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Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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The cost of freedom

James, now wait a minute; who says I wasn’t getting drunk during the interview? 🙂

Don’t think I’ve scared Tanya away yet; I bribed her with brownies last night. But seriously, I reckon she’ll just be my regular company when I visit Blue Butterfly. And it is a comfortable bar for me, so I’ll likely drop in more often.

I honestly don’t know if those businesses are making any money, but Snackbar at least seems to be developing a crowd of regulars. Of course, I wish her well.

Dave is not into hiking but has commented that he enjoys the pictures I post. I know he occasionally does a bar hop, but I usually see him at his table in Wet Spot, and I’m happy to join him there. SOB tonight, so I’ll be seeing him for sure.

Darts just stopped being fun for me, but I’m not harboring bad feelings about the bar or its patrons. I imagine I’ll drop in one of these days for a drink and hello to everyone.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/August/2022 @ 7:10 am

Brian, yes, I am back to feeling normal again, well, as normal as I get anyway. Maybe the recent illness will make me appreciate my health more. I’d hate not to be able to do the things I enjoy.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/August/2022 @ 6:59 am

Kev, I’m not afraid of the vaxx doing serious harm; the mindless requirement just triggered my innate resistance to government dictates. Now that I’ve been jabbed, it doesn’t matter–what will be will be.

Yeah, Tanya is the same one from the Hash picture you spotted. Saw her again last night for a bit, and we are now officially Facebook friends.

My impression is Cathy is a good woman. She’s also made it clear that she would like to be more than friends and has invited me to visit Bohol, and she’ll be my tour guide. It’s definitely on my list of places to visit.

Glad you liked the food. You know me; I don’t do anything the hard way. Throw it all in the crockpot and wait 8 hours to eat. And I bake with packaged mixes. I’m sure your versions will be tastier.

Ha! I had to go back to look at the Virgin Mary photo again. Yep, she does appear to need a shave. Or her face washed.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/August/2022 @ 6:56 am

Tuesday’s gone

James, I’m getting a lot better at pacing myself with my new soda and gin routine (1 shot of gin, 12 ounces of soda water). That’s not quite the same as drinking OJ, but it takes a few to catch a buzz. I don’t think I’d enjoy my nights out in a completely sober state of mind. Of course, I haven’t tried it, but I think if I weren’t drinking, I’d just stay home and watch TV. And yes, I might get a hangover once a year, so it has really not been a problem.

Mike is still in the hospital and still not responding to visitors. He’s still alive, so there’s hope.

Troy actually shaved off his goatee a month or so ago. He’s currently visiting his kids in Okinawa. Martin is back in the USA for a couple of months.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2022 @ 4:08 pm

Hey Kevin, in my defense, I really don’t like that poem much, either. It’s just one of the few that somehow survived my many moves and divorces over the years.

As to the three dashes–that’s what is called “poetic license.” Yeah, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Another take might be that I’ve always sucked at punctuation. Actually, the paper version of that poem was written on a typewriter…too much hassle to fix a typo back in those days!

And yes, the “sullen fact” was that I loved her, and she didn’t love me back. Who knew that would turn out to be the story of my life?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2022 @ 9:57 am

Where eagles dare

Good stuff, James. Yeah, he’s more of a wanker, for sure!

I think it is just my nature not to get too close to anyone, especially my fellow man. That said, I do have more interactions and associations than I let on about here on the blog. Who knows, maybe I’ll make a “bestie” one of these days.

Of course, I’d much rather find a woman to pass the time with. I don’t even care about the “love” think all that much anymore. Someone compatible for companionship and sharing some adventures would be just fine.

Wish me luck!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2022 @ 8:25 am

James, as a matter of fact, I’m planning to back for another visit tonight. Gonna bake her a batch of brownies. Blue Butterfly is a nice enough bar–pool table, dart board, and an outside seating area I enjoy. Not the best location for me (the wrong side of town), but I do plan to visit more often. They also give Hashers a discount on their drinks.

It’s hilarious, but when you explained the meaning of “bellend,” the first thing I thought of was the Thumbstar manager. Heh, great minds think alike! Is being a wanker worse than being a bellend, or can you be both?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2022 @ 4:14 pm

Nice to see you back here in the comments too, Jimmy!

