Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Well said, Bob. To be honest, living in a retirement community anywhere in the USA sounds like a nightmare to me. Life here is far from perfect, but I’m living it large and mostly enjoying the things I do. With my ability to travel now restored, I expect I’ll be gaining new perspectives and appreciation for the things I have.
Yes, when I had the part-time life in South Carolina (six months there, six months in Korea), the kids were a big part of it. The distance is as much physical as it is emotional; I need to get back on track for an annual visit at least.
Heh, I just had to Google Laura Loomer, never heard of her. But yeah, I am glad to be far away from the snakepit of American politics.
I sometimes think of those “what if” moments in life, too. And you are right; we have to travel the road we are on–those other paths not taken are just a distraction.
My road does indeed pass right through the bar district, and there are many hungry and thirsty bargirls waiting for my arrival. Every life has a purpose, it seems!
Thanks again for the insightful comment, Bob
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/September/2022 @ 7:41 am
Kev, yeah, I have almost no contact with either of my brothers and only hear from my kids on holidays and birthdays. I visited once after my move to the PI, and of course, I have been trapped here for most of the time since. I will likely plan a visit next year. I honestly got depressed during my last visit because I was constantly reminded of the life I shared with Jee Yeun there.
Anyway, there is no bad blood that I know of, they are just living their lives, and I’m too far away to be a part of that. And yes, I’m as much or more to blame for not making more of an effort to maintain those relationships. During the years after retiring that I was living in the USA part-time, we had lots of shared experiences–eating out, babysitting, etc. So, I do believe it is mostly a matter of distance. During all these years that I’ve been living overseas (17+), no one from my family has come to visit.
I know my DIL doesn’t approve of my lifestyle here, and she has let me know she doesn’t approve of what I post here on the blog, worrying that the grandkids will find it and read about their perverted grandfather. Oh well, I am what I am, and make no apologies for it.
Anyway, being remembered or missed or whatever isn’t likely to matter in the big scheme of things; it was just something I thought about at Don’s memorial–would anyone come to mine? I reckon I won’t care one way or the other. I think you are right, though–paying the rent or giving grocery money doesn’t really make a difference long term. My current “good deed” project of helping Bhel get the heart surgery her son needs could literally save a life. I hope I can be a part of making that happen.
As always, thanks for the honest and thoughtful comment. Bottom line, at a minimum, I need to do better with my blood relationships. And if I want to be a bigger part of the lives I encounter here, I need to open up and take steps to make that happen.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/September/2022 @ 7:25 am
Ted, interacting with my commenters is one of the pleasures of blogging, so nudge away!
Other than Alta Vista, the only other subdivisions I’m familiar with are Santa Monica and Sierra Hills. Santa Monica is old, flat, and tends to flood. There are some nice houses there, but a lot of them are in late-stage deterioration. I don’t recommend it. Sierra Hills is next door to Santa Monica but newer and has more elevation. In addition to nice houses, they have some multi-story duplexes that look really nice. Both of those subdivisions are on the Subic side of the river, which makes them somewhat less convenient to access the Baretto bars.
I’ve never actually been through the gate at Buenaventura, but my impression is that it is more of an apartment complex than a subdivision. It’s right on the main highway in Barretto, so it doesn’t get much better than that for barhopping. It’s pretty popular with expats, and vacancies are rare from what I’ve heard. I found this vlog that features Buenaventura you may enjoy. I don’t think there are any good views from this complex, though.
Jay from Hot Zone lives upstairs from his bar, and I believe Jerry from Alaska lives behind his. Dave has a duplex on Baloy, but I think his “mansion” is in Makati (Manila). I don’t know the Thumbstar guy.
Anyway, hope that helps.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/September/2022 @ 6:57 am
Thanks, James. My dad made it to 83, so if your scenario plays out, I’ve still got a long road ahead of me. The main thing for me is being healthy enough to keep doing the things I enjoy right up to the end. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/September/2022 @ 6:32 am
Teddy, yep, you pay 700 pesos to enter, and between 6 and 8, all you can drink for no charge. Yeah, that Red Horse is powerful stuff not to be trifled with.
Seven bars currently participate in the SOB. Of those, only four are really competitive. doing shows and wearing costumes. The other bars just have three girls on stage doing their normal bar dance routine. It’s something to do on Friday night that involves drinking, so why not?
You are correct; I intentionally avoid politics for the most part. There is not much point in preaching to the choir, and nothing I can say is going to change the minds of folks with whom I disagree. I’m disgusted by what is happening back home in the USA and glad I don’t have to be there to see it up close and personal. The other day some guy at the next table in IDM was arguing about how Trump should go to jail for having classified documents. His ignorance was astounding, and I almost got up and moved to another table, so I didn’t have to hear it. The other folks he was with did a good job with the counterarguments, so I didn’t have to get involved.
