Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Kevin, re-reading those sentences you cited, I would say they could all be better written, but the two most egregious are #1 and #4. I don’t recall the proper terminology, but the problem is using “and” to join what are two complete sentences. I could/should have said:
Then it was on to the SM Mall next door. The department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair.
We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers). They put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down.
Some blood was spilled on the trail. I’ll post the details later today.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/October/2025 @ 9:40 am
Take it to the limit one more time
Kevin, yes, I get passed all the time by the “long trail” crew, even when I shortcut.
Hash attendance is pretty standard from the locals, but anniversary events bring in folks from other Hashes as a show of support. That’s why I’ll be joining the fun in La Union this weekend.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/October/2025 @ 10:15 am
Kevin, Hmm. If I had to re-write that sentence now after thinking about it, I’d say, “Turns out she hanged herself.” Is that better?
I’m left wondering if Whitley committed suicide by alcohol intentionally. What a wasted life.
Yeah, I’ll ask the doc about doing some lung capacity tests, assuming they are available at the local hospital.
Between a corrupt government and a culture ingrained with poverty, it’s going to be hard for the people to find an escape from the cycle. This is a country rich in natural resources, it’s sad the economy is not booming. I feel for Tom and have heard that scenario from others. When you are perceived as being a rich foreigner, people begging for handouts is a fact of life around here. I still get besieged by beggar bargirls I’m barely acquainted with, but I’ve gotten much better at ignoring them.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2025 @ 3:56 pm
Brain, yes, Stick and his unique insights will be missed. And that’s what he said, just too difficult to keep it up without actually being there. Maybe they’ll find someone to replace him, but I doubt it.
Stephen King has a distinctive writer’s voice, but even the best miss the mark sometimes. I think his earlier stuff was better, but maybe I had a different perspective back then. I still can recite this (writing this from memory now):
“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them — words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they’re brought out. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That’s the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.”
(Okay, I got it mostly right, but wanted to share it exactly like King wrote it, so I did a cut and paste.)I like your one-eye joke better than the one I posted Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, it is sad to see someone lose their life in such a foolish way. Not that I’m one to talk. I was a lot wilder in my younger years but I got lucky and never OD’d or killed myself doing something stupid while drugged up or intoxicated.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2025 @ 3:43 pm
Kevin, yeah, but trying is easier said than done. Honestly, I take the tests primarily as a measure of where I am. I don’t expect to get better. Still, if I can get a “C,” I’ll take it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2025 @ 10:35 am
Matthew, luckily, they are not all Fleeders. And you have to be brown to be an LBFM. Gotta take the good with the bad.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/October/2025 @ 2:03 pm
Kevin, it is what it is, whether we like it or not.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/October/2025 @ 2:01 pm
Cat, Swan is one of the most honest people I’ve ever met.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2025 @ 3:03 pm
Brian, nope, no lady drinks at Central Park, but I don’t consider those as an expense; it’s a form of charity. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Yeah, I hate inhaling smoke from a leaf pile; burning garbage is infinitely worse. And then the sky reminds me of growing up in the smog of Southern Cal. Of course, what they don’t burn winds up in the river, and then on the beach. And as you say, the locals don’t care.
Well, I was arguing with the nephew about politics, so that sucks in any language. I’m a lot calmer these days.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2025 @ 9:39 am
Other than the comma issues, my correction was pretty good. 🙂
Yeah, I think I’m a lost cause when it comes to punctuation. Still, my grammar is better than my math.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2025 @ 9:51 am
Kevin, I do appreciate your efforts, but the only clause I know is Santa.
And, the only words I know to describe a clause are the ones you taught me. (I think that saves me from a plagiarism charge.)
clause: a group of words with a subject and a related predicate
independent clause: a clause that stands on its own as a complete thought
dependent clause: a clause that cannot stand on its own as a complete thoughtWhat a timely lesson! My problem is remembering this an hour from now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2025 @ 9:46 am
Glad to hear you are still a reader, Thirsty. Yep, things have mellowed out quite a bit recently. That’s why I’m enjoying reliving those “wild days” in Itaewon via the LTG archives.
Nice to hear from you again!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2025 @ 10:27 am
Kevin, it needs more of a total rewrite than a proofread, but here’s my fix to what is there:
“Good things come through times of sorrow.” I disagree with the sentiment, but the sentence seems correctly written.
