Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Thanks for the link, hard to imagine someone like Ch’unsong defying all the monk-ish stereotypes like that. I guess there are many roads to enlightenment. Maybe I’ll find one someday, although, just like with love, I’m looking in all the wrong places.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/May/2021 @ 6:30 am
Brian, I expect I’ll see the landlord (one of them anyway) between now and my moving date. They come up from Manila most weekends. I’ll hand-deliver my email contents then.
I’ve just got the one live-in helper now and she is coming to the new place, so no change there.
The open carry folks are merely asserting their rights, just as the non-mask wearers are doing. We disagree on the severity of COVID, but regardless, I think it is fair to ask people who want to avoid catching the virus to stay home while the rest of us get on with our lives.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/May/2021 @ 1:58 pm
Yeah, the quotation marks are wrong for sure. At least that’s not MY mistake. This time.
CR stands for “comfort room,” which is what they call bathrooms here in Filipino land.
The dogs will do alright, although I’m going to need to do their outside time outside the fence. I’ve got a plan for that too.
My fervent hope is that if I don’t get a full refund on the rent/deposit, this place sits vacant for months or years. Also, I’ll make sure the expats know not to rent from them. I probably won’t go to court over it though. In the judicial system here, it is always the foreigner’s fault. An example: a Filipino ran a red light and hit a foreigner’s car. The judge found the foreigner at fault because “if you hadn’t moved here it wouldn’t have happened.” No shit. That’s why I never want to drive in this country.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2021 @ 10:22 pm
Soju, I’ll defer to your knowledge and expertise re: gay bathhouses. 🙂
Yep, not many lady folks make the hikes lately. It was good to see Preying Mantis out again, even though she brought her husband along…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2021 @ 10:27 pm
Kevin, backtracking is a “been there, seen that” kinda thing to me. It also feels like a retreat after failing to reach an objective. Now, a planned backtrack is a different matter, but I still prefer a circular route whenever possible.
Dan, thanks for the link. That intro looked really interesting. I will give it a look next time I’m stuck on the couch for sure.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2021 @ 7:35 am
Brian, I’ll ask around and give bamboo a try if I find it on the menu.
QP, yep, that’s my thinking too. Honestly, I’m impressed with how well Joy is playing her part. We’ll see if it lasts.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2021 @ 10:25 pm
James, I really appreciate your kind words. I always look forward to comments, even though very few readers actually share their thoughts. I’m guilty of that as well; I rarely comment on the other blogs that I read. So, it is special when someone like you makes the effort to provide feedback on what I’ve written. Thanks!
Over the years I’ve received lots of helpful advice and support. Even when I don’t agree, I always appreciate seeing a new perspective. This blog has become more of a journal/diary than anything else, so knowing that people actually care enough to follow my daily exploits is my inspiration to keep writing.
Your comment made my day, thanks for sharing!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/May/2021 @ 7:22 am
QP, yeah that’s true. Especially here in the PI. Joy is giving me what I want and getting what she needs in return. I’m satisfied with the arrangement thus far.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2021 @ 1:57 pm
Kev, I’ve seen Joy in the flesh twice now. But every day throughout the day I get those little messages checking in on me. It’s not necessary but it’s kinda sweet. If she is playing a game, she is very good at it! She’s better at acting like a girlfriend than a lot of my girlfriends ever were.
Fingerpainting, eh? That gives me an idea…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2021 @ 1:55 pm
Brian, yeah, I’d say bamboo is the most widely used construction material in the Philippines. Most of the shanties are bamboo, and even the hollow block houses usually have bamboo fencing. 1001 uses might be a low estimate, although I didn’t know about eating it.
Bamboo trees make a very eerie sound when a breeze is blowing…almost scary. It grows just about everywhere too. And then you’ll be out in the middle of nowhere and see guys like those pictured chopping it down and dragging it out to use or sell. Humbles me when I’m complaining about how hard a hike has been.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2021 @ 7:42 am
Kev, Ah, another rule to follow…it’s almost like living under communism! I’ll do my best to obey, of course. I think I need to get one of those devices where you speak your text into a microphone and it is converted into pixels. Then any errors wouldn’t be my fault.
I do other charity projects above and beyond my “friends with benefits” program, so I’m not a totally selfish bastard. Just sayin’. I’m not sure I buy your broad definition of prostitution, though. Yeah, the gals who work in “those kinds” of bars are selling their bodies for money. Joy, on the other hand, seems to sincerely think of me as a friend. Sure, I help her out with money now and then so she can feed her kids. What are friends for? This coming Tuesday we are going to get together and I’ll introduce her to John Kim’s bulgogi. I reckon we’ll have sex for dessert, but it won’t be because she feels obligated. Joy enjoys doing the deed with me and has been telling me for days how horny she is. In fact, she wanted to wait to get together until she finished menstruation. That’s what I like about this arrangement–we both like hooking up now and then, it’s not ALL about the money. How is that different than what consenting adults do all the time? Yeah, as a woman in her 30s with two kids, Joy doesn’t have many options. It just seems like a win for us both and it feels good to help her out. In my view, she’s no more a prostitute than a man who sells his body carrying bricks on his back all day long.
