Comments Posted By John McCrarey

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Seeing is believing

Roger and Eddie, since you both have the same IP address, I assume you are both the same person. Thank you for the comments and the AI who wrote them.

For the record, I don’t know anyone named Celeste and I hate being tickled.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/June/2025 @ 9:29 am

I’ve seen enough

Fred, sorry, I no speaky you language.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/June/2025 @ 1:14 pm

Darryl, it was a chicken burger, so there’s that. And I did wind up having some French fries.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/June/2025 @ 1:13 pm

Hell Yeah you’re wrong. I’m not a conservative, I’m a sane person who thinks for himself. I’m an immigrant and there is nothing inferior about me. I immigrated legally and think everyone should follow my example.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/June/2025 @ 1:12 pm

Kev, thanks for translating the French restaurant name. The food there must be out of this world!

I didn’t check the prices for soft drinks and tea, but yeah, with those prices, they are definitely catering to a non-drinking audience.

Damn, more evidence of my increasingly diminished brain functioning. Right is wrong. That was a stupid mistake. The Rite Spot is the name of the joint my father managed when I was a child, and it has a special place in my memory. So, I know I told my brain to write “Rite,” but for whatever reason, my fingers rebelled.

I’ve already given Swan a list of people to contact when my time on Earth is finished. But yes, I need to make sure someone has the login info for LTG so my readers know there will be no more pathetic posts to come. I hope I live long enough to capture the posts I’ll use to compile “The Story of My Life” before I go. The will just names my daughter executor and deals with whatever finances and funds I still possess at the end of days, so your idea of keeping the blog up with a final post is a good one. I’ll work on that.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/June/2025 @ 1:09 pm

Brian, yes, it comes down to caring about those who care about you. And even the ones that don’t.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/June/2025 @ 12:48 pm

What did Phil say?

Kev, thanks for the link on cataracts. Hopefully, these lenses in both eyes now will last the rest of my life.

I’m serious when I say littering is the cultural norm here. I see people from all walks of life drop litter without a thought or shame. So, I wouldn’t call it defiance, but everywhere I’ve seen one of those “don’t dump trash here” signs, there has been a pile of garbage around it.

Regarding the wine situation, it is not a problem in most bars. And the ones where it is frequently out-of-stock probably don’t sell much to begin with. Still, making an effort to get a bottle from a nearby store or have one delivered is the hallmark of customer service. Most places can’t be bothered with more than a “sorry,” and those are the places I tend not to patronize in the future.

I have a follow-up appointment today. My left eye is still blurry, but hopefully, it will clear up soon.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/June/2025 @ 10:18 am

Brian, I expected general anesthesia for some reason, but only got a local. I guess I was thinking of the nasal surgery I had.

I have a will with my daughter as executor. The rent is paid here through September, and I expect to renew for another year and pay in advance. Swan is buying a lot and I’m putting money in the savings pot so she can build on it after I’m gone (I don’t want to live there, too far from the bars). So, that’s the extent of my preparations for the inevitable. My goal is to delay that end-of-life thing for another 15 years.

Good luck with the colonoscopy. It’s a pain in the ass (sorry, couldn’t resist) but worthwhile. They found some nodules (non-cancerous) on my first one, so I had to do an annual repeat for a while. It’s been a few years since my last one. I was knocked out for that procedure which is a good thing.

After all that time in Thailand you still have a virgin ass? Congrats!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/June/2025 @ 10:06 am

On-On, rain or shine!

Kevin, we call people who show up at the On-Home but don’t do any of the trail “socialites.” There’s usually a handful every week, but with the rain and the trail starting way out on Rizal Extension, probably less than ten folks did the hike.

To answer your questions re: alcohol:
1. I can, and occasionally do, drink at home (The Rite Spot is a nice venue). But it would be boring to hang out up there alone all the time. To me, the bars provide a place to hang out around other people and sometimes see familiar faces. I prefer the open-air bar venues where I can sit and enjoy watching the world go by. My bar time is what passes for my social life.

