Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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All around Siargao

Kevin, yep, spelling Siargao correctly comes naturally now. Unlike that bitch Paraluman.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2025 @ 10:13 am

Brian, yeah, the problem starts with the lack of planning and resources before the move. I have heard stories of guys being scammed out of everything they have, but then, that’s just another kind of stupid.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2025 @ 9:36 am

Kevin, re-reading that Bukowski meme just now, the only problem I see is with the capitalization. I also don’t like using the “&” symbol, but I guess there is nothing technically wrong with doing so.

Jeff did all the driving. I’m not licensed, so I didn’t help.

Okay, maybe the shorts thing is just an excuse. I’m not that into swimming is the more honest answer. I’ll wade when circumstances require me to.

I asked Chris if he and Dr. Jo would eventually relocate to Siargao, and he said they would not. Chris comes often for surfing anyway, so I guess he’ll be a part-time owner at the brewery.

Yeah, I noticed the missing daughters in that second panel, too. Sad, because Dad jokes are a blessing!

As I reported in today’s post, the barhop was a flop.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2025 @ 5:55 pm

Turbo, I’d leave the hole in the wall. That’s the stuff of memories. Enjoy your vodka!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2025 @ 5:38 pm

Nothing like being on Cloud 9

Aloysius, the attraction was the nice signage. We stopped by there last night, but left. No one there, chairs still leaning on the tables. Must be a late-night venue, and I don’t do late nights.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 10:20 am

Kevin, after yesterday’s end-to-end drive around, I can confirm that this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. In addition to the wonderful landscape, there is almost no litter anywhere, the roads are well-maintained, and there isn’t much traffic. I fear that upon my return to Barretto, its flaws will be all the more noticeable.

I hadn’t even noticed that green stuff on the “fresh fish” photo. Looks chunkier than the chimichurri in the post you linked. Didn’t Mary Poppins sing about that stuff?

I don’t see an octopus, but then, the whole thing looked like an aberration, even in person.

If I ever get that drunk, I probably won’t want to remember!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 10:16 am

Surf City, here I am

Kevin, you know me, I’m commatose. Still, that one should have been obvious. I think what threw me off was that it was the post title. Lame excuse, but that’s all I’ve got.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 10:18 am

Kevin, nope, didn’t catch your error. Must be my forgiving nature. 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 9:54 am

Kevin, man, that repeated misspelling of SIARGAO was bad, even by my low standards. I’m pretty sure I mispronounce the name, too. Anyway, I’ve fixed the problem for good this time. I took your advice about sounding out SI (yes in Spanish) and AR (are I gonna get it right this time?) as I type the word. I also added Siargao to my spellchecker dictionary.

Haven’t seen any tigers or people dressed like Muslims yet, so we ought to be good. I’m more worried about those cannibals feasting on old folks like me.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2025 @ 6:33 am

Kevin, that comma I just added?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2025 @ 6:23 am

A night in the city

Drain, I didn’t even know Rockwell was a thing until this visit. All I hear about is Makati and BGC. But yeah, you don’t have to walk far from anywhere to get back to the real Philippines.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 9:58 am

Thanks, Brandon. Things got a little fuzzy as the night went on. I don’t remember my own name half the time…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2025 @ 6:22 am

Aloysius, nope, didn’t make Cathouse. We had our gals with us, and judging by the name, it may not have been a good fit.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 5:04 pm

Kevin, it should be SIARGAO, but I’m a dunce and my fingers like the other way for some reason.

Yeah, the people who rave about Makati and BGC say it is like living in the West. Except I didn’t move here for that vanilla experience. There are lots of irritations living in the “real” Philippines, but I’ll take them and embrace the life for what it is. And yeah, I’m speaking from the perspective of my big house in a gated subdivision, but that’s close enough to see (and hear) the real world.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 5:03 pm

Greetings from Manila

Turbo, thanks for your support! Sounds like you’ve mastered the art of overindulgence. Well done!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 7:53 am

Kevin, the odds of my reading any book these days are about the same as the odds of me losing that gorilla belly.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 7:51 am

How it went

Kevin, I do think you read more into that photo than I intended. 🙂

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 7:54 am

Kevin, now, now. I said it’s not the view I come for, I didn’t say I don’t appreciate a pleasant surprise now and then.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2025 @ 8:07 am

Turbo, Bukowski is my hero! Both of us are former postal workers and shared a love of bar life.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2025 @ 8:05 am

A surfer’s dream

Kevin, yes, it occurred to me after I posted my reply that you understood the meaning of “burgasm.” Whoever came up with the name of the place and that slogan has a great sense of humor!

