Comments Posted By John McCrarey
Displaying 3,601 To 3,630 Of 6,593 Comments
Hard to say. There is a good number of Protestant churches around though, most notably Iglesia ni Cristo.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/May/2022 @ 6:43 am
Brian, I would have, but I’m just now hearing (or remembering) this song for the first time. Thanks for sharing!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/May/2022 @ 9:56 am
Interesting. Hadn’t thought about the Catholic/Protestant divergence when it comes to the symbolism of crosses. Good stuff.
What got me was I wasn’t being political at all, and my dig at Koreans was done tongue in cheek. Now, if a Korean had taken offense, I’d have been more conciliatory. But from two American Karens? Fuck off!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/May/2022 @ 6:48 am
It’s a dish I never crave and rarely eat. That said, this one did hit all the notes you mentioned.
Re: the highway: The shoulder is wider in some places and almost non-existent in others. Worse yet, when there is a shoulder, the f’n scooters tend to use it like another lane. And on the curves, people tend to cut the corner encroaching on whatever walking space there is. Not a pleasant walk which is why I only occasionally take the chance. And yes, I miss the bike and walking paths in Korea. Your pictures always make me realize how fucked up things can be here. Of course, there are other compensations… 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/May/2022 @ 6:53 am
I don’t even want to imagine one of those bastards. Honestly, I’m surprised I don’t see more spiders and snakes when I’m hiking. I like to pretend they are not there. Don’t burst my bubble!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/May/2022 @ 5:32 pm
Fuck. What’s wrong with me? I was sober when I wrote that. I think you can see Fiji from Fuji.
I’ve not seen any spiders amongst the trees and if I saw a big-ass tarantula I’d probably shit my pants!
I broke a thumb skiing once and that was a major pain in the ass (I used to wear button-fly Levis–impossible with one hand). Can’t imagine a broken leg.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/May/2022 @ 6:43 am
Thanks for the feedback. Onward!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/May/2022 @ 6:47 am
Damn, I really need to learn to speak Filipina!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/May/2022 @ 1:41 pm
When I was first diagnosed, I had level 2 COPD. I was advised that the lung damage was permanent, and the best I could hope for was to stop the COPD from advancing to the next level by living a healthier lifestyle. I’m still taking most of the meds I was prescribed back then that primarily deal with alleviating symptoms such as shortness of breath.
My real concern now is that some of those symptoms are returning. Nothing like the bad old days when I’d have to sit down to catch my breath while walking. Still, I have to use my nebulizer on a daily basis instead of weekly. And coupled with my blood pressure rise, I’m concerned that something is going wrong. Hopefully, an adjustment in my meds will make a difference.
Thanks for your concern!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/May/2022 @ 6:48 am
Too funny, DS! And so true!
You should publish a complete book of translations to help folks like me better understand the mind and motivation of the Filipina.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/May/2022 @ 6:50 am
Thanks, guys. You are right, I don’t want my walks to become a chore, I want to enjoy them.
And Brandon, I’m sure I won’t disappoint. I went to Wet Spot last night…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/May/2022 @ 6:52 am
Yeah, that sentence bothered me too. I meant just me and the bartender. We patched up a recent falling out. It seems so clear when you point it out, but at the time I was writing, I wasn’t sure which way to go. I chose wrong this time.
I agree; it’s not something new to star in your own story. A little surprised that it seems to be a big deal now, is all. I don’t recall your Becker post specifically, but I agree with him.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/May/2022 @ 5:53 pm
Thanks, guys. I’ll have my helper schedule an appointment.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/May/2022 @ 8:01 am
Good point, DS. Although in the case of her teeth, I expect it is a lost cause…she might already be at the stage of needing dentures. But yeah, I intend to be cautious.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/May/2022 @ 4:56 pm
When I first started hiking on my own here, I kept looking for a trail that would take me from Alta Vista to Rizal Extension on the other side of town. I kept taking wrong turns and detours, but I eventually learned the right way to go. I remember saying out loud on that day, “you’re my bitch now!”. The name stuck. So, yeah, I broke that horse!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/May/2022 @ 5:26 am
Kev, yeah, age is just a number, and I identify as 30, so there’s nothing stopping me from livin’ it up. I hope the day never comes when I can’t walk a single kilometer.
Jerry, no real update on the ex; I have to assume she is doing fine. I miss her and think of her often, but I know I need to let her go.
I do appreciate my relatively good health. Glad the surgery eased your pain some. Hope you are back on your feet again soon.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/May/2022 @ 8:01 am
I’ll take that as a “shows improvement.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/May/2022 @ 5:06 am
DS, I just checked the Bingo cookie bag I hand out. The only place it says “cookie” is in tiny print that I had to strain to see. With Spanish and Yankee cultural influences, not sure how they came to use a British term for what the rest of the world knows is a cookie. Come to think of it, when I hand them out, I usually announce “Bingo time!” and sometimes I sing that B-I-N-G-O ditty…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/May/2022 @ 8:23 am
Brian, for the record, her teeth were ruined BEFORE I gave her cookies! Filipinos have the worst teeth I’ve seen anywhere. Part of it might be economics…cheaper to pull a tooth than to get a filling. On the other hand, I do see quite a few bargirls wearing braces. I’ve not really paid attention to Filipino diets and whether they are high in sugar content. But the girl I mentioned is missing teeth, has rotted teeth, and broken teeth. I’m not sure if anything other than dentures is going to fix that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/May/2022 @ 8:18 am
James, “Govic” is the name of the bypass highway around Subic. It passes through the far edge of San Isidro, one of our popular hiking areas.
