Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brian, yeah, that’s right. We are not invited or allowed to participate in anything political here anyway. And staying on the surface of the culture is much more comfortable for me anyway (no Red Horse drinking parties!). But it is a beautiful place and the natives are friendly, so I’m happy!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2021 @ 9:55 am
Kev, the PI is definitely not for everyone. Adapting to a third-world environment was more challenging for me than the weather. Yeah, it gets hot and wet, but never snows, so there’s that. Hope you’ll visit someday. We do have a couple of months that are comparatively moderate.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2021 @ 6:46 am
Bob, great questions. I feel secure here and would venture to say it is probably safer than the rest of town. The guards at the gate do ask unrecognized visitors where they are going, but I’m not sure that stops anyone. When I was first house hunting they always let me in to just walk and look around. The guards also regularly patrol the subdivision on their motorbikes. You are correct though, I know of at least four footpaths into and out of Alta Vista. Construction workers regularly come and go via these routes. I don’t see many people using Alta Vista as a shortcut to somewhere else, but during the lockdown, it was a way to avoid the checkpoints blocking passage between Barretto and Subic.
All that said, security is ultimately your personal responsibility. You’ll notice almost all the houses are walled and many are equipped with CCTV. I’ve even seen a couple with electric fences. I got robbed (I say robbed because I was sleeping in the house at the time) a couple of years ago. They were in and out in five minutes (my dog barked and woke me, by the time I got downstairs they were gone) with my laptop and cellphone. I’m pretty sure it was an inside job, I had hired some construction guys for work around the house. They would have noticed that my sliding doors were not properly secured. Lesson learned, had new door locks installed and didn’t have a problem again.
I feel safe here. Yeah, it is a comparatively rich enclave, but I’ve never got the feeling it’s a target. I hear of more burglaries in town than I do up here. I walk through the squatter villages nearby and the people are almost always friendly. I’m surprised that despite the poverty there seems to be little crime and almost no violence. I honestly feel safer here than I would in most American cities.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2021 @ 6:42 am
well, shit, maybe that’s why I’m going blind.
I wasn’t sure where the Jane thing would go. Turns out, nowhere. As in, she hasn’t contacted me since our last meeting. I reached out to her once and she was aloof. I guess she decided I wasn’t what she needs or wants.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2021 @ 1:16 pm
Nothing on the horizon in my love life, substantive or otherwise. Frankly, just getting a little bored with the twice a month routine with Joy. We have very little dialogue due to her lack of English skills (or should I say my lack of Tagalog?). And she too often tries to suck me into the dramas of he life as a poor woman. Eh, we’ll see.
Yeah, I’ve got no room to bitch about my diet escapades when I can still eat, just not always what I want to eat. Unlike some people I know! Curious what the issue is with diet drinks though–no sugar, no carbs, no calories?
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book. I couldn’t if I wanted to now, my eyes are so bad. I have to close one eye so the words aren’t blurry, but I get fatigued really quickly. Had an appointment today at the eye clinic to get cataracts removed, but they canceled because the doctor wasn’t available. Gonna try again on Saturday.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2021 @ 6:58 am
A sane and insane day at the Hash
Brian, it turns out he does in fact have the stolen phone. He will not be welcome back!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2021 @ 6:54 am
Actually, none reported any problems. I was looking for muddy pants or other indications of a slip, trip, or fall and didn’t see any…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2021 @ 9:54 pm
Alta Vista: MT. Rainier Avenue
Haha! I know his housekeeper…I suppose I could ask her to sneak some photos…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2021 @ 10:04 pm
Yep, they want us to follow along like sheep to the slaughter. Freedom lovers will not go quietly!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2021 @ 11:36 am
It looked like a normal omelet, maybe a little on the thin side. Tasty enough though.
I don’t do sweet and sour that often, but never seen it with the sauce on the side. And as I said this is the first time the pork was crispy. Makes a big difference!
Yeah, we start at 2:00 local time, which as I recall is 3:00 for you…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2021 @ 7:02 am
Glad you enjoyed it, Soju…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2021 @ 11:37 am
Thanks. I aim to please!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2021 @ 7:15 am
Yeah, well I actually spelled it that way on purpose. But now I can’t remember why. Which is an even worse indicator of senility.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/August/2021 @ 6:46 am
Damn it! I knew it looked wrong, but my spell check corrected it that way so I let it be. Fixed it now. Thanks.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/August/2021 @ 4:05 pm
Yeah, but I’d bet a bigger man lives in this one!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2021 @ 11:38 am
Thanks, James. Glad you are enjoying the scenery. A few more streets to go yet.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/August/2021 @ 6:40 am
I’ll look forward to seeing the results of your healthy carrot cake experiments. It seems unfair that carrots are carby.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/July/2021 @ 6:39 am
Yeah, I think you could build the same house for less than that. It’s been for sale (with signage) twice in the last three years with no buyers (signs down, but same cars in the driveway). I did ask once if renting was an option and was told no.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/July/2021 @ 6:45 am
Kev, glad you had a chance to watch the video and give some feedback.
