Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Yeah, I’m doing things while moping. Usually drinking beer. What I want to do is to start traveling again. Still nothing happening here that gives me a warm fuzzy that’s going to be allowed anytime soon.
I do have an update of sorts I’ll be sharing later. And thanks for the encouragement. I do appreciate it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/January/2022 @ 9:01 am
Brian, no worries. I actually agree with the points you raise and on a certain level, I’ve been aware of them. Acting on that awareness and comporting myself accordingly has been my problem. And you know, I can accept those rules about love in the 3rd world. What I crave is companionship and that can be found if I lower my expectations of having a “dream” love.
Again, thank you so much for the wisdom and encouragement. It really means a lot that you took the time to try and open my eyes.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/January/2022 @ 9:07 am
Going on four years here now. I know some folks of course and a handful I consider friends I could turn to if circumstances warranted. I’m kind of a loner though when I’m out and about.
In a perverse kind of way, the money relationship is at least honest. Everyone knows where things stand and there is not much chance of being disappointed or hurt. Still, it is emotionally unsatisfying and not at all what I am looking for.
Yes, I have proven over the years to be a failure at judging character. I don’t have any reason to believe that is going to change. I guess I just tend to hope people will be what they say they are. You can only find out by taking the plunge and things do tend to end badly. At least for me. I’m surprised I haven’t completely given up by now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/January/2022 @ 6:10 am
Thanks to everyone for the words of support and encouragement.
Well, it seems near unanimous among my readers and my local friends: No surprise and good riddance.
It still hurts though. At least this time I can take comfort in the knowledge that my own behavior didn’t warrant the cruel way she chose to end the relationship. It was a revelation to me to see just how heartless and unfeeling she can be. That I was blind to that until now is worrisome and perhaps doesn’t bode well for my future efforts to find a true and lasting love.
In the meantime, life goes on. I’ll try to be a rock living on this island and bear in mind that “love is just a four-letter word”.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/January/2022 @ 7:06 am
Brian, the orange shirts are the most recently issued Hash attire. So more people have those than any other version. I have several Hash shirts and just rotate through them week to week.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/January/2022 @ 5:18 am
Kev, I grew up relatively poor, so camping was about all my family could afford. We’d fish for trout in the river and the catch was what we had for dinner. It wasn’t a bad life. I continued the tradition through my 20s. I did get to the point where I enjoyed just sitting on the bank and enjoying nature as much as I did actually catching a fish.
I recall backpacking one year with my brother in Yosemite National Park. We had a bear encounter that first night and the next morning we hiked back out. Later that summer I took my wife and kids to Yosemite in a rented RV. Turns out I liked the easy way much better. Can’t remember the last time I slept in a tent.
While it is not exactly camping, I do enjoy the nipa hut/cooking out on the beach experience. And yeah, I’d probably go for that glamping experience in Korea you’ve written about.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/January/2022 @ 5:32 am
well, I don’t let him go on the street in case of a car passing…but off-road and on my sidewalk I trust him…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/January/2022 @ 3:19 pm
Thanks, guys. Loved the Twain quotes, Kevin.
No idea what comes next, Brian. But I’m keeping a positive outlook and hoping for the best. I’ve given up some closet space so I take that as a good sign.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/January/2022 @ 7:30 am
Thanks! Glad to be in such elite company, Rascal…
Appreciate the kind words and support, BW. We’ll see what happens, one day at a time…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/January/2022 @ 11:29 am
I’ll do better, guys. I promise! My readers are still a priority as I re-arrange my lifestyle.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/January/2022 @ 8:41 am
Well, it hasn’t been all rainbows and lollipops, but so far, so good.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/January/2022 @ 2:43 pm
Here’s to hoping for a positive outcome…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/January/2022 @ 7:48 am
Chip, clearly it was rushed but I’ll assume good intentions in that regard. The real issue is that is simply ineffective. And to coerce and flat-out force people to put something into their bodies is outrageous.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/January/2022 @ 7:46 am
Chip, I could deal with this bullshit so much better if it really made a difference. As circumstances have proven, vax or no vax, you are still at risk of catching the virus. Luckily, this strain is mother nature’s inoculation and will do a better job than any vaccine.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/January/2022 @ 12:42 pm
Soju, 18 items is plenty…I don’t eat many of the Filipino delicacies.