“Love is share bonds are strenghered.” Yikes. Make it shared, add a ‘that’ after ‘bonds,’ and spell ‘strengthened’ correctly.
“Commitment renewed.” “Faith is stored.” I’m not sure how you can store faith. I’d make it one sentence: Commitment renewed, faith is restored.”
“Have faith that you are strong and you’ll get through this tough times.” Either use these before tough or make it a singular time.
“Better days are ahead..” You need another period in those ellipses…
Anyway, I may have missed something, but that’s my take.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2025 @ 10:24 am
Kevin, well, being smothered in liquid cheese isn’t standard fare for an enchilada, at least where I come from. That said, it was delicious!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2025 @ 9:53 am
Brian, yeah, having illogical groups in the mix made it a lot easier to identify the actual performer. Still, I knew the songs and groups well enough to have passed a non-multiple-choice test.
A big chair at a small bar is the perfect fit for that guy. Everyone there seems to like him, and he is generous with the gals, so good on him.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2025 @ 9:48 am
Brian, when I blacked out, it was an oxygen issue. Given how much water you imbibed, I wonder if the problem was dehydration. Maybe you should consult a doctor to be sure.
Seriously, I’m so impressed with those distances you are able to walk. I don’t even have the balls to walk half that far.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2025 @ 9:51 am
Kevin, yes, he made it so hard on her.
The gal in the middle, Fast and Loose, is the fastest Hasher in our kennel, although Leech My Nuggets can give her a run for the money. The other two ladies are also impressive on the trail. They are always WAY ahead of me, but other than the steep climbs, I’m sure they are running.
Yeah, I don’t know all the details about the guy who died, but one of the Subic Hashers told me the guy didn’t have any water with him and that when he offered to share his, the offer was declined. I, too, hope that the girlfriend, Clam In A Cam, doesn’t feel responsible for what happened. He chose to participate, and the consequences are on him.
I don’t know much about the Pea’s personal story, but she’s been in the USA for some time now. Maybe she notices how much quieter it is there. People would be arrested back home for disturbing the peace if they made noise like they do here. Almost eight years later, I still find it shocking.
I listed the ingredients of Swan’s burrito in the response to Brian’s comment.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/October/2025 @ 9:02 am
Brian, Wow! 42K is definitely Kim-like impressive. Dehydration is a funny thing; it apparently hits you with little to no warning. I always carry water with me, but I don’t always drink it. Maybe I need to start drinking some at regular intervals. Anyway, I’m glad you didn’t suffer any damage. I had a bar blackout once (no, I wasn’t drunk either) and wound up with stitches in my head.
I’ll defer to the experts on what distinguishes a wrap from a burrito. I know my “burritos” are more like soft
tacos. Anyway, Swan tells me this is what she puts in her burrito:longanisa (Filipino sausage)
sweet corn
rice
lettuce
tomato
onion
cheese
Spanish paprika
burrito seasoning mix» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/October/2025 @ 8:48 am
Kevin, yep, I can’t pretend I’m still thirty anymore.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2025 @ 4:53 pm
Kevin, thanks for the helpful advice and encouragement. My physical health is okay for the most part, as far as I know. Turning 70 brought with it some mental challenges associated with accepting that I’ve turned the page to the final chapter of my life. So, I need to do what I can to make it a LONG chapter.
I’m blessed not to have the lung/breathing issues I suffered last year, but I’m thinking I’ll schedule a check-up with the pulmonary doc again to try to nip any potential issues in the bud.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2025 @ 10:12 am
Kiss, I never paid Joy for sex. As far as I know, she doesn’t do barfines. She has put on some weight over the years, I’ll grant you that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/October/2025 @ 11:08 am
Kevin, yes, the PI is located in the Ring of Fire. I just want to avoid falling into it like Johnny Cash did.
I’ve been surprised that John’s has maintained the overall food quality so far. But service, not so much. I used to enjoy sitting upstairs in the open-air “bar” area, but without a waitress stationed there, it was a pain to get properly taken care of. So, now we dine on the main level, but they can’t seem to keep a waitress employed there either. The fact that food items are “out of stock” appears to be another indicator that things are not going well. I think another year of business is optimistic.
