Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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Past remembering

Brian, well, my tongue was a little bit in my cheek–I don’t have any serious expectations with Jenn. I find her more attractive than most, and she talks a good game–which makes her a standout among her peers.

Still, I’m considering asking her out on a “real” date just to gauge her response. You never know until you try.

So, what happened when the truth was revealed on Bachelorette?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2022 @ 6:32 am

Climbing the stairway to heaven

Kev,
1. No idea what kind of spider that might be. I’ve never seen one quite like it.

2. I had to go back and look again, but yeah, it almost looks like that under-eye face paint some athletes wear to minimize sunlight impact. Obviously, she wasn’t wearing any in the other pics, so it must have just been some weird shadow effect. I also didn’t realize the double entendre of a caption saying “going down” in a photo featuring a young woman.

3. Yeah, when I saw that picture of your recent pulled pork sandwich, I was thinking, what kind of meat is that? Didn’t realize it was melted cheese, but I don’t think I’ve ever had cheese on pulled pork, either. John definitely has the best-tasting pulled pork in town.

4. Namsan’s stairs were always challenging, but I don’t recall them feeling as never-ending as the ones on the Stairway to Heaven. Of course, I was younger back then, and it probably wasn’t as hot. Your mention of Namsan brings back a ton of nice memories, though.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2022 @ 6:17 am

A birthday celebration

Kev, oops! That caption was indeed misleading. The little girl is Heidi’s daughter; I should have made that distinction. If she grows up like her mama, I suppose spaghetti will come naturally for her.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/October/2022 @ 7:04 am

James, the Snackbar (Snatchbar) remains open and appears to be doing decent business. It was the sister place, Kamto (Cameltoe), that shut down. Yes, I’m friends with the owner. Glad you survived the spork attack! Violence is never the answer, but I’ve been stabbed in the back and had my heart stomped on many times over the years, emotionally speaking. Pain is pain.

I do miss the seasonal weather sometimes, although the below-freezing days in winter not so much. We do have seasons of a sort here: Hot, REALLY hot, rainy, and the “ber months” (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER). Christmas music can be heard playing all over town during the Ber months–it’s enough to chill your heart.

Nope, I never imagined a life like the one I am living, never even knew a place like this existed. Like a lot of Americans, I lived an insular life. I guess I was adventurous in the sense that I resided in six states over the years, but other than some vacations (Mexico, Bahamas, Netherlands, Turkey), I never thought much of the outside world. Working and living in Korea changed everything for me. Sometimes I wonder if it was for the better, but this is the road I’ve chosen, and I’m going to ride it out until the end.

I enjoyed my time as a letter carrier, but after several years I needed something more mentally challenging. My journey as a government HR professional provided more than I dreamed of in that regard. No regrets about trading the uniform for the necktie.

As for the walking, that didn’t start in earnest until several years ago when my Korean wife dumped me. I became a walker for my mental and physical health, and it’s kept me alive thus far. In Korea, I didn’t let the cold stop me in winter. Here, I’m either wet with sweat or rain. You adapt to the environment you live in, and it just becomes a habit. I do know walkers more devoted than me–LTG reader and commenter Kevin Kim, for one. Other guys here in Barretto walk much longer distances than I can manage.

Yes, I haven’t forgotten I promised to do a bar crawl series of posts. I just need to put thoughts into action and then action into words. Soon I will!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/October/2022 @ 7:01 am

From the end to the beginning

Well, for the record, I didn’t get any boobs to hold onto, but it was still good.

Hard to avoid climbing in these parts unless you stick to the roads or beaches, which would be boring. The trick is finding a path that is not too steep or long. We managed that on this hike.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2022 @ 4:42 am

We’ve had just about enough of you!

Brian, I’m going to fly into Phnom Phen. I’ve been there once before and enjoyed it quite a lot. In fact, Cambodia is my Plan B should I ever feel the need to depart from the Philippines. I am considering doing a Hash event in a beach town called Kampot. Never been to Siam Reap but heard it was popular with expats. Thanks for the info; perhaps I’ll check it out too.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/October/2022 @ 2:31 pm

Sorry for the confusion on the visa. I go to the immigration office every sixty days and pay for a sixty-day renewal. I have not left the country since December 2019; hence, my three-year tourist stay is about to expire.

Pre-scamdemic, I would make an international trip two or three times a year. I never imagined I would be in a situation where I hadn’t left in three years. My big issue was the PI would not let tourists enter the country unvaccinated. So, I finally had to give in and get jabbed. I should be good to go AND return now.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/October/2022 @ 6:36 am

Doing it my way

Teddy, Nah, she’s not living in my head at all; that would imply I give a shit. I was surprised to be disrespected that way, is all, but I’m fine with just knowing who she really is now. I was there for a couple of hours last night, and she was my waitress. I was polite like I would be with any waitress, but I didn’t buy her (or anyone else) a drink. I think she understands the consequences now.

