Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brandon, I use Wise now to transfer money from my US bank account to pay my landlord and helper. Yesterday, Swan set up an account (in her name since I’m not eligible) with an ATM card for me to use. Transferred some money and made a withdrawal today. And yeah, it was free compared to the 250 pesos I paid on ATM withdrawals from the USA.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/September/2025 @ 2:15 pm
Brian, I started the SSRV process when I first moved here, but jumping through the bearurcratic hoops wore me out and I gave up. Might try again someday with a “fixer” to do the heavy lifting, but I’m okay being a tourist for now.
As a matter of fact, that’s the method I use to pay Swan’s allowance. It’s easy using Wise transfer service. Yesterday Swan opened a new account in her name, but I will use it for moving my money from my US account. The best thing about it is the local ATM card is free to use, my foreign card got charged 250 pesos a pop. Did my first withdrawal this morning and it worked like a charm.
I’m going to stay in-country until the January trip to Vietnam. The only problem with a Korea visit (besides the sad memories of what was and was not to be) is that Swan would need a visa, which isn’t that easy for a Filipina.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/September/2025 @ 2:10 pm
Brian, good to know. Thanks for the link. Sounds like it could come in handy.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/September/2025 @ 9:41 am
Brian, ah, okay. I wasn’t familiar with that app. Sounds way cool, but I doubt many Hashers here would use it. Do you need a connection for it to work? Some of those rural areas have spotty coverage?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/September/2025 @ 2:12 pm
Kevin, yeah, I took poetic license calling that a branch. It is a fallen tree, so it has numerous branches.
Yes, it is nice that Swan and I share some mutual interests. I really enjoy having a hiking partner. I am also happy that she is my drinking companion. I smiled to myself at IDM on Monday when SWAN bought all the girls a lady drink. A chip off the old block!
Nope, not too interested in showering outside. I’ll just have to tough it out with cold water buckets, supplemented by the occasional hotel room. It’s funny, one of the neighbors posted a link to that “solar shower,” but said he wasn’t getting one.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2025 @ 1:58 pm
Dr. Greg, a tank is a good thing…for a day or two, but not for weeks of no water. I’ll try not to stink too bad but taking sponge baths and suffering cold buckets of water over the head. I’m also thinking this is a good excuse to get the hell out of town some.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2025 @ 1:54 pm
Aaron, a water tank is good for a short outage, but when there is no water for weeks, the tanks can’t fill the void. My neighbor told me his tank is already almost empty after two days.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2025 @ 1:51 pm
Brian, well I often see a map of the trail before hand, but that’s pretty useless when you are on a narrow dirt path and come to a junction, the maps are not detailed enough to follow precisely. When I Hare, I always try and mark any intersection so there is no question about which was to proceed. A well-marked trail is fun and easy to follow.
Heh, you’ve seen how I look, so no, I have no knowledge of fitness facilities around town. My plan now is to get used to sponge bathing, rent a hotel room every few days, and/or go out of town for a bit.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2025 @ 1:50 pm
Gary, I am what I am and that’s all that I am. Maybe I should eat some spinach.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/September/2025 @ 1:45 pm
Kevin, I might have to look into one of those sun showers. Just heard water service may not be restored for two to four weeks! WTF!
Thanks for the tutorial, I’m glad you haven’t given up on me!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/September/2025 @ 3:59 pm
Out and about in the City of Angels
Kevin, as of now, I plan to go back in October for the Angeles City Hash House Harriers anniversary run.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/September/2025 @ 7:57 am
Kevin, Old food with a new name is about as adventurous as I get when it comes to dining. I got tired just reading about your Spätzli creation.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:00 pm
Greetings to you, Cherry. Nope, never thought of the ocean as a soup, but I understand it is full of vitamin sea. Having seen what’s in the water around here, I would not want to drink it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:26 pm
Brian, Kevin solved the mystery. Once you see it, it seems obvious.
Heh, I can remember when I thought people in their 30s were old. I never thought I’d make it this far in life, but I’m still enjoying the ride!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:24 pm
Kevin, I thought the Noelle joke was as easy to get as a-b-c.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:22 pm
Nice to hear from you again, Thompson. I was wondering how things were with you. Sorry to hear how sucky life has become. This too shall pass, hopefully.
Next time you have some spare coin, pick up a proper tobacco pipe. Back in the day, I puffed my nicotine fix that way. I’ve never had to deal with the withdrawal symptoms you describe. I’m doubtful I could handle that. Good luck with your recovery.
Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.
Hunter S. Thompson» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:20 pm
Yvon, nope, not the same Gary. You’ve pretty accurately described my hiking buddy though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:02 pm
Gary, I honestly have no idea who you are other than your comments. If we’ve met, I didn’t make the connection.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/September/2025 @ 6:01 pm
Thanks, Bruce.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/September/2025 @ 5:54 pm
Sorry, Gary. No offense intended. I just don’t want my comments filled with people attacking each other instead of me. Your comment today is just fine.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/September/2025 @ 6:06 pm
Kevin, you’ve put a lot more thought into “bilboing” than I did. I was honestly just trying to make a pun about the bag hopping, but I couldn’t find a way to make “bag ins” work. Gary has a bit of a Hobbit look about him, so Bilbo it was. Probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use a verbified proper noun.
Hmm, how about: “I got raped last night by a female hobbit pretending to be a man. I got Bilboed.”
We’ll see how those tacos turn out next week. I suspect they were unprepared in the kitchen for such a busy night and might not have cooked them as long as they usually would.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/September/2025 @ 6:04 pm
Kevin, “Bilboing” is the art of hopping from bag to bag. A rarely heard term because I just made it up.
Funny, I noticed that the shells were darker, too. Oddly enough, Swan complained that the shells were “too soft.” I guess the old way spoiled her. It didn’t stop her from eating them, though.
I’m not familiar with Catholic or Filipino religious rituals, but I’d never seen food left for a dead person. At some of the makeshift shrines in Thailand, I noticed people would leave cans of soda and the like for the deity.
The helper’s name is Gina, and so far, so good.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/September/2025 @ 10:30 am
UPDATE: I’ve decided that second Koko/Coco comment was more likely than not AI generated, so I’ve deleted it.
Also, I’ve edited two comments to remove personal attacks against another commenter (you both know who you are). You can say what you want about me and what I post, but leave the other commenters alone; this ain’t a pissing contest.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/September/2025 @ 6:33 am
Readers: I’m wondering if this Koko/Coco person is actually AI. What are your thoughts?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/September/2025 @ 4:50 pm
(I tried to send the below response as an email, but Koko/Coco’s email address is as fake as he/she is.)
Hello, Koko/Coco or whoever the hell you are. I’m writing because I’m curious what your game is. We both know I’ve never met you. I have never lived in Angeles City and I’ve never been in a bar named Club Adonis. If you were truly a blog reader, you would know that I have a live-in girlfriend and we have been together for a long time.
I assume you are trying to make a joke with your comments, or maybe you think I’ll be embarrassed by your implying I’m gay or into baklas. If you truly knew me, you’d know neither of those things is true. I don’t judge people based on their sexuality because I think we should all live the lives we choose. I’m a straight old man.
Again, I would love to hear what you are up to and what your intentions may be.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/September/2025 @ 4:47 pm
KoKo/Coco, Sorry, but it is not me you are looking for. I don’t know anyone named Koko or Coco and have never been in a bakla bar in Angeles City.
Whenever a bakla says, “let’s get something straight between us,” I run the other way.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/September/2025 @ 9:40 am
Gary, fake news. I don’t know any Coco/Koko and have never been in a bakla bar in Angeles City.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/September/2025 @ 9:37 am
Kevin, it’s been thirteen years since my last viewing of BSG, so I may need a refresher. It’s a good thing you are not on X and being subjected to the stupidity Stephen King is posting these days. Poor guy has a serious case of BDS.
I picked up on the shrine similarities as well. That one honoring Mary was like the homemade ones I saw all over in Thailand.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/September/2025 @ 9:39 am
Boba, thank you for the feedback.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/September/2025 @ 9:34 am
«« Back To Stats PageWelcome back, Drain. I don’t know what Swan does with her money and I honestly don’t care. I *think* she helps some of her nieces with school expenses, but otherwise, I believe she is frugal with her allowance. Anyway, she has limited resources, so it’s not like anyone will be expecting the “rich” foreigner to step in and save the day. At least they haven’t so far. I have my own “White Knight” projects, so I don’t mind missing out.
Even before I moved her, my plan was always to give my significant other her own (limited) money. If she chooses to spend that on family, that’s up to her. Just don’t come asking me for more. That’s worked so far.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/September/2025 @ 4:25 pm