Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Thanks, Dan. I was approaching this in an eyes-wide-open manner. Wasn’t going to set myself up to lose more than I could afford or to be in a situation that took the fun out of having my own place. So, the meeting with the other bar owners/managers I know and respect was always going to be the first step. Once I heard what they told me, I had zero interest in pursuing what has always been more of a fantasy than a dream or goal.
If some other opportunity presents itself, I’ll take the same approach.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/December/2022 @ 6:45 am
Yeah, hopefully, he’s taking meds and doing follow-up visits with the doctor. My sense is that John’s one of those guys who isn’t keen on people intruding into his personal business, so I’m not sure pushing him will help. I will check in, though, and offer any help he might need.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/December/2022 @ 6:59 am
Yes, there is at least one good hospital in Manila–Saint Luke. There is another one on Clark in Angeles that is supposed to be good too. The hospitals in Olongapo pretty much all suck.
I sent John a message this morning, and he said he’s sleeping better and hopes to be back on his feet in a couple of days.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2022 @ 4:15 pm
Here’s the sad thing, Kevin. He’s been to the doctor! I’m not sure what happened or why, but he was not admitted to a hospital where at least he’d have oxygen available if the need arose. I’ll check in with him again this morning to see if he’s doing any better, and if not, I’ll encourage him to go get a second opinion. Poor healthcare is one of the major downsides to living here.
I am absolutely flabbergasted that I spelled c’est la vie wrong. I actually took the time to look it up, and I still wrote it wrong. The distance between my brain and my fingers grows larger with each passing day I’m afraid.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2022 @ 5:47 am
I probably would have avoided that ladder if it had been any higher. Lydell took the photo, and my masculine pride insisted that I not appear cowardly in her presence.
Martin was behind me; now I’m curious if he took the ladder or found a workaround.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2022 @ 5:50 am
Brian, perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I can’t go all in unless my partner meets me halfway. But I’m always of the mind to walk away if I can’t be what she needs or wants me to be. I’m not going to pretend…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2022 @ 1:24 pm
Kev, I’ve used Waze here a couple of times to give my driver directions, but nothing on trail. I know a couple of the Hashers use their GPS and Google Maps when they are looking for alternative routes off-road. I’ll see about downloading Naver to my phone.
Well, I was panting at the end of the “massage” and took a hit from my inhaler, but nothing like those “OMG, I can’t breathe!” moments I’ve experienced in the past. Progress!
Okay, BBC is on the list of places for you to eat when you visit. They do have tartar sauce available on site; I think they forgot to include it with my takeout order (and to be fair, I didn’t think to ask, just assumed it was automatic).
Thanks for the feedback on love and sociopathy. I like your interpretation of that quote much better and agree you have captured the true meaning and intent.
Before I answer your punctuation question, I just want to say it is nice that the bad example is not something I wrote for a change. I’d lose the comma after “freedom.” Why? Just “because.” I didn’t even have to review your linked lesson to figure that out. That should earn me a “shows improvement,” don’t you think?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2022 @ 6:51 am
Brian, I believe you can buy wholesale for around 40 pesos a bottle. The cheapest bar in town (Snackbar) sells it for 50 pesos retail. I’d say the average price is in the 70-80 range.
I’m not price-conscious when I go out, but a lot of guys are. I’d try to keep my prices as low as possible while maintaining a sufficient profit margin to cover overhead.
Yeah, if I don’t have a partner I’m probably going to drink for free. 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2022 @ 10:26 am
I don’t remember his name at the moment. If I recall correctly, he’s a Manila Hasher who moved to this area recently. I may have sounded harsher than I intended–yes, he’s slow as molasses, but he’s out there doing his best, and you gotta respect that. The Hash ethos is that everyone follows the trail on their own, but when someone follows me on a shortcut, I feel some responsibility for getting them back safely.
Interesting article on orienting. No, I don’t know anyone who uses those techniques. I am often disoriented, though. But that said, we do have some hard-core hares who go out exploring using their GPS to find their way.
Yeah, being familiar with an area and its landmarks makes a huge difference. I’ve been here in Barretto long enough that I can usually find my way home from an unfamiliar trail if need be. But it is always a concern when I do an out-of-town Hash–if I lose the trail, I’m fucked, and it makes shortcutting pretty much impossible. Still like seeing new places and faces though; it’s just more challenging.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2022 @ 6:15 am
Yeah, my thought is that I would spend my “bar hours” at my place. Still, that’s only four or five hours per day. I’d keep an eye on things and fix anything I saw going wrong, but I’d definitely need a full-time manager to run the show.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2022 @ 10:28 am
Kev, I buy some chocolates for the girls from the Belgian occasionally; I’ll try to remember to get a picture next time. He usually has quite a variety, from dark to white, nuts and plain, and some with alcohol (which I hate).