Kev, yes, I don’t think we can rely on the courts to intervene. There needs to be a popular uprising.
Brian, thanks for the link. The 5 Cs certainly resonate with me. Personally, I am not now nor have I ever been anti-vax. Hell, before I moved to the PI I got jabbed with everything I might potentially need. But these Covid vaccines obviously do not work–what’s the point if you still get infected or spread. And since I’ve had my bout with Covid I have natural immunity now. I love my freedom and I’m real close to giving in and getting the shot just so I can retain my ability to move around…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/January/2022 @ 12:42 pm
Getting to the heart of the matter
Thanks, QP. I’m trying. Dick doesn’t seem happy about me hanging around Pearl’s place again.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/January/2022 @ 2:17 pm
HaHa, no such code exists! We actually often have the cameras at the ready when disaster appears imminent. Remember the photo of Martin (18 Kilo Ass) crossing that rickety bamboo bridge? All the cameras were at the ready, just in case. Alas, by the time I reached the scene of Scott’s fall he had already been dragged back up.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/January/2022 @ 8:56 am
Passwords will be sent today.
James, nope. No intentional self-destruction. Sometimes the writing about what is going on in my life and relationships is as much about me trying to understand what is going on as it is about telling the story.
This latest chapter (still to be written) is almost beyond belief.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/January/2022 @ 9:00 am
Sorry to keep you guys in suspense. As usual, it was probably nothing. It started when Dick walked into Queen Vic drunk on his ass. He didn’t say anything to me though, which is good because I was in no mood to have my nose rubbed in his victory. He sat at a table behind me and passed out. A bit later he woke and left.
I decided to pay a visit to Pearl’s place. I’ll tell that story in a protected post.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/January/2022 @ 6:36 am
HaHa! I wish I had a photo…think you have to pay for takeout to get one of those.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/January/2022 @ 8:58 am
Jealousy is in the genes of most Filipinas and often manifests itself in crazy ways.
Yeah, the Bill matchmaking thing ain’t gonna happen. When he first mentioned it in a message I thought maybe his girlfriend had a longtime friend he could recommend. Nope, so just bargirls. Like I told him, I don’t need any help in the bargirl department.
As for my aim, well, you know me. I guess miracles can happen though…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/January/2022 @ 5:47 am
Kev, the 2022 column is the total number of runs up to the current time. So, Fucking Old Man who has been Hashing with SBH3 for 20 odd years is diligently in pursuit of the magical 1000 total runs. We’re all pulling for him.
Yeah, I’ve apparently been spelling Almoranas wrong…but it is pronounced like “anus”. He’s definitely German though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/January/2022 @ 7:31 am
Welcome to the Hotel Central Park Reef
The “to” was my typo…
Well, it seems he is talking about the concept of love, but in the end, he seems to be talking about a particular love. The stanza starts with “where are you hiding my love, but concludes with “please stay, my love, and share the life…” So, I think that he intended to use it that way.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2022 @ 3:14 pm
Well, you know me. Never one to criticize a misplaced comma, vocative or otherwise.
I actually own the hard copy of the book this poem is included in, “There are men to gentle to live among wolves”. The part I quoted was a cut and paste from the internet and was just one stanza of a dozen or more in the book version. I pulled out the book and re-read the poem, and it sounds to me like he is indeed lamenting about a love he hasn’t found rather than a particular love. On the other hand, he does seem to have someone in mind. Either way, it’s not a typo…the book has no comma either.
Another verse:
Where are you hiding my love?
Please come to me at twilight when the light
Is as soft as your breasts and the cool air
Will turn your longing breath into misty drops of love,
When soon enough the darkness will be upon us,
The quiet time when words have lost their meaning
And only eyes can speak or lips that explore
Without a sound or syllable to impede their tasting.
Please stay, my love, and share the life I saved for you,
Each drop of it guarded against all invasion till now.So, he does it both ways there.