The thought of my helping out that youngster with some much-needed dental work has occurred to me. Of course, I’d have to do it through mom or dad, and the logistics of even finding them feels overwhelming. Obviously, I could ask the girl, and maybe I will, but I’m not really comfortable chatting up an underage street vendor. Maybe I’ll work this through a Filipina friend.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/May/2022 @ 8:07 am
Kev, it was hot, maybe that’s what got to her. She did make the downhill return trip without stopping at least.
I did glance at the Wiki link. I remember that with the line “so bring us some figgy pudding…” but most of the others I’d never heard of. You won’t see me ordering a “spotted dick” pudding anytime soon, that’s for sure!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/May/2022 @ 7:56 am
James, Rizal street is an eclectic mix. On one end are the fresh market and other commercial enterprises. It’s also home to the local jailhouse. The other end has a variety of housing options. All are better than the shanty towns and squatter villages you see around town. Low-end apartments and big western-style houses and everything in between. There are some foreigners living in the area.
DS, yeah, that was my thinking too–“this ain’t so bad”. Just need to embrace life as it is and not dwell on what it isn’t.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2022 @ 6:21 am
Brian, hadn’t really thought about the black shirt thing. I assume the ones they are wearing are those lightweight breathable-type materials. I usually just wear an old Hash shirt. I’ve also been doing a headband to keep the sweat out of my eyes…I’m typically soaking wet early in the hike.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2022 @ 6:28 am
James, it’s easier to be generous when you can take care of the crew for the equivalent of fifty bucks. Even at that, it is something I rarely do. A couple of lady drinks over the course of the evening is more my style.
I’m not sure what’s up with Alaska, could have just been an off night or too early. Other bars in Barretto have been hoppin’ lately with the tourists back in town. And no, I don’t usually interact much with anyone I don’t know–mama taught me not to talk to strangers!
I don’t know anything about Martin’s diet, but I do know he has been walking a lot. Since I see him regularly I don’t notice the change so much, but it is impressive that a couple of readers have noticed the weight loss from afar.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2022 @ 6:23 am
“In this case, the MRI came out looking like a jumble.”
Ha! Like that time I had a brain scan, and it came back negative! I get what you are saying, though. When I read that post again after all these years, I wondered what I meant too. My recollection was I was “disconnected” from my American life and my friends and family there. I believe this was the beginning of the end for my marriage to #3 and the realization that Korea was where I was going to stay. I still cared about my old life, but I recognized it was now in the past.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2022 @ 5:00 pm
Nice to hear from you, Soju! Thought you’d had enough of my escapades or something. Anyway, you are right–no apologies necessary. I’m not sorry I won’t be funding her education.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2022 @ 10:19 am
Kevin, yeah, I think you are right on point here. Things are the way they are with so many Filipinas because of their own failure to take accountability for their lives. It’s always a matter of “bad luck”. [I noted the subtle punctuation lesson in the quoted text. Didn’t realize just how bad I am. I will try harder!]
DS, yep, it’s always someone else’s fault. I’ve noted the behavior you describe all too frequently. I’ve been reminding myself of “Rule #1” with increasing regularity lately.
Brian, I agree it is an “all of the above” combination of bad behaviors that perpetuate the circle of poverty here. I’ve noticed that many Filipinas I encounter have an “I’ll worry about it tomorrow” attitude that seems to preclude taking steps to plan for a brighter future.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2022 @ 6:17 am
James, actually I prefer the singles tourneys because I don’t give a shit about the outcome. Win or lose, I just want to throw well and have fun. Ironically, that pressure-free attitude seems to help me play better. Go figure.
I don’t know the circumstances of Jessa’s breakup, not my business. Her fiance was living here though.
Yeah, I shared a nice weekend with the out-of-town girl. She might not be able to come back until school’s out in June though. Maybe I’ll make a trip to see her.
And yes, there are benefits to being single, including variety. I’m probably still too much in the mode of wishing for something else instead of appreciating what I have and it is only in looking back that I’ll see how good I’ve had it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/May/2022 @ 6:27 am
Kev, there was one comparatively easy climb, but you would have hated the heat. There are relatively flat routes to be found though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/May/2022 @ 6:19 am
«« Back To Stats PageKev, I haven’t heard from Jenn in years either. Honestly, I hadn’t even thought of her in quite a while until I came across that post, Her blog is still up, but inactive. I had left a comment there back in 2013 asking if she was okay. No response. Left a new comment yesterday but I doubt she’ll see it. I do hope life has been good to her. It is weird how people you valued just disappear. I’m sure I’m guilty of that as well. Life takes you in a different direction and sometimes there is just no looking back.
One thing I was doing as I walked through the cemetery was looking at the dates on the headstones. Wanted to find a soulmate born on the same day as me. Found one who died on my birthday but that’s as close as I got. I did notice that more people had shorter lifespans than me than lived to be older. Not sure what to make of that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/May/2022 @ 7:16 am