I knew Don well enough to have spent some time enjoying beers and chatting with him, but other than that, not so much. Gave my condolences to his widow, who was there with their kids last night. She seems to be keeping a positive attitude, so that’s good, at least.
Yeah, I’m thinking November might be my travel month. I’ll give thanks for my freedom of movement.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/September/2022 @ 12:23 pm
Kev, I guess I don’t count. Or can’t count. Yeah, with me, that makes six. Duh!
Yes, the SOB does tend to feel like “same old, same old” after a while. Back in the old days, I’d only attend once a month or so. I’ve been coming out weekly since they restarted the event to show my support for the bar owners. And since I’m not playing darts on Friday these days, there’s not really a better option.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/September/2022 @ 6:00 am
Thanks, Dan. I wasn’t even trying!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/September/2022 @ 5:53 am
James, well, you’ve pretty much covered the Joy saga in your comment, but I will give a little more in today’s post. Enquiring readers want to know! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/September/2022 @ 6:20 am
Well, damn. I spelled Bongbong wrong, too, and somehow didn’t catch the “defyers” error. I’ll try to do better!
I don’t interact much with the locals I run into during these hikes beyond a friendly greeting. Scott’s been here for going on twenty years, and his comfort level in doing so is much better than mine. I have had some chats with mountain mama Olivia, and we are on a first-name basis. I’ve met her kids and grandkids but don’t really know the story of how she ended up living an apparently hard life isolated on a mountaintop.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/September/2022 @ 7:06 am
Brian, yeah, but be late one day renewing your visa and see how “rubber time” applies. It is true. though, that this culture is much more laid back than the Western standard of being on time. If I’m meeting someone, I always specify, “no Filipina time, don’t be late!”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/September/2022 @ 7:12 am
Well, like the mantra Loraine taught me all those years ago: “Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/September/2022 @ 6:02 am
Brian and Kevin, I, too, ran cross country in high school and was referred to as a Harrier. In this context, it’s not about a bird but derives from an old English schoolyard game called “Hares and Hounds.” In the Hash version, the Hashers are the hounds, hence the term “kennel.”
You may find this brief history of the Hash interesting. I did.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/September/2022 @ 5:48 am
Bars of Barretto: John’s Sushi and Steak
Kev, no, the #11 ranking isn’t about price. I was actually just ranking it according to my personal preferences as a bar. If I were basing the rankings on the food, he’s likely to be #1. I do need to review the restaurants in town as a future project.
Yes, I rarely see John himself doing the cooking, except for special projects. He told me once he prefers hiring inexperienced cooks so he can train them his way. The exception was the sushi chef., who was already an expert in that specialized field.
The second floor restaurant is airconditioned, which I’m sure you’d appreciate more than the bar.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/September/2022 @ 3:08 pm
Day turns into night, night turns into day.
Ha! When I read this comment, I went back to take a gander at the Jesus photo. I see what you mean now, and that’s probably the only way I’ll ever see that crucifix ever again. Thanks for that!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/September/2022 @ 6:18 am
Dan, I’ve had the same thought. The early onset of childbearing is one of the biggest contributors to the cycle of poverty that exists in this country. I talked to one bargirl who was 21 with two kids. How old? I asked. She said the oldest is 7. I was like, wow, you had a kid a 14! Her response was they were poor, and she was bored. There was nothing else to do.
I don’t know exactly what you mean by a “North European” family model, but generally speaking, families here are very close-knit. They have to be to help each other raise all those kids. The Filipino fathers don’t always stick around though and child support is not a thing in this culture.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/September/2022 @ 6:16 am
Hard to say, but it sure does open your eyes to a world the MSM doesn’t want us to see.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/September/2022 @ 6:18 am
Ted, saw the owner yesterday when I walked by Kamto. She had a crew there stripping the place bare. I think, for now, she is going to focus on her other business, Snackbar, and maybe find some vacant space to add a kitchen to that venue.
That pic you reference is a Korean girlfriend from six years ago. It just popped up in my Facebook memories, and I shared it here. Oddly enough, the subject of my being currently legally married came up in a chat with a girl from a dating site. I’m not sure how she took it. It’s not something I lie about, though.
I should have the review of John’s bar up later today.
I no longer vape and haven’t for a year or so now. Don’t miss it either.
I don’t think I’d ever bother my docs when they move here unless I was having a medical emergency. I’m not sure we share the same political views; we haven’t discussed politics. We do seem to be of like minds regarding the scamdemic and all the suffering that has been imposed by governments in response to COVID.