2. Well, if by “buzzed” you mean inebriated, that’s not an everyday occurrence. For me, it’s more about relaxing and soaking up the vibes and music. Alcohol, in the form of low-alcohol Zero beer, is a part of my life, but not the most important. I have a three or four-hour window in which I partake (usually 5-8 p.m.), and that includes dining out. I enjoy all aspects of my life, even the ones that don’t involve alcohol.

Reekay’s world is different than the one in which I reside. The occasional babbling drunk is the exception; most of the folks I encounter in the bars just hang out, enjoy the company, and converse with friends. It is very rare to see someone getting loud and obnoxious in the bars I frequent, and when someone crosses the line, they are usually escorted out promptly.

That said, there is one guy in our hiking groups who is tolerable when sober. After a few drinks, his asshole nature takes over. If I’m around him, I pay my tab and say goodnight. Yes, we should choose the kind of people we enjoy and not waste time on the others.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/June/2025 @ 10:03 am

Some Sunday

Aloysius, Mama was with Jerry from the beginning. I’m sure she helped lots of young women find their way to prosperity.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/June/2025 @ 3:29 pm

Aloysius, I met the mamasan a few months before she passed. I don’t know why she’d bother to lie about a former employee who’d been gone for ten years or more, but who know.

The mamasan had a daughter who worked in Alaska named Karen. Oh, how I lusted after her. She was a waitress in the bar, but danced with the SOB team. Such a hottie. She hasn’t worked in the bar quite some time now, but I saw her at the recent Alaska twenty-year anniversary party. She was with a handsome guy and looked happy.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/June/2025 @ 2:42 pm

Aloysius, who knows? I honestly don’t care either way. The Alaska mamasan told me she was married and in Australia. Maybe your acquaintance was prior to that. She was a nice woman, and I hope she has a happy life.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/June/2025 @ 8:40 pm

Thanks for the comment, Aloysius. I think we may not be referring to the same person. I sponsored the Sheryl I knew in caregiver training and certification. She continued working in the bar, but upon graduation, she moved back home to Manila. Last I heard, she got married and moved to Australia.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/June/2025 @ 10:06 am

Brian, yeah, I never had the balls to eat a live octopus. I remember reading about someone who got choked up doing so and decided that wasn’t the way I wanted to go.

Looking at Kevin’s photos from his hike this morning reminded me of how much I sometimes miss the first world.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/June/2025 @ 8:28 am

Life on a rainy day

Wait, you are not a beer drinker, but I still like you!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/June/2025 @ 8:43 am

Brian, other than my helpers and Swan’s family, I don’t have much exposure to Filipino norms and society. I don’t get involved in politics here at all, and not just because foreigners are allowed. I have no interest in that shit. That said, on my first visit here I was struck by the warm hearts, kind spirits, and generosity of the Filipino people I observed. That’s what makes this country a special place to me.

What I was alluding to about the states was how everything is a chain store/franchise. Here I have lots of bars to choose from and they each have their own unique vibe. So, even doing the same thing night after night, it feels different when I change location. But yes, I like my routines and look forward to them.

But since you’ve spent a lot of time out of the USA, I think you know what I mean. There’s just something about a Seoul or Bangkok experience that feels exciting and fresh. I guess that’s probably related to being an outsider and it seems like an adventure.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/June/2025 @ 8:42 am

Kev, yeah, I should remember to give credit to my co-creators in the kitchen. As far as changing things up, instead of Betty Crocker, I had Duncan Hines lend a capable hand to this last batch!

Kokomo’s doesn’t come up automatically in my FB feed, and I didn’t check it before heading out, as I should have, given the weather conditions. Oh well, there is always next season!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/June/2025 @ 9:38 am

Brian, I’m not sure what “BS that happens in the PI” you are referring. I’m comfortable here, the people are friendly, and it is affordable.

As for the USA, aside from the politics and insanity (you don’t see that woke crap here) I just find it boring. Everything is the same, wherever you are–What’s for dinner tonight, Applebee’s or Red Lobster? Then we’ll grab a beer at Hooters.