Yeah, but bite-sized pieces of the hike don’t achieve the goal of doing a real long-distance walk. Plus, it is mostly on the highway, so small chunks would just add to the misery. Better to get it over and done with in one day. We’ll see what the future brings.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2025 @ 8:16 am

Aloysius, Dave had nothing to do with that fire, other than owning the building. Dave was an unsung hero in the community, helping those in need. If respecting the man and all his accomplishments makes me a simp, I’m proud to be one.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2025 @ 8:11 am

Kevin, “burgasm” is just a play on words. Those Burgasmic burgers are so good your mouth will have an orgasm. Or so they claim.

Honestly, that 29K hike seems more and more like a dream. I’ve been feeling the aches and pains in my legs that come with old age, and even that 7K flat walk left me tired and sore.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2025 @ 9:34 am

Thanks for that

Brian, as I understand it, the authorities do not pursue adultery charges absent a formal complaint from the spouse. I hear the reality is that only cheating wives are ever prosecuted.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2025 @ 9:51 am

Brian, I suppose if she lawyered up, she could try to make a case for a portion of my pension. I don’t think she’d he successful given the circumstances of her not being American or living in the USA. We’ve also been apart longer than we were married.

No, the Philippine adultery laws don’t apply to my situation. She’s not Filipino, and neither am I, so she has no grounds. As I understand it, a Filipino husband can bring charges if I was sleeping with his wife (even if they have been separated for years), but absent a complaint, the authorities have no basis for action.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 8:01 am

Kevin, nothing is stopping Jee Yeun from getting the divorce she said she wanted—no reason for me to do it. In fact, as long as I’m legally married, I get a tax break that saves me $1500 or so a year. During our time in the USA, Jee Yeun was really into the family scene, especially the grandkids. It really surprised me when she gave that life up. Anyway, it may not have been the most exciting life, but I was happy with it and more than willing to spice things up with trips out of town. I did my best, and in the end, it just wasn’t good enough for reasons I’ll never understand.

Yes, I meant Seoraksan. I just spelled it phonetically. I used to love those hikes.

I use Lazada regularly, but when I looked at their coconut offerings, I wasn’t sure it was what I was looking for. Next time I won’t wait so long to order a bag.

Alright, I *think* I’ll remember the hyphenation rule in the future…BEFORE the modified noun, not AFTER. Got it!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2025 @ 9:48 am

Kevin, I needed a semicolon instead of a comma in that first sentence. Just me being sloppy as usual.

I’m not sure about the phrasal adjective problem. Is it the hyphen?

The fruit salad tasted fine, but I wasn’t pleased with its appearance. I have to make do with the ingredients I can find. Back in the day, I’d use dried coconut that comes in bags, but that’s not available here for some reason. So, I had to use fresh-from-the-shell coconut (they call it “buko” Here) instead. The purpose of the coconut is to sweeten up the sour cream base somewhat, but alas, the stuff I used didn’t accomplish that. Swan suggested adding some canned sweetened condensed creamer, and that did the trick. The marshmallows, also intended to add sweetness, were larger than I liked and negatively impacted the salad aesthetically. Next time I’ll try to find a smaller version.

I met Jee Yeun when she was doing pedicures at a salon on the Army base. Our first dates were in Itaewon, and she was my shadow on dart nights. The other players jokingly complained about my having a cheerleader as an unfair advantage. I wasn’t a regular hiker back then, but we’d do occasional climbs up Seroksan and Namsan. We’d also get out of town together, visiting temples or taking trips to the East and West coasts. And, of course, after I retired, we lived six months of the year in South Carolina. And then, she decided not to go back to the States with me. She also stopped coming with me for darts in Itaewon. I never understood why, but tried to find ways to find alternative things to do she might enjoy. But in the end, I failed. “I no have happy life with you. I want divorce” were the words that stabbed my in the heart. Honestly, I’ve never gotten over it.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2025 @ 10:25 am

Brian, maybe it comes with growing older, but I find comfort, peace, and tranquility in my routines. Then again, most of us spend a lifetime doing the “8 to 5” daily routine, so maybe being lazy in retirement is a benefit. That said, I do enjoy a change of scenery now and then. I’m looking forward to next week’s adventure in a place I’ve never been: Siargao Island.

Anyway, I plan to get out of town at least once a month and do something different to keep life interesting. I’m satisfied with the lifestyle I’ve chosen, which admittedly, isn’t for everyone. I hope to keep it going for as long as possible.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2025 @ 9:48 am

Devin, I don’t know you, and you obviously don’t know me. I’ve never posted anything about Ukraine, so this comment is total bullshit. I’ve been blogging for over 20 years now, and this is the first time I’ve felt compelled to tell a commenter: FUCK OFF YOU CUNT!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2025 @ 9:40 am

Walking through a Wednesday

QP, as far as I know, Dragon Hill Lodge is still operational. I’ve been gone for seven years now, but I understood some small units associated with the UNC would remain on Yongsan.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2025 @ 7:50 am

Kevin, yes, life on the mountain can be harsh. Maybe Onelia had his mother for dinner the night before.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2025 @ 8:11 am