Perhaps it is just a matter of perspective and how you define “companionship”. Clearly, the dynamic of being seen as a “rich” foreigner by a poor woman plays a big part in the search for a companion. But within that context, Filipinas still want to love and be loved I think.
I’m a bad example. I’m scared of “love”. Jessa and Iline were flawed but wanted to have a traditional relationship with me. I ran away, not willing to risk getting hurt. I’m getting all the sex I want and need through my “friends with benefits” program. But I do crave the companionship that comes from a more traditional relationship. So, I’m basically screwed I guess, in more ways than one.
I go to bars to drink, not for the women! Can’t remember the last time I took someone out of a bar. Although to be fair, there are some “good” girls doing their best in tough times by doing bar work.
Yeah, the Pea did throw some truth bombs on the attitude of western gals though. “Feminist” heads would explode if they heard that and of course, the Pea would be canceled and banned from YouTube for her hate speech!
Not really relevant I suppose, but for some reason, I remembered a conversation I had with my daughter when she was twelve years old or so. She told me, “Daddy, when I grow up I’m going to marry somebody rich!” I responded, daughter, you should only marry for love!” She thought about it for a minute, then said “Daddy, I’m going to fall in love with someone rich!”
Maybe she’s got some Filipina in her…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/July/2021 @ 7:33 am
Yeah, Jane is a bit of a mystery. Still not clear what she sees in me and what her ultimate goals might be. It has occurred to me that maybe I’m her “Joy”. Yikes! Talk about Karma…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/July/2021 @ 7:40 am
I don’t know about Joy. Honestly, she’s been pushing the boundaries of my patience of late. Making money requests outside the boundaries of the program. I may have to ditch her irrespective of what happens with Jane. I don’t, however, expect Jane is likely to develop into a “traditional” relationship either.
I’m going to keep living one day at a time…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/July/2021 @ 6:32 am
Yeah, I know a guy who just bought two lots here. Only way to be sure you won’t have a neighbor encroach on your space and view.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/July/2021 @ 6:34 am
Brian, I was accused of looking at another guy’s butt.
Backstory: someone who had been sitting on the ice with his pants down (bare bottom, I don’t do that) slipped off the ice and into the wet, black sand which stuck to his backside. I said something like “that’s a dirty ass”.
Yeah, it was a bogus charge, but so are most of the pretexts for doing time on the ice. It’s all in fun.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/July/2021 @ 6:40 am
Well, that’s one thing i guess, it never gets cold here. I laugh when a Filipina says “it’s cold”. It’s all relative I suppose. Not as hot as normal becomes cold.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/July/2021 @ 7:03 am
Thanks, Brian. Good to know about Roosevelt National Park. One more thing I must have forgotten about…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/July/2021 @ 6:43 am
Jesus, Soju. You’ve got me craving some of that mustard-based BBQ from Maurice. And the chicken wings from Rush’s are the best!
Yes, I’ve actually hiked in Congaree a couple of times. Nice trails and cool footbridges in the swamp. Give it a go!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/July/2021 @ 10:07 am
I learned a lot about dealing with aggressive dogs during my seven years as a letter carrier. I pretty much just out-crazy them and they turn tail and run. Some people carry sticks when they walk to fend off dogs. I’ll pick up a rock on occasion, just doing so sends a message and the dogs usually just back off.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/July/2021 @ 1:47 pm
I was on the outside patio in dim light, guess my camera decided not to flash…yeah, I’m blaming it on my phone!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/July/2021 @ 6:42 am
Near-perfect. 🙂
Thank goodness for the weather! Otherwise, I might have something substantial to complain about it. It was just a month or two ago I was hating on the heat and practically looking forward to the rainy season.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/July/2021 @ 6:53 am
«« Back To Stats PageShe asked for it?
I took it from my high school sweetheart in the back seat of my mama’s 1969 Plymouth Fury. Parked on Huntington Beach. Told her we were going to the submarine races…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/July/2021 @ 10:10 am