Yeah, it was a roll cake. I didn’t taste it, so I’m not sure if it was like the Korean version or not. I’ve had other cakes from Goldilocks, and they are American-style; I suspect this one was too.
Hmm…if I do open a bar, maybe I’ll feature pichi as part of the pub fare. Give it a flashy name like “pichi keeno” or something.
The beach resorts are required to have a lifeguard for people swimming in the bay. I have never seen any pool here with lifeguards. The more I think about it, I’d probably put a door between my bar and the pool, just to keep it simple.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 7:27 am
Dan, HaHa! Yes, I’ve seen that happen–stupid foreigner makes the investment, does the work to build a successful business, then we take it from him and run it into bankruptcy within a year. I seriously wouldn’t consider this at all except for the possibility of doing a month-to-month lease and maybe $5000 max for equipment and supplies. I’m not going to expose myself to being hurt badly if things go south for any reason.
Thanks also for the bar name ideas. Keep on fizzing!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 7:17 am
Kev, there is a personal story behind “The Rite Spot” moniker. Way back in the early 1960s, my dad managed a burger joint by that name (he also ran the grill). It was like something out of Happy Days; they even had a jukebox in the dining room. Dad would sometimes take us to work with him and have us perform chores like sweeping the parking lot. Those are some of my earliest memories. A few years later, a McDonald’s opened across the street, and The Rite Spot couldn’t compete with those 15-cent burgers. So, naming my place The Rite Spot is kind of a sentimental choice.
Honestly, details like how to make the burger patties haven’t even crossed my mind. I’ll definitely need to have a professional cook in the kitchen.
The vibe I’d be going for in the bar is a laid-back good time. A place to hang out with friends and enjoy the views. There will not be any naughty stuff going on or even implied. Yeah, I would have lady drinks available for customers who want some company in the bar, but nothing extra. And yeah, maybe having some of those “yard long” or beer in a boot gimmicks might be fun.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 7:12 am
Yeah, the relatively low rent was what intrigued me enough to seriously consider trying this. I’m not sure about all the other expenses beyond utilities that may be involved, but probably some form of insurance will be necessary. I know that graft is prevalent in this country, but from what I’ve heard, the local government in Barretto/Olongapo is pretty honest (unlike AC). One thing is for sure; I would never permit anything in my bar that wasn’t in strict conformance with the law. That means no take-out. The girls will be free to do as they please off-duty, and the bar will not get a cut.
Yeah, this is more of a hobby than something I expect to make big bucks on. The real challenge would be insuring I don’t spend or lose more than I can afford.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 6:53 am
Brandon, yeah, I get that the idea versus the reality of having a bar can be at two ends of the spectrum. As I explore those realities, I may very well wind up saying, “nope.” My personality is not the friendly and outgoing type you’d probably expect from a pub owner. I also have a very low tolerance for drunks and their shenanigans. Unless I had a manager to be the face of the bar to deal with the day-to-day bullshit, I wouldn’t even attempt it.
I do appreciate your insights–this devil needs an advocate!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 6:45 am
Brian, yeah, I’ve heard that joke before. Luckily, I don’t want to make a million! I would like to at least break even month to month.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is easy to get wrapped up in disappointments and forget that you are living the dream. I’m trying harder to appreciate just how lucky I am.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2022 @ 6:57 am
Weird you can’t see the video; I accessed it from my blog to show several people last night. Maybe it’s a location out-of-the-country thing. I generally won’t post links back to FB, but I couldn’t find a way to save the video otherwise. Oh well, it was pretty gruesome.
I’d say we are still well under 50% developed in Alta Vista, but the number of houses has doubled in the four years I’ve lived here. With more houses will come more traffic and associated ass pain. At least my little blue house is isolated at the end of a cul-de-sac.
Thanks for the cookie-cutter ideas. I might try the jar lid next time. Other than aesthetics, they taste just fine, so not a lot of motivation. Maybe if I were having company over.
Lydell’s scar is from a motorscooter accident a couple of years ago. Scars don’t bother me in the way a tattoo does. I’m still trying to get used to unshaven legs, though.
Re: the beach bar. No, surprisingly, almost all the bars in this area are on the street side. The only one for foreigners in Barretto is Mango’s, but most folks go there to eat rather than a bar hangout. I do think a nicely appointed bar on the beach would be popular; I’m just not sure I’m up for the pain-in-the-ass factors involved in opening one. I’ll post some pics of the location today.
“The life you’re living might not be the life you intended, but in some sense, it’s your best life, i.e., the one most suited to you”
Yeah, that resonates. This lifestyle is a choice, and while not always ideal, it does seem to work for me. Maybe all this is missing is accepting that this is what I’ve become.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2022 @ 6:12 am
Yeah, it’s all good. I don’t frequent the bars with dancers much, but the SOB is a weekly indulgence. And that pole dancer was pretty impressive as an acrobat.
