Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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August, die she must

Kevin, I feel for Tom. It’s not always easy to say “no,” but once you’ve opened the door, you’ll be seen as that dreaded ATM you made a t-shirt about. Hey! Maybe you should get one of those for Tom to wear the next time he visits the PI.

Yeah, I need to remember to turn the flash on when I take a photo inside the bar. I’m sure Swan has some other spicy recipes up her sleeve. We’ll see.

I wound up doing the short trail. It was Pubic Head’s first Hash since his mini-stroke, and I wanted to hike with him for old times’ sake.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/September/2025 @ 2:17 pm

Daeguowl, I remember Kevin posting during one of his walks about a cute young woman he encountered on the trail. He didn’t say anything, but he checked her as she passed. That’s all I can think of…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/September/2025 @ 2:03 pm

That’s all there was

Kevin, when I was living in Korea, I was involved with a rescue kennel. By involved, I mean providing financial assistance to the woman doing all the real work involved. When I moved here, I noticed a real need for a shelter for strays, but in all these years, I’ve never seen one. Now, if someone wanted to open one and needed help financing the operation, I’d be all in. Doing the actual heavy lifting? Nope, not me.

So, yeah, seeing these animals suffering makes me sad, but I let nature take its course.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/September/2025 @ 8:50 am

The old way of doing things

Brian, Yes, the fantasy can’t stand up to the realities. I don’t have the energy to put in the time and effort required. Plus, I have low tolerance for drunken fools. I’d be creating my own enemies.

I wouldn’t mind setting Swan up with some way to earn money after I’m gone, but a bar ain’t it.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/September/2025 @ 1:23 pm

That bitch, Lilly, was a spider? Good to know!

My impression is that a lot of these guys getting into the bar business here have more money than sense, and they are more hobbyists than business-minded. Still, there is a transition taking place. Old-timers like Dave Fisher are selling out, and traditions like the SOB are dying on the vine. Anyway, I’ll still have my favorites, and that’s all I need.

I’m not sure what my problem is. My health is fine, probably better than it was ten years ago. For some reason, I just can’t shake this feeling of impending doom. Maybe that’s a good thing, I find myself living more in the moment and appreciating the life I have and the beauty that surrounds me. Whatever the future may bring, I have today.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/August/2025 @ 10:02 am

Brian, put the criminals in jail and get the crazies off the street (you noticed what all the latest mass shootings had in common, right?) and you won’t have to worry about gun violence. Gun laws are pretty much worthless (I am not opposed to background checks, however) because by definition, criminals don’t abide by the laws. There is nothing to be gained by disarming honest citizens.

That’s a good chicken joke; I’m stealing it!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/August/2025 @ 9:51 am

Keep on rockin’

Kevin, yeah, Swan did an amazing job putting that all together. I was truly honored.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/August/2025 @ 1:31 pm

Brian, It’s like being born again. Oh wait, maybe not.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/August/2025 @ 1:30 pm

Aaron, thanks, mate!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/August/2025 @ 1:29 pm

That 70s show

Thanks, Kevin. And welcome back to the comments. You’ve been missed! On the contrary, your comments add value and insights that also encourage others to weigh in. But I don’t want you to feel obligated, just do what you think best.

I intend to make my 70s as good as they can be. I honestly don’t feel much different than I did in my 50s, so here’s hoping I can maintain my health and energy.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/August/2025 @ 8:52 am

Terry, thanks for the feedback! I’m glad you enjoy the photos and I’ll try to keep them fresh and interesting going forward. Achieving 81 years is quite the feat and one I hope to emulate. Congrats!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/August/2025 @ 8:45 am

Brian, Teri has been with me from the beginning of my Philippine adventure. Her job was basically to make me life easy, and she did that well. Taking care of my meds, paying the bills, keeping the house clean, etc. Anyway, Swan will assume some of the tasks (prescriptions/bills) and the new hire will be more of a housekeeper. Don’t want Swan doing laundry when she could be out hiking with me!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/August/2025 @ 8:43 am

Staying alive

Good morning! I appreciate your continued readership, Terry. I’m not sure there is a way to jazz things up, given the mundane nature of the current lifestyle, but I am going to try to make things a little less boring around here. You may have noticed I don’t post as many photos from my walks lately. It’s hard to find anything new in my same-old, same-old world, but less of the old stuff you’ve seen countless times is a start.

