Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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Step by step

Brian, yeah every time I walk outside I’m reminded of how lucky I am. And the landscape is pretty too! 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/December/2020 @ 6:38 am

Well, it has been said that a photo is worth a thousand steps.

Glad you liked it. Of course, using this format I can never do the same trail twice!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/December/2020 @ 6:24 am

Remember the Ringwraiths!

Hey Terry, looks like we were practically neighbors. I actually lived in Garden Grove from birth until age 5. I can’t imagine the difference between Korea in 1963 and the one you saw in 2013!

Thanks for the comment and for reading my humble blog.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/December/2020 @ 8:11 am

I thought Cosby’s most famous quote was “don’t worry, when you wake up in the morning you’ll forget I raped you”. Or something like that.

Yeah, the blog proved to be a useful reminder of things forgotten, that’s for sure. I’ve thought about someday going through and finding my favorite posts to publish as a memoir. Something to leave behind so my grandkids would know something about their mysterious grandfather. Maybe I better get started before I forget!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/December/2020 @ 8:06 am

Take the high ground

Hey, Harry. Sorry to hear about your Hash. Our only problem is finding On-Home venues. Our former places aren’t willing to have a big group like ours back yet. But the good news for you is that the dive shops are again operating. Just last night I watched the Mango’s dive boat come in and drop off several divers. We’ll have to meet up next time you are in town!

Jerry, I’m hoping this is just a flare-up of my COPD causing the shortness of breath and I’ll get back to “normal” soon. The gal you fancy is Penis Colada. She’s married to a guy from Wales and actually lives in my neighborhood. No snow to report from here.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/December/2020 @ 7:03 am

Good eye, Kevin. Yes, Wendy (Black and Dick Her) told me that her father whom she never knew, was African-American. Probably a sailor passing through in the old Navy days. However, there are native people here called Aeta that are dark-skinned:

“Aeta is pronounced “Eye Ta.” They are indigenous and their ancestors were the aborigines from Australia. There was a consensus from anthropologists that they migrated from the island of Borneo about 30 thousand years ago using a land bridge that was partially covered by water 5,000 years ago.”

It’s an interesting question concerning how darker folks fare here. As an outsider, I’ve not noticed any overt color discrimination. But the high-class moneyed folks and people you see on TV are almost exclusively fair-skinned and of Spanish or Chinese ancestry. You see ads for skin whitening cream everywhere and a lot of Filipinas carry umbrellas to avoid sunlight. One female Hasher told me when she went to visit her mother she was chastised for her dark appearance and told she looks like “a province girl”. It’s funny to witness this in a way–back home gals pay to go to a tanning salon. Here, calling a gal “negra” is an insult. Oh well. To me, brown is beautiful!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/December/2020 @ 6:57 am

E mansion nation

I noticed those too but never tried one. The cakes here tend to be more American-tasting than the Korean version.

Oddly enough, I never fantasize about a larger house. I’ve got more space than I need now. If I could get the same view and convenience in something smaller I might go that route.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/December/2020 @ 6:38 am

The way it is

Good suggestion, Harry.

Long and hard, just the way the gals like it! Hopefully, this is just a passing flareup with the lungs.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2020 @ 5:43 pm

What a spectacle

I think in the second photo you are seeing the bottom and the side view after slicing. It’s hard to brown the top in my experience without overcooking.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2020 @ 7:26 am

The kids are alright

Hey, puns need love too! I fancy myself a cunning linguist.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/December/2020 @ 5:04 am

But that was yesterday…

That’s hilarious, Brian. I’m actually quite impressed that you are watching old episodes of Dick Van Dyke. Damn, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen that show. May have to go see if I can find it.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2020 @ 6:10 am

Yeah, Brian, I agree. A bit of an overreaction because I was still pissed when I wrote this post. Tonight when I came home they had moved the karaoke to the vacant house next door. That works for me (I couldn’t hear it from the upstairs bedroom), Not sure how they came to that decision to sing elsewhere, my helper denies saying anything to them and I hadn’t yet. I must have been putting out some seriously negative vibes!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/December/2020 @ 5:02 am

Soju, well as a matter of fact I was referencing a song with that title, but I guess you ain’t old enough to get the reference. You’ve probably never even heard of Chad and Jeremy. I should thank you because I went and listened to it again to find this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqEG0a_FOE

It’s a nice song!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/December/2020 @ 8:56 pm

Kev, Yep, sometimes the loser’s bracket is nice because you don’t have as much waiting around time between matches. That doesn’t counter the advantage of making the championship in the winners bracket–then your opponent has to beat you twice to prevail.

James, yeah. It was quiet here last night. Seriously, before I’d move I’d just tell them the karaoke goes or you do. The widow is a nice woman and her family is friendly and all, it just seems strange to have several people residing in what amounts to a small room. It has a toilet, small fridge, and a burner stove. We’ll see how that goes. I guess technically the widow is my employee now. When her husband died the landlord heartlessly cut the pay. So, I help fill the gap. She does work hard around the complex.