Yes, Marissa moved back to Barretto last week. I saw her at the Hash but didn’t really say much beyond hello. I wish her well in her search for a job and a place to live. I don’t blame her for wanting to get the hell out of Manila!

It’s true I never paid much attention to the “exotic” woman at the Hash, other than noticing her fine ass. I got curious about her after reading Kevin’s comments, so last night, I made a rare stop in Blue Butterfly to get to know her a little better. Came away very impressed; I’ll write some about her in today’s post.

As for Joy, she’s a very sweet young woman, and I do enjoy my twice-weekly visits to see her at the Hideaway bar. She would be potential girlfriend material, except for the fact that she has two young kids. She is not free to spend significant time with me (I want to wake up with my girlfriend in the morning, for example), and I’m not really interested in raising her kids.

Hideaway bar is doing surprisingly well, actually. The last couple of times I was there, it felt almost too crowded. I don’t know the owner (I think he lives in AC), but the manager, Griff (Aussie, I believe), is a nice guy who sends me over a free drink now and then. It’s a local expat hangout; very rare to see a tourist in there. And yeah, it’s a bit hard to find unless you know where to look (up an alley near the Arizona resort). I’d probably go there more often, but it is on the wrong side of town for me. Heh, never heard the term “bellend” before. Good to know!

When I speak of Hash sponsorship, I’m talking about paying the entry fee for your female guests. We charge 350 pesos each week (includes all the beer you can drink), and a lot of the local gals couldn’t afford to attend without a “sponsor.” I usually pay for two or three girls each week (Black And Dick Her and What’s Up Doc are my regulars), and in return, they fetch me my beers and stick with me on the trail during the Hash. At least I won’t die alone at the Hash!

My first ever Hash was on January 1, 2017 here in Barretto. I’d taken up hiking a couple of years earlier after my Korean wife dumped me. So, I had been walking the streets of Seoul even prior to my exile in Pyeongtaek. A local vlogger in Barretto I followed as part of my research before moving here was a Hasher back then. I met him during a visit, and he invited me to come to the Hash. I joined the local Hash in Pyeongtaek when I got back home. They are the ones who named me Cum Together.

Barretto is a good fit for me; I like the small town feel and having other like-minded expats around
It doesn’t feel “tepid” to me at all.

Yes, it is great to be back to relatively good health. I did get tested, and the second illness was not COVID, just a viral infection of some sort. Now I just need to focus on my mental health–I’m working on it!

Thanks again for reading, Jimmy!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2022 @ 9:49 am

Yeah, I think that the Spanish colonization and the Chinese trade dominance have made Filipinas come in all shapes and sizes. Not to mention that many have American blood from the years we here in force. But yeah, they have their charms, whatever their heritage and trust me, all attractive Filipinas are welcome here at LTG.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/August/2022 @ 2:24 pm

I assume you mean the one right in front of me…all I know about her is that she works at a local bar called Blue Butterfly. One of the guys has sponsored her these past couple of weeks.

It’s funny how you see her as non-Filipina-looking. I’ve noticed several different Filipina looks–some province girls are very dark, some gals have a Chinese vibe, and others look almost like they are from India. Granted, the one you mention is tall and curvy, and her face structure is a little uncommon. Maybe her dad was a foreigner?

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

Manifest destiny

Yeah, I’ve only watched two episodes, but I can see the potential for that…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/August/2022 @ 8:13 am

Yes, I read that. Season 4 still hasn’t been released, but is coming. I’m queued up for episode #3…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/August/2022 @ 7:11 am

A friend with something extra

Kev, back in the states, I’d likely be canceled for refusing to be attracted to someone’s chosen gender. Guess I got lucky in more ways than one!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/August/2022 @ 6:30 am

QP, yeah, I don’t need any butt hurt at this point in my life.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/August/2022 @ 6:28 am

Dave, 79, 80, who’s counting? My dream is to be like you at that age!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/August/2022 @ 6:27 am

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse

Yeah, I’ll pick one up just to see what happens. Back in the day, I experimented with drugs, so an energy drink should be no big deal…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/August/2022 @ 6:25 am

That sounds familiar

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing it with me. I honestly had never even considered these contributing factors to “brain fog,” but it does seem to make sense. I thought it was especially interesting that depression can result from a viral infection–I always assumed it was all in my head. Good stuff to know!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2022 @ 6:22 am

Yeah, I’m always a judge, it seems. No big deal, really; I know what I like.