Well, Joy has been putting on the weight, but I hadn’t really paid any attention to her belly. She already has two kids, but I don’t know if she has a boyfriend. I honestly don’t care either way.
Yes, that was a ladyboy encounter in Pattaya. I don’t know if she had been snipped or not; the subject didn’t *ahem* come up. Anyway, I recall her being very warm and friendly, and she gave me advice on what to look out for as a newbie in Pattaya. “Let’s get something straight between us.” Um, no thank you!
Didn’t win a damn thing last night, but the money I spent is for a good cause.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/October/2025 @ 11:07 am
Kevin, Ah, I see. Yes, I have the buttons, and I assumed my commenters did too. But on your blog, there are no easy shortcuts to comment, so I just don’t get bold there. 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2025 @ 4:38 pm
Kevin, thanks for that in-depth lesson. Not that it matters. 🙂 Of the correction options, I’d opt for the semicolon. Don’t ask me why; I just like the look of it somehow. I am resisting getting into the AI world, but I do find the opinions it expresses in response to your inquiries interesting to read. And best of all, I didn’t get smacked!
Yes, that’s a lesson learned the hard way. Although I suppose women of the night are expected to make things hard on you.
I don’t know what you mean by a “bad HTML tag,” but the original comment was in my moderation queue as well.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2025 @ 1:47 pm
Drain, yeah, I get it that a bar with dancers will play music the girls can dance to, but those aren’t the bars I hang out in anyway. That disco crap is shit, but when it’s played so loud you can’t talk to someone next to you, I’m outta there.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2025 @ 1:33 pm
Exactly, Drain. Some bars have me connect my Spotify playlist via Bluetooth. I’ve never had any complaints from other patrons about my classic rock mix.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2025 @ 3:52 pm
Kevin, regarding the water dispenser, you misunderstood. The bottled water is kept in the bottom of the dispenser instead of up top like my old one. We have the bottles delivered so that supply is unaffected when the water company lets us down.
Well, the bartender is what she is, and she showed me that. Still, she initiated an almost-apology, so I’m willing to accept that and move on. No point in carrying a grudge around. That said, I know what she thinks of me, and I won’t forget it in the future. I doubt I’ll ever be a regular customer again.
No, visiting those bars wasn’t punishment Zen. A rare evening out on my own, I thought I’d just check in to see if anything had changed since I crossed them off my list. As I reported, a couple of them had fixed what I didn’t like, but with so many choices available, there are always better options.
Reekay lives in Bohol, and a visit there is on my bucket list. When I finally make the trip, I might message him and see if he wants to meet up. I’m actually not that outgoing (I’m on the introvert side of the spectrum), but if he wants to join me for a beer, why not?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2025 @ 10:28 am
Brian, I think you are right that my early hours perspective might not reflect the true level of business in the bars over the course of the night. I guess I’ll never know! 🙂
Yes, I’ve known that bartender for years, and I’ve heard she can be a bitch sometimes. Anyway, I appreciate her wanting to put it behind us. I’ve always enjoyed the Cheap Charlies vibe (open-air, good music, nice views), but there are alternatives, and if they don’t have wine for Swan, I’ll go elsewhere.
That homeless guy going through the beer cases looking for a swig or two of beer is one of the more pathetic things I’ve seen around town. The really sad thing is that he was there when I walked by at 9:00 a.m. and still sipping away at 5:00. Guess it is a full-time job for him.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2025 @ 10:15 am
Glad that you still visit my humble blog, Nomad. Sorry it’s been a pain recently, but hopefully that’s all in the past. I need to do a better job of monitoring what’s happening behind the scenes. Thanks for letting me know the issues you encountered.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2025 @ 10:01 am
«« Back To Stats PageKevin, thanks for getting the AI assistance. It was very educational. Some are beyond my capabilities, but maintenance — such as monitoring and updating my plugins — is something I will pay more attention to in the future. I’ll also upgrade my SiteLock security.
Swan did make me that Filipino breakfast burrito, and it was yummy. I took a crappy photo that didn’t really capture its inner essence, but she bought the ingredients for another round, so I’ll try to do better with the camera this time.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2025 @ 9:58 am