Alta Vista is really the only gated community within Barretto and I do like the elevation–nice view and no flooding. So, if I do ever decide to move I’d probably look for another place here.

And yes, you are correct I don’t believe I would enjoy being assimilated into the culture. I get invites to join in the singing and drinking but almost always decline…it’s just not my thing..

» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/December/2020 @ 7:21 am

Fee? Ask Ko!

Kev, Well, when you are on familiar turf it is not a big concern. But sometimes we are out in places that I might struggle to find a way out and potentially be lost. The only time I get pissed is if I feel like the Hare has put me in danger.

Brian, chili first thing to go. One gal even ordered a bowl for takeout for her husband, which I took as a compliment.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/December/2020 @ 6:27 am

Erections

Soju, the prices I’ve seen are around $250,000 and up. Surprisingly, I’d guess that 50% of the new construction is Filipinos and the rest foreigners. There’s definitely a rich/poor disparity, but there are plenty of monied Filipinos. The 1% if you will.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/December/2020 @ 10:19 am

Wow. Good tip! Definitely going to try that next batch.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/December/2020 @ 8:25 am

Kev, yes onion was minced to my maximum capability with a knife and slow-cooked for the duration. You might have approved then! I’ll have to try that beer ingredient and I’ll look for chipotle, although I doubt I’ll find it at Royal. I deep brown ALL the beef before placing it in the crockpot; that’s okay, right?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/December/2020 @ 5:51 am

James, most of the houses around here are surrounded by walls, I assume as a security measure. That’s why my place without them was such an easy target when I got robbed. I doubt the hiking paths are a big consideration, there’s always a way to walk around. Although there has been talk of fencing in the entire subdivision to keep people out.

Kev, I’ve not seen the inside of the big house but yeah, it seems the only view they want to see is the good one. Hard to blame them. The chili was the first to sell out and I got lots of compliments although my taste test found it a bit bland. You only say it looks good because you couldn’t see the onions I cooked into it…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/December/2020 @ 5:12 am

And then it was Sunday

Thanks, guys. Your comments brighten my day!

Brian, wise words. There’s always another bridge to cross and a hill to climb. And I do need to remind myself sometimes that life is the journey, not the destination.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/December/2020 @ 6:51 am

The Lord works in mysterious ways

Yeah, I was actually unclear of her intentions when we left. She asked how long was the hike and I said a couple of hours. She wanted more time with me than that. Hmm. Lunch? A motel room? Of course, we did neither and I was fine with that. I knew I wasn’t going to make any moves on her and honestly hoped I could resist any advances from her. They never came so I’ll consider myself blessed.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/December/2020 @ 7:16 am

I hate when that happens

Soju, If the shoe fits, I wear it!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/December/2020 @ 5:55 pm

Heh, you don’t miss a detail, do you? I hadn’t noticed that at all. But no, the scorekeeper was a sweet little Filipina. I think she is the youngest one in the bar at 22 or so and rumor has it that she is a cherry girl. Actually, her overall penmanship appears quite nice.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/December/2020 @ 6:46 am

Light up my life

Naw, they did it last year too. I wouldn’t be bothered myself, but if it makes them happy no biggie. Of course, I sprang for the lights.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2020 @ 2:58 pm

I’m stumped

I’ve driven most of Skyline Drive but that was back in my pre-hiking days. As you noted, often a rock face has better traction than soil, especially on a grade. That said, I still take it slow and easy. In lots of places, I still have to cling and climb down dropoffs. I’m pretty sure I know exactly where another Hasher fell on Monday requiring 8 stitches. I just got a scratch and I was going uphill. Need to keep my eyes on the trail and stop walking when I take in the view…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2020 @ 7:29 am

Imperata cylindrica

Good to know, Brandon. Thanks!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2020 @ 9:50 am

So now what?

Nothing gets by you, does it? I hadn’t noticed the spelling on capsules until you pointed it out.

Glad you liked the joke too.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2020 @ 6:19 am

The future is now

Yes, it will satisfice…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2020 @ 6:56 am

A feast amongst friends

Thanks, Kev. The only credit I get for the turkey is buying it. I had planned to oven roast, but Ed has a method where he cooks it on his charcoal grill. Came out great!

As to the belly, wearing a baggy shirt helps hide it. I did lose a few pounds, not sure it came off the midsection though. Sunday is weigh-in day so we’ll see how much damage this week has done!

Jerry, glad your family members are recovering. Life here gets a little closer to normal every day and we haven’t seen the spike in cases you are experiencing. Saw that In and Out story on the internet–people must really be bored there! Stay safe.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2020 @ 6:36 am

Thanks for that!

Kev, yeah that was a typo I missed when I did a quick proofread. One quirky people do say (well, write anyway) is “have a new day!” as a morning. I’ve responded yeah, it’s new alright but that seems to go over their head. Thanks for the blender tip, next time I won’t make an impulse buy.

Brian, scary to be left in a pool of blood like that!

Yeah, it wasn’t artfully worded. You said it better, Black Rock features unique 360-degree views.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2020 @ 7:16 am