I’ve never tried an energy drink. I assume they are chock full of sugar and carbs, right? Still, might give one a try if I’m unable to break out of this funk soon. Thanks for the tip, I hadn’t even thought of this option.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2022 @ 5:59 am

To live is to fly

Not sure of the root causes, but I have to believe I have the power to change my outlook. As I found out yesterday, it can and will get worse. I just need to take control and move forward–not sure what I actually wind up doing will make that much difference. Getting out there and doing it is the important part.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2022 @ 6:05 am

No, I haven’t. I rarely walk them outside of the neighborhood because strays are such a big problem here. On Wednesday’s walk, Max was constantly kicking away the strays that would attack his dog as we passed by. Very stressful.

As for the trash, that’s pretty much the end state. One thing the garbage collectors do here, though, is the separation of trash into recyclables. So, they’ll bag it up on the street before loading it (usually). Technically, the law is “no separation, no pickup,” but like a lot of other laws, it is mostly ignored.

Thanks for the advice regarding depression. It’s been an ongoing battle throughout my life, so this isn’t really anything new, and this bout isn’t particularly severe. You are right, though; I need to get out of my own head for a while and try on some new experiences. Travel would be an excellent diversion. I’ve even got a couple of places in mind I’d like to see.

But yeah, I think you nailed it–you have to lift yourself up and start thinking outside of yourself. There are plenty of opportunities to do so; I just need to let go and live them.

Thanks again for the roadmap!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2022 @ 6:08 am

Pure Gold

Yeah, Buddy seems to have adapted to his new circumstances. I think it bothers me more than him. I’ll be glad when I can remove it for good.

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

This is the first time I’ve had to put a pet in one of those collars. I understand the intent and purpose, but it looks like he is miserable wearing it. I guess he’ll adapt.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2022 @ 6:04 am

Dizzy Hash

HaHa, it took me a minute to figure out what you meant, QP. Yes, we are blessed with some attractive Gash in our kennel.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2022 @ 7:06 am

It’s a husky. I guess since it was born here it doesn’t know the difference. But he is quick to jum up and lie on the ice any chance he gets!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2022 @ 7:04 am

Strange daze

After reading your comment, I felt obligated to try. Even though it was raining, I’ll post about the adventure later today, but BLUF, I completed the shortcut version with the rest of our sane group of Hashers. Thanks for the encouragement!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/August/2022 @ 7:34 am

Low voltage

Thanks, Brian. I agree the symptoms match, but my doctor(s) here are honestly the best I’ve had, and I trust them implicitly. I was taking stuff for my sinus issues, and that’s why my smell is returning, I think; not sure what’s up with the taste thing.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/August/2022 @ 12:19 pm

Yeah, that’s my plan–to Build Back Better. What could go wrong?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/August/2022 @ 6:37 am

Back in the saddle

Thanks for the reminders. I’m going to play that semicolon error off as a typo unless you’ve got evidence to the contrary! But seriously, my mind has been mush (more than usual)as I recover from this illness. I’m making tons of keyboarding errors, and I’ve been off-balance and uncoordinated (you should have seen me trying to step into my shorts yesterday). It’s bound to get better.

That was funny that I fucked up my apology for the fuck ups. I did a proofread but obviously, what my eyes see, and brain registers are out of sync.

I woke up feeling good this morning; let’s see what the day brings.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/July/2022 @ 7:10 am

Yeah, I saw that and was going to have some fun with it; now you’ve gone and spoiled it. Damn it!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/July/2022 @ 6:57 am

Steppin’ up and steppin’ out

Thanks, Brian. It was sweet to be back out making the rounds last night.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/July/2022 @ 6:17 am

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