. I guess the locals didn’t like the concept of worshipping closer to heaven. I recall hiking up to several of those temples in Korea (before I was a hiker) with my Buddhist wife, and it was a chore but worth it once you reached the top. Always beautiful architecture with a great view.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2022 @ 6:40 am
Drain, interesting insights on Aeta diets. I’m going to be participating in an annual event for an Aeta village in Olongapo next month that includes handing out foodstuffs and gifts. The ones running the show are buying the supplies (I’m just a money man), and I assume they know what they are doing.
What I’ve noticed is that the Aeta people don’t seem to integrate into the general Filipino community. I rarely see them outside of their villages, and I don’t think I’ve seen any working normal jobs in stores and such. I am curious if this isolation is by choice or a manifestation of discrimination against folks with dark skin. I’ve never heard a Filipino speak ill of the Aetas, and many charities cater to them, so I suspect the Aetas are non-integrated by choice.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2022 @ 6:32 am
Dan, I love that title to the story of my current life. I’m stealing it!
Yes, “Earl” does have his issues, especially when drinking. I probably have had more tolerance for his antics than most of his acquaintances, but he picked the wrong night to goad me.
And yes, I tend to be a loner. I’d enjoy getting an invite for an occasional bar hop or get-together, but it rarely comes. My introverted tendencies make it a stretch for me to do the inviting, and honestly, sitting here now thinking about it, I’m not sure who I would ask. Most of the people I know here are coupled up or otherwise ill-disposed to the bar life I’ve embraced. But I’ve got lots of “friends” in the bars who are happy to see me and my wallet.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2022 @ 6:19 am
Brian, I’ve had the same thought–it’s so nice up here, wish I had a cabin. Then I think about the reality of getting all life’s necessities (including wifi), and I say, nope, not for me.
“Earl,” I’m sure, remembers because he deleted all his messages the next day. We used to hang out sometimes in the same bars, but in the past few months, I’ve not run into him until Friday night. It’s a small town, though; I’m sure I’ll bump into him eventually. I have no animosity, but I imagine we’ll just ignore each other going forward. That works for me.
As to the cookies, I almost always make sure there is an adult around to approve the gift. I suspect most of these kids I encounter get very few treats, so I don’t think my cookies will contribute much to tooth decay. Also, I usually give a cookie bag (8 packs of 3 cookies) to a group of children with the admonishment to share. Assuming they do share, that’s only a couple of cookies each. I have worried about encountering a diabetic child someday, but what are the odds?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2022 @ 6:10 am
Yes, it is a nice venue, and I think it’s going to be a success. I enjoy sitting outside when I drink, and although there is no view, the huge TV screens showing landscapes is a nice touch. The music is good too. Not sure if you saw the comment, but a friend of mine in China knows one of the singers. Talk about a small world!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2022 @ 9:41 am
Kev, yeah, I’ve got some work to do yet to get there. I’ve grown accustomed to my solitary life, but I still long for the life I imagined would be possible with a loving woman by my side. I realize that may never happen, but I’m not ready to give up the dream. I do take comfort in reminding myself that it is better to be alone than with the wrong one, so I will be proceeding with caution.
It is a worrisome aspect of coitus, knowing it might kill me, but then again, what a way to go! I I probably need to do another consult with the doc, although when I was first diagnosed with COPD, I was told there was no cure, best I could hope for was that it doesn’t get worse.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2022 @ 7:56 am
Great to hear from you, Thirsty. That is truly an amazing coincidence, and I’m also impressed you could recognize Raymond in that photo. He is a wonderful musician and I will definitely introduce myself next time I see him.
Hope all is well with you and the family.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2022 @ 7:31 am
No, Club Morocco is still a going concern. The community center is open and is bigger and much nicer than the one we have in Alta Vista. It has a great big pool with a water slide too. I understand there are rooms available there, so it serves as a resort as well. It looks abandoned because it seems only 10% or so of the lots have been built on. I didn’t see any construction going on either. Hell, I’ve got 5 houses being built all around me right now. It’s deafening.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2022 @ 6:22 pm
Welcome back, Soju. I wondered where you had gotten off to.
Nope, nothing has changed much around here. I’m still stuck in that endless Groundhog Day loop of hiking and beer drinking.