Yep, I did my time on the ice yesterday. It’s part of the price you pay for being the Hare.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/September/2022 @ 6:33 am
Yeah, it really is too bad. A couple of the gals will be moving over to Snackbar. That’s an ironic name now that food won’t be available from Kamto.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/September/2022 @ 6:21 am
Yeah, I will do some food stops too, but you can have alcoholic beverages with your meal in all of them, so “constant drinking” is still an option.
Yeah, since all the bars are on the same highway and within a one-kilometer area, a map isn’t really a necessity; it will just give some clarity for those wishing to follow in my footsteps.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/September/2022 @ 6:37 am
Brian, that was called Maris and it went belly up late last year. Marissa left town and moved to Manila, but returned to Barretto last month. She’s working as a waitress now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/September/2022 @ 6:31 am
I think I saw that same PSA. The stupid thing is that I didn’t start smoking until I was 30 and when I quit 20 years later, the damage was done. I understand the addiction, but it Don’s case my sense is that he was determined to live his life his way and consequences be damned.
Yes, it was a productive doctor visit and hopefully, I’ll be back on track soon.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2022 @ 12:32 pm
S/he is the correct phrasing because it is a husband and wife team. Spent almost an hour with them talking about my health issues and some what’s going on in the community chat. Trying something new up my nose for the congestion, adjusted my BP meds to hopefully bring those numbers back down, and gave me some antibiotics for what could be a lung infection. Hopefully, I’ll be back to “normal” soon.
I really enjoyed your entreaty regarding the meaning of the name “Lux.” Sumptuousness seems to be what look the bar was going for. The Latin origins also are a good fit. I was thinking there was an Egyptian history to the word for some reason.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2022 @ 7:34 am
“Seeing the string of cheese hanging out of Joys mouths makes me think of other things.”
Oh, yeah. Like someone right after a big sneeze!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/September/2022 @ 1:13 pm
Yeah, you never miss your lungs until they stop working properly. Not sure what triggered this flareup but hopefully, I can tamp it down soon and feel normal again.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/September/2022 @ 6:29 am
Much better sleep and woke up feeling stronger. Onward!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/September/2022 @ 6:27 am
I think that’s called running the spectrum between good and evil. 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/September/2022 @ 9:47 am
Yeah, I am a subscriber to Grammarly. Are you saying all those sweet words are lies? Who do they think they are, my girlfriend?
Thanks so much for the links. I will check them out and do a little experimenting to see what I can come up with.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/September/2022 @ 5:10 am
Kev, yeah, the first part of the trail was more in keeping with Guenter’s reputation for being borderline dangerous. No regrets about missing that. The part I did was challenging, but I never felt at risk.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/September/2022 @ 7:38 am
James, hell, I have more than two ex-gfs in this town. I was just a little surprised to see them posing together like that. I guess they do know each other.
I don’t think it is a bidding process; we’ll approach a bar and see what they have to offer. The real key is how much they charge for a beer. Anything over 55 pesos, we lose money, so we look for somewhere cheaper. One of the IDM owners and his wife are members of the Hash, which might be another reason we visited this venue. And no, I don’t have a leadership role in the Hash; I’m just an active participant willing to share my opinions when asked. The Hash does store the ice chests and other items in my carport, so there’s that.
I’m sure at some point I’ll start throwing darts again, probably just in an occasional tournament, though. The bottom line, it just stopped being fun, so what’s the point? I was an active player for over 17 years; I just felt like I needed a break.
Yeah, I don’t do much to stimulate my mind. I can’t remember the last time I read a book, and I have a hard time making it through a movie with my limited attention span. I do read several blogs every morning to catch up on the news of the world. I play some solitaire online, but that’s about it. I had a weird dream the other night where I was back at work dealing with some crazy issues. Maybe my subconscious is telling me to find something meaningful to do. Then again, I worked for 35 years; this is my time now.
As for scuba, there are several dive shops in town and lots of WWII wrecks to explore, but I’ve just never felt any desire to strap on the gear and swim underwater. I’ve got a slight case of claustrophobia, and the thought of breathing through a tank isn’t appealing. Probably not a good idea with my limited lung capacity as well.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/September/2022 @ 7:34 am
«« Back To Stats PageWell, I turned on the oven, sprayed cooking oil into the pan, then poured the cake mix powder into a bowl and added two eggs, some water, and some oil. Next, I poured the grated carrots into the mix, got out the electric hand mixer, and blended all the ingredients. Poured the batter into the pan and popped it in the oven. The recipe said 30-35 minutes, but it took a little over 40 to bake properly. I used the pie tin because I thought I was going to be taking the finished cake to Hideaway with me.
Yeah, I do things the easy way; I’m no chef. I can’t think of anything grated I use other than in carrot cake, so a food processor would be a waste of money.
No falls yesterday, so I’m living a blessed life!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2022 @ 6:26 am