Good luck pulling the pork. I’ll look forward to the pics!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/May/2021 @ 7:34 am
Daeguowl, I’m obviously no expert, but I’m learning there are significant differences between the US and UK in the way English is written. I’ve frequently been chided for writing like a Brit!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2021 @ 10:21 am
Brian, yeah, that’s right. If everything was “new” all the time, then it would become routine and lose its excitement. And there is a relaxing comfort in the familiar as well. Maintaining the right balance between the two is the way to go. So, it was fun to visit the It Doesn’t Matter bar for the first time and meet the owners and staff. Now I’m a regular and feel at home there.
Geez, I really need to be able to travel again!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2021 @ 7:15 am
Kev, I do write poorly. 🙂 More disappointed to hear that commas haven’t improved. I actually *think* about those when I write now. It was an interesting lesson though on linking verbs; I swear they never taught that shit in my English classes! Here’s my takeaway: “John is a horny American who needs to work on his copula.” I don’t think this particular type of error is that common with me. I’d normally just say “I’m not feeling well today,” not sure why I chose my words so poorly. And yes, I was never a Trump fanboy, but if Twitter had banned him early on, I think he’d still be President today.
Thanks for the good wishes re: my health. One thing is for sure–I will never feel poorly again!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2021 @ 7:08 am
Brian, during the lockdown you could order groceries online from Royal for delivery. I don’t think they’ve continued that program, but reviews weren’t good–wrong items, forgotten items, and the dreaded “out of stock” items…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/May/2021 @ 6:33 am
Thanks for the link, it might help! Okay, I used the same rolling technique. I think my issue is that I’m overloading the tortilla. So, I need a bigger tortilla or a smaller burrito. Hmm…
It’s Grace-in. 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/May/2021 @ 6:27 am
Next time I’ll do that. Here’s a hint: I need a fork to pick up the shit that falls out while I’m eating. Actually, I’ve often thought there isn’t much difference between a burrito (the way I make them) and a soft-shell taco. I do use burrito seasoning though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/May/2021 @ 6:03 pm
No, I only post posts that I saw on that day’s hike. Sort of a punny thing, but I try to find an interesting post to share.
HaHa, I didn’t have to even count down to know which photo you were referring to. I don’t *think* Pubic Head was being intentionally naughty, but then again, he’s a long-time Hasher.
I don’t recall tasting any onions, but I’m pretty sure you could “have it your way” by request. Have you seen a Jollibee in Seoul? I know they are an international franchise chain. I seem to recall seeing one at the Incheon airport.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/May/2021 @ 6:51 am
Kev, the “unibutt” I posted was seated. But even standing it’s still nothing like the lovelies in the link you shared. Thanks!
Yeah, the punctuation inside the quotation marks just bugs me for some reason. Maybe it’s my Scottish genes. I can understand the period inside, but a comma feels like it is altering the quote somehow. I’ll try to be a better American in the future, though.
I have read the comma series, but given my memory issues, I should probably do a refresher course. When you say “unnecessary commas,” does that mean it’s wrong or just unneeded? Here’s my rewrite:
I have to do a mental checklist whenever I leave the house–phone, vapes, wallet, darts–or else I’ll invariably get halfway down the street and have an “Oh, shit” moment. I’m notorious for bad grammar and punctuation, but these days, even shit I know I get wrong. I’m thinking, “their,” but my brain tells my fingers to type “there”.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/May/2021 @ 6:53 am
Damn, so my, “when in doubt, add a comma” strategy isn’t working?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/May/2021 @ 10:35 pm
Brian, I’m glad we didn’t take one for the team in 1776. I do understand your points, but I don’t like the precedent we are setting of allowing bureaucrats to take away our freedoms unilaterally. I’ve been assessing my own risk from the beginning of this fiasco, others can do the same. That’s what I said back when there was a complete lockdown and people complained that I kept on hiking. Stay home, stay safe! I can’t hurt you if you are in your basement.