Poor Joy! I’ve already told her that when it comes to breasts, more than a mouthful is a waste.
Nice to see you here again, don’t stay away so long next time!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2022 @ 10:40 am
Maybe they just assumed everyone already knows how to order beer in Korean. I haven’t forgotten! I can even do the “yogio!” to get the bartender’s attention. And if you are going to be drinking beer in Korea, you’d better be able to ask about the hwajangsil. (sorry if the spelling is off)
I’d never seen Elliot Page before, but he’s no Joy! She may be a tad on the thin side, but she is actually pretty sweet and fun to share a drink with. It won’t go any further than that for me, though. Now hold onto your hat: Joy is 33 years old, and she has SIX kids! She’s earned those stretch marks, that’s for sure. In fact, that’s a new record for most kids by a bargirl that I have met.
I’ve gotten to where I enjoy the pineapple twang on my pizza, too. I still wouldn’t order one if it was just for me, but I’m usually sharing with Filipinas and they love their Hawaiian.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2022 @ 6:18 am
No, Guenter is in a league of his own when it comes to challenging trails.
Well, the On-Home venues serve food, and we just order off the menu whatever we want. I bought a pizza and shared it with some fellow Hashers. And you are correct; the ice chests contain beer, water, and sodas.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/November/2022 @ 6:28 am
Brian, I think it is more of a hobby for Dave these days. He used to have hotels/resorts as part of his empire, but now just the two bars and a boutique hotel. Of course, he has managers to do the heavy lifting too. Appears to be living the dream!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/November/2022 @ 9:47 am
Yeah, I’ll put that on my “to do” list… 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/November/2022 @ 9:45 am
Kev, well, the gals that work for him say Daddy Dave as a way of expressing respect. It does sound a little creepy when I do it here, but he’s just Dave in real life.
I agree with you on the beauty of “old and worn,” and there’s plenty of that to be found in these parts. It is impressive, though, how people with extremely limited resources are able to create a shelter with whatever materials they can salvage. It’s often occurred to me that I don’t have the skills required to live an unblessed life.
Thanks for the link. Now that I’ve seen a pic of charcuterie, I recall both seeing it and eating it. Just don’t remember it being called that. At least now, the meme makes sense.
Yeah, I get what you are doing with your meatless meat experiments, but that doesn’t stop me from poking a little fun at you. I think I’d be the same way you were at the Buddhism conference. I might enjoy a vegan meal, but I’m somehow repelled by eating fake meat. Maybe when the quality is enhanced to the point where I can’t taste the difference, AND no one tells me what I’m eating, I’ll get over my meat bigotry.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/November/2022 @ 5:54 am
Bars of Barretto: Hops & Brews
They’ve made a big investment to create that ambiance, here’s hoping it catches on. So far, so good. I’ll definitely be back.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/November/2022 @ 9:50 am
Hmm, “scuzzy” seems kind of harsh, but yeah, it’s good to have some variety. I think Hops & Brews might be filling a needed niche in the Barretto marketplace.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/November/2022 @ 5:56 am
Your powers of observation are quite impressive; I honestly don’t pay that much attention to the health and well-being of my fellow man. Good for you! Coincidentally, I did overhear Almoranus (real name Jens) talking to Martin about weight loss during the hike yesterday. Jens says he always gains kilos when back home in Germany, then works hard to lose them when he returns to the PI. He does gym work in addition to walking. Jens is also the Hare come Monday and told me there is a 10K mountain trek in store. Of course, we both know that I’ll be shortcutting that one.
There are a couple of those Alaska dancers I’d like to make smile…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/November/2022 @ 7:27 am
«« Back To Stats PageKev, no idea where my regular commenters have gone. I miss them too. Maybe my bad writing finally scared them away.
Not sure where my next travel will take me. Tentatively thinking about Vietnam. Yaya messaged me from Cambodia and says she misses me. Sent some pics from her hometown of Kampot, and it looks to be worth the visit. Especially if she were my tour guide. We’ll see.
I don’t know why the comment form no longer auto-fills, but I suspect it was a recent update to the WordPress platform. I’ve noticed some changes in the template for creating posts as well. No one asked me if I wanted the update, guess I’m just a peasant along for the ride.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/November/2022 @ 7:44 am