Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Dave, thanks for your support, but it’s really no big deal. I’m over it. My disgust was not so much about the biker guy; rather, it was seeing a “good” girl gone bad. And that’s my fault for being blind to reality.
No idea what your last line means, but back at ya! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2022 @ 6:29 am
HaHa, yeah, I guess I was born to be wild.
It’s true; my cookies don’t look like cookies. My oven won’t hold two cookie sheets, and one isn’t enough for the dough batch (I’m also too lazy to bake two separate batches). So, I basically wind up with one massive cookie that I’ll cut down to size after baking. The cookies also come up soft and crumbly, but that’s the way I like it.
Yeah, like the grumpy old man Clint Eastwood portrayed in Gran Torino. Get off my lawn! Foreigners aren’t allowed to own guns here, though, so I’ll have to make do with a scowl and loud voice.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/October/2022 @ 5:03 am
I guess it could be argued that being married “upteen times” proves I DON’T know what I’m doing. But it’s all cool. Can you dig it?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/October/2022 @ 9:50 am
James, your description of Julie’s character is spot-on. I’ve actually never met any Filipina quite like her. She’s traveled all over Asia by herself, a lot of it touring as a backpacker. I don’t have the balls to do that. And she made it very clear to me that she would never subordinate her life goals to gain the simple comfort of a relationship. Next up on her bucket list is to live and work in Europe.
It is scary how well you know me, James. When Julie told me her efforts at finding employment were being stymied by not having a laptop (she does online international recruitment), I volunteered to help her out in that regard. I didn’t require it to be a loan (or ask for any favors in return); I just declared it an early birthday present. That made her happy, which made me happy. Win-win!
She’s a special one for sure. Loves hiking, loves travel, is smart and articulate, and is cute as a button. She seems perfect for me, but alas, I’m not perfect for her. And so it goes.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/October/2022 @ 6:54 am
Kev, Yes, I understand what you are saying. But love can fill a void, two strong people becoming stronger together. I guess that is why true love is so rare and hard to find. Far too many people merely getting their needs fulfilled–be it money or sex or whatever–call it “love.” But on the bright side, leeches do suck. *ahem*
I have water again, so hopefully, that problem is resolved once and for all. The guy that came out was not impressed with the workmanship of the landlord’s plumber and had to redo some of his work.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/October/2022 @ 6:40 am
Steve, I’m just trying to enjoy the ride and avoid the stupid mistakes I’ve made in the past.
Just to be clear, I’m not looking to bag a buck; I prefer does… 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/October/2022 @ 6:27 am
SOBriety is easier said than done
You do get used to the heat after a while, and there’s a big difference between an 8k versus a 24K hike…my hats off to you!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/October/2022 @ 3:07 pm
Teddy, you have to remember this is the Philippines. The signage literally calls it the “GOVIC Highway.” And that nightmare that runs through Barretto is actually named the “National Highway.”
They do use concrete for a lot of the roads here, although they are generally laid by hand, and the quality is not up to Western standards.
As to the walking, your body adapts and gets used to it over time. I rarely have pain after a hike, but I start feeling tired after 8K or so. My buddy Kevin in Korea routinely does 30K+ hikes which are totally out of my league.
Every little bit helps, so do what is comfortable for you and just enjoy being out and about in nature. That’s my philosophy, anyway.
Roads with overpasses, off-ramps, etc. do exist here and are called “expressways” and are very much like what we call freeways. There is an expressway to Angeles and onward to Manila, for example.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/September/2022 @ 9:43 am
Thank you for those kind words, James. I actually thought people might find the post even more boring than normal. I’m glad you at least found the flow and structure satisfying. I didn’t really think about it; it just came out that way. Well, I did have fun crafting the post title: playing off roller coaster and up and downs in the first sentence, plus the innuendo later surrounding the massage. All in fun.
On a serious note, writing here is one of my daily routines, and I’m glad to have readers like you who enjoy reading about my life here. In a weird way, it is also somewhat therapeutic for me. Putting thoughts into words invariably makes me think about and seek meaning or insights from the events I encounter. Interacting with my commenters is also often very enlightening.
Thanks again!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2022 @ 8:04 am
Yeah, I remembered the ARC from Korea; that’s why I actually took my card to make sure it really is ACR here. They could have just as easily made it Alien Registration Certificate and avoided all this confusion, but no, The Philippines had to do it their way…
Yep, mama says it’s Eithan, and I didn’t argue about it.
Jo? Who’s Jo? 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2022 @ 7:53 am
Well, now, Kevin, when have you not spoken boldly?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2022 @ 7:47 am
«« Back To Stats PageHmm, I hadn’t even noticed the guy legs. I guess that’s an example of turning a blind eye!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/September/2022 @ 7:43 am