I’m in bed around 9 p.m. every night, so 5:00 a.m. is all the sleep my body wants. Plus, I take an hour’s nap every afternoon. That’s my schedule, and it seems to work.

I’m not sure how the bargirls manage their off-duty time, but I reckon it’s like working a graveyard shift–you just have to adjust your body clock.

The exotic one? I think you are talking about Tanya, the girl from Blue Butterfly. She was there this week, but so far ahead of me on trail that I didn’t get any photos.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2022 @ 3:44 pm

Yeah. I was there for a couple of hours last night. She was my waitress. I spent zero pesos on lady drinks during my visit. I think she got the message.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2022 @ 6:25 am

Livin’ the lie

Benjamin, the thing with Agnes just made me realize I was foolish to consider these gals like friends. I’m a customer, and they’ll be nice as long as I am buying drinks or until someone they like better comes along. It’s really not about Agnes; she was just the catalyst that woke me up to reality. I should actually thank her for that. That said, I would never want to make out with her (or anyone) the way she was that night. There is a time and a place.

Yes, I agree that many (most?) of the girls have Filipino boyfriends. I often see them being dropped off the back of a motorbike for work. I always appreciate the gals who are honest about that. And I’ve heard of cases where the boyfriend supports and encourages his lady to seek out the coveted foreigner boyfriend. It’s a weird situation, but I guess overcoming poverty trumps morality.

Anyway, none of this matters much in the grand scheme of things. Maintaining your health and life are the important things. Keeping everything in perspective is what I need to get better at doing.

Thanks for the comment!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2022 @ 7:11 am

Kev, what you say is true, and it is foolish of me to pretend otherwise. My eyes are wide open now, though.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2022 @ 6:55 am

Brian, no, I couldn’t do the nasal injection myself. The procedure involves me lying on my back, and a long needle-like device is inserted into the upper reaches of each nostril. Some liquid is deposited, and I have to immediately suck it up as far as I can. Not sure how it works, but it gets into the upper reaches of the sinuses and relieves the congestion.

I went from total blockage in my nose to about 50% capacity in 24 hours, so hopefully, that trend will continue.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2022 @ 6:52 am

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder

Yeah, the joke really doesn’t work, though, unless you assume Red Riding Hood is talking about cunnilingus. At least my sick mind saw the humor in that.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2022 @ 6:14 am

Teddy, I’ll be traveling again soon. Tentative plan is Cambodia in November. Recent events have been an eye-opener, but I’m not wallowing in cynicism or self-pity. In fact, rather the opposite–there is something liberating about knowing the truth and acting accordingly. Of course, I always knew the truth at some level but chose to ignore it. No more!

Doing what enjoy is a key ingredient for a happy life. I’ll continue doing the things that bring me, some, er, Joy. 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2022 @ 6:08 am

Dan, Actually, I’m not as much cynical as I am embracing the reality of how things work. Gals like Maria are off my list, but that doesn’t mean I need to reject them all. What I have changed is gaining a better understanding that’s it’s all meaningless–just a game being played. That’s okay, games are an okay way to pass the time occasionally. I’m just going to start doing a better job at playing by the rules.

SM Zero is NOT 2%. It is 3%! And I usually drink enough of them to make me feel like I’ve had some real beer! 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/October/2022 @ 4:35 pm

DiSOBedient

Welcome, Pete! Yes, graffiti is one of the best parts of having a blog.

Regarding Marissa, she is mid-30s and childless, which does make her rather unique. No, I don’t provide her with regular support like rent. I consider her a friend and would help her in a time of need, but she hasn’t asked. I don’t know that she particularly likes working in the bar, and The Green Room is a busy place so it’s hard work. But it pays the bills, so like most worker bees, it’s better than nothing.

Having said that, Marissa does enjoy her SMLs and would definitely spend time in the bars if she wasn’t working. On her one day off each week (Monday), she enjoys the Hash. I don’t think the girls would be allowed to buy their own drinks when on duty, and probably wouldn’t want to even pay the customer price in a foreigner bar.

After the business closed, Marissa moved to Manila for several months. She missed her friends and the beach lifestyle, I guess. I was very impressed to see that she had quit smoking, and I think she is comfortable working hard and paying her own way. I always wish the best for her.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/October/2022 @ 3:40 pm

Welp, they come in all shapes and sizes around here, that’s for sure. Most expats here would be living in a lot more sterile environment back home, but what’s the fun in that? Barretto: the retirement community with lots of bars and hot young women ready to take care of all your needs and wants. I feel lucky to be here.

