Comments Posted By John McCrarey
Displaying 721 To 750 Of 6,593 Comments
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
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
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
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
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
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
Kevin, that blind spot does lead to some dangling conversations, that’s for sure. Anyway, I see what you are saying now, but I can’t promise I will tomorrow.
I read the post you linked this morning and saw in the comments that mistakes like mine are both stupid and offensive. My sincere apologies!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2025 @ 8:26 am
Brian, I tried to jump through those retirement visa hoops when I first arrived here in the PI and finally said, fuck it, and went the tourist visa route. People I know since then have used an agent and had no problems. So, if push comes to shove, I’ll go that route.
I’ve read some horror stories from Thailand about guys making that visa run and being denied re-entry. What a nightmare. The tourist visa here is pretty straightforward, 30 days free on arrival. Then a 29-day extension. After that, you can renew every 60 days for a fee and keep doing so for three years, then you have to leave the country. When you return, the process starts over. They just raised the price for a 60-day extension from 3000 to 4000. Oh well, that’s the price you pay for a life in “paradise.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2025 @ 8:21 am
Kevin, sorry to leave you dangling…
How about: Despite being an RSL member, I’ve only attended twice this year.
Or maybe: It was only the second time I’ve attended this year, despite being a member.
At least I got the commas right, right?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2025 @ 3:08 pm
Kevin, I remember it now, and it was nice to re-read your review. I still haven’t seen it, though I’d like to.
Sorry, I can’t spot the error in that sentence. Help a friend out, please.
Yeah, I get a little wobbly at altitude. I can do a rickety bridge when the fall won’t hurt me, but high above the river makes me just wade across.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2025 @ 9:24 am
Brian, it is like that time I asked a Filipina what the first thing was that attracted her to me. She blushed and said, “Well, to be honest, it was the bulge in your pants.” I smiled and looked proudly at my crotch. She said, “No, not that one,” and pointed at my wallet.
I’ve heard about that visa situation in Thailand and how some long-term visitors are getting screwed. Nothing like that is going on here, at least not yet. They are actually making it easier to get the retirement visa (lowered age). Whether they will make it harder for 8-year tourists like me remains to be seen. I hope not!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2025 @ 9:18 am
Terry, Thanks for the update. Hopefully, the malware issues have finally been resolved. Being 81 is quite the accomplishment on its own…being 81 and going to the gym seems like a superpower. Well done!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2025 @ 9:12 am
Aloysis, no idea about Flano. Gum Leaves is now called Wombat and hosts a “male entertainment bar,” which, to my knowledge, no one goes to.
Haven’t heard anything about Mo’s final resting place or a memorial service. He was born in November and died a couple of days after his 84th birthday. Just so you know, the bars were a hobby for Dave. He retired rich after a career in medicine and as an executive with the Siemens company in Germany.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2025 @ 3:17 pm
Kevin, I’d say more of a Frank Sinatra…I do the Hash My Way. For me, I want to enjoy my hikes, and I try to stay within my limits. That’s how I keep it fun.
Yes, I think I could do a 20K-a-day trek, provided I had somewhere to take comfort (and have a beer or two) when the hike was over. It could happen!
HaHa! I didn’t pay much attention to the AI graphic in that meme. I come for the punchlines! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2025 @ 1:43 pm
Terry, I’m not sure about the white woman, other than she does stand out in a crowd of Filipinas. She was a Hash virgin this week, and I noticed her in photos of a weekend running event, so maybe she’s a tourist.
SiteLock does a daily scan and keeps finding and removing malware. As of this morning, I’m supposed to be clean again. We’ll see how long that lasts. Thanks for sticking with me while we get this sorted.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2025 @ 9:47 am
Kevin, nope, Swan is not a runner. She’s actually not that fast a walker either. I was surprised that she wanted to participate in this run, but I guess the peer pressure from her girlfriends got through to her. She said she enjoyed herself, so maybe there will be more in the future. I doubt she will be out running every morning to get better at it. She’ll just go when her friends do.
I don’t know about abseiling, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Some of the “normal” Corona Hashes have rope-assisted climbs and descents. Good luck to them on this one, but I know my limits.
Welcome back and congrats on another successful Kevin’s Walk! I’ve got the postmortem read on my to-do list!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/November/2025 @ 8:58 am
Brian, yes, my understanding is that Dave was one of the original bar owners in Nana Plaza. What an extraordinary life he lived.
Well, funny thing is that was the first time Swan had done a run like that. Different than our hikes, it was an organized event. She got coerced into participating with her girl gang, but wound up enjoying the experience. I was not going to go out at four in the morning and stand around while they did their thing. It was a girls only event.
You know, it’s been so long since I have used American money that I hadn’t really thought about the ramifications of “rounding” the change. Even here, I hate coins. We have a jar at home we dump them in, and Swan will cash them in at Christmas time to use for our charity feeding.
If the Subic to Angeles hike were on or near pavement, I’d consider joining in and going at my own pace. These hard asses are taking an over-the-mountain route and have specified there will be “no concrete.” At this stage of my life, a hard hike followed by camping and sleeping on the ground is a definite no-go.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/November/2025 @ 8:49 am
«« Back To Stats PageKevin, well, whatever comes next is unlikely to be as good as what once was.
From the roof, I have a clear view to the West, and a lesser view to the North. I don’t recall any sunrise photos because my house faces in the wrong direction.
I doubt I’ll be ordering a beer in French anytime soon. I do occasionally order in Spanish or Korean just to fuck with my waitress.
As Dave himself used to say, “Don’t take life too seriously. You’re not getting out alive anyway.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2025 @ 10:27 am