And I got my Thanksgiving leftovers fix in at Sit-n-Bull yesterday. So, I’m on a roll.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2022 @ 5:27 am
Re: the caption. Your comment made me think of the old “blind squirrel finding a nut” saw. I quoted the Kilmer poem from memory and see that was not quite right either. Anyway, glad I finally hit a funny bone!
The soup and everything else was tasty–I cleaned my plate. Just needed another round. And yeah, I was sorry to see no candied sweet taters. I’ll do better next year.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2022 @ 6:50 am
Full report on the dinner coming later today, but it was a nice gathering. Food was okay; what little of it there was.
Well, you’ve taken that joke a lot further than I ever did. I never bothered actually checking the Old Testament for verification of the punchline. Now, it also has an “I made you look!” element of humor. Thanks for the laugh!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/November/2022 @ 5:36 am
Kev, Shit, I can’t believe I misspelled Joseph twice. No idea what I was thinking other than I wasn’t. At least I’m building my resume for a future presidency.
I’ve had Thanksgiving dinner at Arizona in the past and had no complaints. When I saw the sign at Papagayo this year, I wanted to give it a try. If they don’t have candied yams, I’ll be kicking myself later. Nope, John’s not doing a TG menu that I know of. He posted something about Christmas, but it was providing space for private parties. Several other places in town are doing the traditional dinners, though, so lots of options.
Verily, verily I say unto you
If you can’t remember your psalms
The Bible will do.
–from the Book of John» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2022 @ 6:25 am
Yes, Joseph chose wisely. I often think of Barretto as just a bustling retirement community for like-minded male geriatrics with a taste for brown-skinned young women and cold beer. Those oldsters back home don’t have a clue what they are missing, poor bastards.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2022 @ 6:15 am
Kev, not much in the way of historical structures here that I’ve seen anyway. I saw an old Spanish fort out in Cebu, but the old Filipino tribes were more like the Native Americans as far as building relics–more nomadic and transitory. What I saw on the hike was relatively new.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2022 @ 6:29 am
Well, that’s one of the aspects of the Hash I most appreciate–the experienced Hares finding new trails in interesting places. It’s hard for me to go out hiking in places I don’t know on my own, though. Too much can go wrong, and worrying about it takes the joy out of the adventure.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2022 @ 6:24 am
You don’t bring me flowers anymore
Heh, didn’t picture you as being a Neil Diamond fan, Kevin. I enjoyed some of his stuff back in the day as well but never bought one of his albums (the true indicator of fandom–I had over a hundred albums in my collection, even as a poor boy). My hangout bar in Itaewon when I first moved to Korea was named Sweet Caroline’s and at some point every night that song was played, with everyone expected to sing along (or at least do that “bam-bam-bam” chorus line). Good times! I’m not sure if Diamond is still active or not; he’d be in his 80s by now. I saw a video of him in concert a few years back and he looked like an old geezer then.
I haven’t really paid that much attention to the pizza, but yeah, I think it is one of their loaded versions, and they just add pineapple and call it “Hawaiian.”
Sorry about the comment form issues, WordPress does these updates, and I have to live with the consequences. I have no clue how to activate the autofill for the URL address.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 6:12 am
Fixed it for you!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 5:59 am
Brian, you could be right. We had a messenger chat yesterday, and she apologized and said she regrets making that comment. I also think I overreacted and clammed up instead of pushing her to explain at the time. It is also important to remember that despite speaking better English than most gals in Asia, it is still a second language, and sometimes misunderstandings occur.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2022 @ 5:59 am
Yeah, I’m currently at the highest elevation in the subdivision, and my future home is a couple of street levels below me. That said, it is still perched high on a hill with no obstructions blocking the views. I’ll see the beauty that surrounds me much better from there.
The main complaint I’ve heard about Hops & Brews is their prices are high. Still, you have to pay for all that high-class ambiance somehow. I would have loved to have some chicken on my plate but was going to order a second plate to get it. I think they’ll figure it out eventually.
I’m pretty sure Agnes has learned her lesson and understands the consequences of any future failures.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2022 @ 6:06 am
I’m not sure, the food was advertised as authentic Jamaican jerk prepared by a Jamaican jerk master, so I’m assuming that he is Jamaican. And yes, he does appear to be a taste tester for everything he cooks.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2022 @ 5:58 am
«« Back To Stats PageKev, actually, that nice hike was in the morning BEFORE the encounter with “Earl,” but I had my regular solo walk the following morning. I don’t expect I’ll have any Earl problems in the future. If he wants to apologize, that’s fine. If not, I don’t care enough to be bothered about it.
It’s funny you mention Korea; Jim and Scott told me that the church had been built by Korean Christian missionaries. I guess the locals didn’t like the concept of worshipping closer to heaven. I recall hiking up to several of those temples in Korea (before I was a hiker) with my Buddhist wife, and it was a chore but worth it once you reached the top. Always beautiful architecture with a great view.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2022 @ 6:40 am