Yes, it is scary what is happening in India. Lots of things are scary about India. I haven’t seen the numbers, though. Is the kill rate higher than the one-tenth of one percent it is in the rest of the world?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/May/2021 @ 6:36 am
Brian, thanks for the insights on the vaccine development process. Again, I’m not an anti-vaxxer, and it is good to know they were able to significantly shorten the timeline to make vaccines available. That bodes well for the next China unleashes a monster. I think the other measures governments have imposed to “flatten the curve” are counterproductive and have done more damage than they’ve prevented. If you are vulnerable, by all means, stay home. If you’ve taken the vaccine, you’re home-free, right? Same thing if you’ve already survived COVID. So, folks who choose not to vaccinate are not a danger to anyone other than themselves. Or so it seems to me.
Yes, indeed, my weekly ration of Korean-style chicken wings is from The Pub.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/May/2021 @ 7:21 am
Soju, I checked and was told no one answered the door when they knocked at 0300. Sorry you missed your delivery!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/May/2021 @ 7:11 am
Kev, I knew you’d like that menu. John Kim is quite the foodie too. You could have long discussions with him about the nuances of each ingredient while you are eating.
There’s a lot I haven’t tried yet, but the bulgogi and french dip were excellent. And of course, the wings are my Wednesday ritual.
By the way, I wasn’t intentionally trolling. I just cut and pasted from a meme that wouldn’t let me save as a jpg. Well, when I put a space between the lines I somehow managed to leave a period in front of “me”. I will fix it now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/May/2021 @ 7:05 am
Actually, I stole that word for word from a meme. You can’t hold me responsible for the mistakes of meme-makers. Otherwise, I’d have nothing to post…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/May/2021 @ 9:28 pm
So much to learn, so little time left in this lifetime!
I had to laugh when I saw my mistake in #1 was period placement. I never thought of that as a hard and fast rule, I guess. I think the quote usually looks better with the punctuation outside. Although, I see when I did my re-write I inadvertently managed to get it right.
Aren’t there exceptions to the FANBOYS rule? It seems to me that “but” doesn’t always need a comma, but I can’t think of an example right now.
As to why I continue repeating my mistakes even when I “know” the rules, it is probably just sloppiness as much as anything. Old habits die hard, and I still need to stop and think, “comma or no” when I’m writing. It always seems right in my head, but obviously, that’s not the case.
Anyway, I’m not giving up, and I will strive to improve!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/May/2021 @ 7:37 am
Kevin, here goes nothing:
1. Since I am of Scottish descent, I deem this sentence correct. However, if I had a do-over I might say instead: “Rather than thinking about my mechanics when I’m throwing poorly, I tell myself to focus.”
2. “Everyone has a chance to draw a good partner; sometimes you do, and sometimes you don’t.” Thanks for the hint!
3. Not sure about this one, but here’s a re-write: “Sometimes, it’s a personality conflict, and other times I find the lack of situational awareness frustrating. Again, this reaction is on me, and I don’t overtly fault my partner. It just messes with my head sometimes, and that throws me off my game.”.
Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to critique my work. My problem in part, I think, is that I’m writing like I’m having a conversation. It sounds good in my head but doesn’t look so good on paper (pixels).
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/May/2021 @ 10:07 am
Dan, love the (alleged) Churchill quote! Thanks for the darting tips, too. Passing gas is no problem for me, and I usually AM drunker than I appear, but I’m just not capable of uttering leftwing dogma–I have my pride you know!
Brian, yeah that’s right, limiting options of your opponent is one of the strategic aspects of the game, at least in cricket. You close a number and score some points, you force your opponent to move to an open number to try and catch up. I still see lots of players who foolishly “chase” and throw at already closed numbers. You can’t win that way!
Damn, Kevin. Thanks for giving me a headache first thing in the morning! I’ll get back to you on my proposed corrections once my coffee kicks in. But no, I wasn’t intending to channel Mr. Vader with my “situational awareness” statement. Believe it or not, I am trying to improve. Not succeeding, obviously.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/May/2021 @ 7:15 am
Yeah, not really worried about the aircons. But they also owe me 3 months of deposit money (P135,000). Will I ever see that again?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/May/2021 @ 6:30 am
«« Back To Stats PageActually, I don’t think she is desperate. The current tenants are just now moving out so she’s hasn’t technically missed a rent payment yet. And she didn’t have a problem with waiting until next month for my move-in.
I saw the future upstairs neighbor last night. He told me the landlady had contacted him to ask if he had any issues with her allowing me to bring two dogs. He told her he didn’t, so that was cool of her to ask before changing the one-dog rule on my behalf.
I do intend to give the place a thorough look over prior to moving in. The unit is only a couple of years old so I don’t anticipate any structural issues. On my brief walk-through while it was still occupied I noticed the sliding closet doors were askew, so I’ll be making a list of repairs like that for sure.
Onward!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/May/2021 @ 7:02 am