If there is anything you’d enjoy reading more about, let me know.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2025 @ 7:49 am

It is what it was

Brian, I’m more concerned about America’s manufacturing being offshored than I am about call centers, but I understand the concept of MAEA (making Americans employed again). Sorry, couldn’t resist. As you say though, in the USA call center jobs would be near the minimum-wage level, while here in the PI they are relatively well-paying sought after positions. And yeah, AI will sooner or later put everyone out of work…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2025 @ 8:51 am

Words

Brian, I agree that most relationships have a transactional foundation. I don’t think there is anything wrong with fulfilling the needs of one another. Back in the states, women are attracted to healthy and handsome young men. Here in the PI many women find older men with financial stability to be the most attractive. In my view, that is less shallow than going for beauty and youth.

It took me a while, but I found a good one with Swan. She’s mature, smart, and organized. Loves to travel and has become a hiking enthusiast. She is also very generous by nature and looks for opportunities to do charity projects. She was in a stable relationship for seventeen years before death took her man away. I came along at the right time to fill that void. Her goal is to make me comfortable and keep me healthy for as long as possible, even if that means pushing a wheelchair and wiping my ass. Yeah, I got lucky!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2025 @ 9:43 am

Nuts and bolts

Brian, Well, the elephant in the room is that the antagonist in the story is a donkey (or should I say jackass) and as we all know, that symbolizes the Dimocrats. The shoe certainly fits the lefty doctrine of “it’s true because we say so” (like “a trans woman is a woman”). Anyway, ignorance being bliss and all, I’m sure they are living happy lives.

I must have missed hearing about Greg Kihn’s death. Damn, there ain’t no escaping it, is there?

» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/August/2025 @ 1:22 pm

Preppin’ for a party

Brian, other than being physically disabled, I don’t think the quality of life here could be worse than in the USA. Maybe if the money ran out, I’d be screwed, but that won’t happen unless Uncle Sam goes bankrupt. In that case, I’m fucked wherever I am (and so is everyone else).

» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/August/2025 @ 2:42 pm

Brian, hopefully, it will never come to having to make that choice, but I’m probably in the third group. I have no desire to return to the USA to die, even though I can afford to. Luckily, I have found a good local doctor to consult as needed, have found decent labs for testing (even if it requires some travel to Angeles), so prevention-wise, I’m covered. Major surgery here or a chronic condition would be a bit frightening, but what will be, will be.

Every day is a gift, but nothing lasts forever.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/August/2025 @ 8:42 am

Half it your way

Brian, if you are a Garth Brooks fan, then you must have friends in low places. Like me!

Thanks for the insights into Brooks’ history. I’d never heard that before. Are you sure the video I posted is a cover version? That’s the one I’ve always listened to.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2025 @ 2:18 pm

Running around

Brian, yes, he is a tad off-kilter but still better than the AI bullshit we’ve been invaded with. It’s getting harder and harder to find a video I can sit through these days.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/August/2025 @ 9:33 am

All by myself

Joe, thanks. I haven’t been keeping up with the changes in SSA law. I don’t have enough quarters to be eligible, and my legal wife is Korean, so that won’t help. Not that it matters, “double dipping” isn’t allowed, so if I drew a SS pension, my CSRS would be reduced.

I am still freaked out that the government knows my address in the Philippines!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/August/2025 @ 9:31 am

QP, she was fun to be with most of the time. In the end, she didn’t want to join me to live in a “poor country.” Her loss.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/August/2025 @ 8:37 am

Thirstday chores

Brian, yeah, funny how that works. I always spend more than I would otherwise when I have a “discount” incentive. Hmm.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/August/2025 @ 8:29 am

Puns don’t quit

Ya Kid, I’ll have to take you word for it, because I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/August/2025 @ 1:43 pm

About the rest of the day

Brian, Yeah, I have to be in the mood for Karaoke, and if I ain’t singing I don’t want to hear anyone else. That’s why the norebang in Korea is such a nice concept. Jumpin’ Jacks is going to do a private singing room thing. That’s the only one I’ve seen in the PI. Lots of videoke bars, but no private rooms. I hope it is the beginning of a trend.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/August/2025 @ 12:58 pm

Dock it!

Brian, for some reason, I’m just not into pools (heh). But yeah, a swim-up bar would most likely motivate me to dive in…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2025 @ 9:24 am

Doing it Sunday style

Settle down, boys. Let’s avoid personal attacks in the commenting please. Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one. So, no need to be one. The comments are my favorite part of blogging and I welcome free expressions of whatever your thoughts may be, just keep them directed at the issues.

Thank you

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/August/2025 @ 12:30 pm

Isle drink to that!

Brian, yes, I agree. One week wasn’t enough for Da Nang last time. Some of the shorter stays (Ba Na Hills and Hoi An) are just to flesh out some of what we saw last trip.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2025 @ 9:50 am

Gary, I miss him too.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2025 @ 5:19 am

Daeguowl, Yikes! One more milestone in my journey to mindlessness. Thanks for letting me know I messed up.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/August/2025 @ 5:19 am