Yep. Forward march!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2022 @ 2:47 pm
Brian, well, I’m lucky if I remember my own name these days, so I’m easily impressed!
My current lease expires in June. The house next door has been for sale for a couple of years. I have been thinking about sending the owner (who lives in the Netherlands) an email asking if they’d consider a long-term lease. Also, my former residence is still vacant. Maybe I’ll check with the landlord and see if they’ve come to their senses yet. I might offer them 10% LESS than my previous rent…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2022 @ 10:02 am
Kev, I’m intrigued by the concept of living the mountain life, but then I think of the reality of the daily inconvenience and I’m like “Nope!”.
James, yeah, Filipinas never seem to forget a face. I’m always impressed to be greeted by name in a place I very rarely visit. As for my expertise in the sack, well, I do have some experience! Maybe I’ll take her out again and be less selfish.
Actually, for a town the size of Barretto to have upwards of 30 bars is kind of an anomaly I think. I asked an expat in San Antonio this weekend about bar options and there were only three. This lack of tourists has hit the bar owners in Barretto hard–I expect most are breaking even at best. There will be a shake-out if things don’t open up soon. Having said that, I noticed a couple of new places are in the process of opening, so that’s encouraging. As to the ladies, they move around looking for the best, er, bang for the bucks they earn. But they also have a limited shelf life. The guys who rent them (mongers in the parlance) like them young. Once a gal reaches the mid-30s her value diminishes in the bar trade.
When I was looking at housing options prior to making the move here, I considered the old military housing on the Navy base. Almost went for a real nice duplex unit, former officers’ quarters, roomy with American-style kitchen. But I looked out the window and all I could see was the duplexes across the street. It was like living in the suburban USA and I said no, damn it, I want to live in the Philippines! Of course, up here in Alta Vista isn’t the “real” PI either, but at least it is within walking distance!
Most of the housing in Baloy is off the beach, and the living there comes with the noise and bustle you find in town, albeit somewhat reduced (videoke and roosters, less traffic). The beach is relatively quiet except for the banka boats.
Yeah, when I had to move from my last house I looked at some places near Columban College. Saw a couple of nice houses but they were surrounded by high walls with barbed wire on top. The view from inside felt like I was in prison. And yeah, the walls didn’t keep the noise out. I’d like a bigger place than I currently occupy, but I’ll be loathed to leave Alta Vista. And yeah, I cannot imagine the hell of Olongapo city life! No way!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2022 @ 7:21 am
Thanks, guys! Appreciate the kind words.
“You’ll do fine if you avoid the greedy, the selfish, the immature, the flaky, and the psychos. ” Here’s hoping I don’t become one!
“May this be a better [year] than the last.” Here’s hoping it’s not the last!
“it will be filled with two steps forward and one step back” Yeah, especially coming home after a night of drinking!
And we’re off to discover what happens next. Thanks for coming along.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/January/2022 @ 6:25 am
Thanks for being a faithful reader, Kevin.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/January/2022 @ 7:46 am
Kevin, yep Martin (18 Kilo Ass) shaved the day after playing Santa. His girlfriend said it made him look old. He promises to grow it back in time for next Christmas. Yeah, I forgot to change Julie’s name so I guess I’ve already thrown caution to the wind.
Harry, glad you enjoyed the reviews. I’ve been thinking about doing a series on the restaurants here, which would capture the hotels. Also, the bars at Baloy Beach are all in the resort hotels. I’ll get to them too.
Thanks, Chip. Hopefully, the healthy aspects of my life will cancel out those other unhealthy ones!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/December/2021 @ 7:21 am
Bars of Barretto: The Green Room (Updated September 8, 2022)
«« Back To Stats PageBrian, good points. Thanks! And I will continue to periodically update the rankings as circumstances warrant. For example, last night I was surprised to see that a brand new bar had opened. I’ll be reviewing that one soon. Also, I was at BarCelona and had another of those bad experiences that had driven me away from that bar previously. That incident will be a consideration next time I do the rankings.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/January/2022 @ 7:52 am