There is no question in my mind that the vaxx has killed more people than it has saved. We all gotta die of something I suppose.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/October/2022 @ 12:24 pm

Not a lot to talk about

Well, he won’t be hurting anyone in the future, that’s for sure.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/October/2022 @ 7:22 am

In my little town

Yeah, hard to think what Jimbo was thinking. I heard someone say he didn’t have family back in the USA. I don’t know that there is a “life is cheap” vibe here, but I think for some folks they are just playing out the string and waiting for the end of days.

Anyway, here’s hoping I never reach a place where staying alive isn’t my best option.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/October/2022 @ 6:01 pm

Kev, I’m only speculating about the health motive. I wasn’t close to Jimbo, but from what I observed, he could have afforded better treatment in Thailand or back in the states.

Yeah, the stabby guy was an expat. As to how the locals feel about the foreigners in their midst, I can say they are almost always friendly and welcoming. It is one of the things that made me want to live here. Now, they don’t cotton much to the handful of arrogant bastards in the expat community, but guys like that don’t last long here. Treating the locals with respect goes a long way.

Bhel’s son isn’t out of the woods yet. He’s at Gordon hospital, and I’ve never heard anything good about that place. I’m hoping he gets the care he needs and they are able to cure whatever ails him.

I did notice Joy’s aggressive chewing of that chicken wing. I hope she takes a gentler approach with sausage…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/October/2022 @ 6:50 am

HaHa! What’s this girl drama you speak of, Brian? (reviews this week’s posts on LTG) Oh, yeah. That drama. What are the odds?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/October/2022 @ 6:36 am

Keep on rockin’ me, baby

Kev, No, most of the time, we don’t know where we’ll go for after-hike refreshments. Most of the time only about half the hikers stick around for lunch. Wednesday six of us hit Harley’s, but we were the only customers and were easily accommodated.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/October/2022 @ 6:39 am

Solitary drinking

Yes, I’m on WordPress. Fixing that boo-boo was no problem. 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/October/2022 @ 6:52 am

Actually, that thought occurred to me as well. I’m not sure why I’m so hard to get close to. It might be my innate selfishness or perhaps my aversion to letting people get close enough to hurt me.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2022 @ 2:54 pm

Kev, I can’t argue with your definition. So, in addition to being loveless, I’m also friendless. How many people achieve that in a lifetime? There are worse fates, I suppose.

I think Marvin may already be rich. Treasure hunting is more of a hobby.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2022 @ 6:21 am

Hashing in the hills

Dave, you know what they say–to the Victor goes the spoils.

Nice seeing you in the bra last night! 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2022 @ 11:54 am

Victor, thanks for the astute and thought-provoking comment. I hope I’m more handsome since I’ve lost face! 🙂 Honestly, it’s not all that bad, and you are right; that incident just goes with playing the game. My mistake was taking it a little too seriously. I’m going to take a break from bargirls for a bit and recalibrate. Don’t worry; I’m not giving up on the bars; I’ll just be drinking alone. I’m sure I’ll venture into IDM again, with or without my face, but no more lady drinks!

Thanks again for reading and following along with me on this road called life. I’m sure new adventures await just around the next corner!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2022 @ 4:18 pm

Brian, yeah, I have several spam blockers, but I’m not sure whether blocked spam gets counted as a visit or not. Honestly, I don’t care. I’m happy for the folks who enjoy their visits, but I no longer try to promote my blog to get more readers. I used to put links up on Facebook but I haven’t done that for years. The feeling of being anonymous gives me the freedom to say things I might not feel comfortable revealing. It is always shocking when I encounter readers randomly. A little scary, but it goes with the territory.

Yeah, upon reflection Agnes is just doing what she believes is best for Agnes. My fault for believing we were “friends.”

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2022 @ 4:07 pm

Kev, yeah, Agnes has made some poor life choices. Who knows what happened after she got off work, maybe she got knocked up again. The incident was a good reminder for me to remember to not give a shit about these girls.

I get a weekly report from StatCounter showing daily visits/page views to the blog. It’s pretty stable at around 230 readers (or bots) per day, so last week’s drop to the 190s was pretty significant. Anyway, I’m obviously not trying to appeal to a wide range of readers; I like the fact that there are a couple of hundred folks who enjoy reading about my mundane “trials, tribulations, and adventures” here at LTG.

Yes, the comments are one of my favorite parts of blogging, and I look forward to hearing feedback from the handful of folks who take the time to share their thoughts. I think you are the only one I’ve actually met in person, but I’m surprised sometimes by how insightful these “strangers” can be and how well they know me and my quirks. Why it’s almost like having friends! 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2022 @ 6:45 am

James, no heartbreak at all, just disappointment. Mostly in myself for being blind to reality. Here in the PI, we have a word we say when we lose a bargirl friend: “next!”

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2022 @ 6:32 am