And I’ve been go so long now, that all the cultural aspects I was engaged with, like sporting events, I no longer care about. My last visit I was astounded that all anyone seemed to talk about was who was going to win the big game on Saturday.

Also, my family members have chosen to ghost me, so I have no reason to return to my country of birth. When I’m dead and gone, it won’t matter anymore. Until then, the farther away I am, the less it hurts.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/June/2025 @ 9:29 am

Thompson, those poor construction workers!

Reminds me of the time I was driving through the backwoods of Arkansas. I needed to poop, but all I could find was an old outhouse along the side of the road. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It wasn’t until I finished that I noticed there was no toilet paper! Now what? Then I saw a small sign above a hole in the wall. It said, “wipe you butt with your fingers, place your fingers in the hole, and they will be cleaned by human lips.” It’s not like I had any other option, so I did as instructed. And when I inserted my fingers a large hammer came down on them. “Ouch!” I screamed, as my fingers instinctively rose to my mouth for pain relief…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/June/2025 @ 9:12 am

Thanks, Cherry. Not a Nutella fan.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/June/2025 @ 9:05 am

It’s raining, it’s pouring…

Razor, that’s why I am not a doctor, I have no patients…

Swan will drink a mixed drink or a flavored beer when wine is not available. I just choose to not patronize bars that choose not to serve wine.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/June/2025 @ 9:37 am

Kev, three straight days of rain now, so it is safe to say that the monsoon season has arrived in full force.

I hadn’t noticed that Costner look alike until you mentioned it. That’s Chris from the UK playing the part of that other Kevin.

You’d need an army to clean the litter here, and sadly, it would be back the next day. It’s the culture.

For some venues, not serving wine is a choice; most bars do, except when they are out of stock, like Cheap Charlies was the other night. I was frustrated with their attitude more than the lack of wine. I can’t think of any reason I’d return to a bar that called me stupid, especially when I have fifty other options in town.

Yes, it is far from perfect here, but I still prefer it to my nation of birth. Don’t think I’ll ever move back there. I still miss my happy life in Korea.

What floating bar? There ain’t no floating bar. I’ll post about that today.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/June/2025 @ 9:33 am

High tide, low places

Glad to hear it, Daeguowl. So many of those voices from the past seem to have disappeared.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/June/2025 @ 9:39 am

Kev, no idea what drove that tide to new heights…it’s not even a full moon.

Damn, I somehow missed your Dr. Sleep review and I don’t recall even hearing about the movie. I used to be a big Stephen King fan and remember being disappointed with Kubrick’s rendering of “The Shining.” Anyway, good review and now I know.

I was wondering about Roboseyo. The link to his then-blog no longer works.

Sorry about the video, it’s up now. See, I’m not just comma-tose, I miss the vids too. Damn, this brain of mine…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/May/2025 @ 10:12 am

Aaron, did you get my check, mate?

And yes, everyday is ordinary! And as long as the earth keeps spinning around, I’ll be glad to be here every day.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/May/2025 @ 9:55 am

Thompson, sorry to hear about your shitty experience. What a load of crap you had to deal with! It stinks that you had a problem with the toilet. I would have been feeling flushed after all that. Glad you made it home safe, you must have been pooped!

Booze does help keep things in perspective though, so your story had a happy ending. As for the light, my advice is don’t walk towards it!

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

Brian, I *think* the 5-11 refers to some local sporting goods line. But I tell the girls it is my penis size in inches.

Yes, he was living in a Muslim part of the country and pissed off the wrong people. Shot by his abductors, his body washed up on a beach a few days later.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/May/2025 @ 9:47 am

Getting high at a topless place

My favorite Yogi line: Yabba Dabba Do!

Yes, I enjoy the Smart Girl’s style. I think she demonstrates that Filipina insanity in a sweet way.

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/May/2025 @ 9:29 am

Rhythm and Tues

Yeah, well I tried but some things just can’t be salvaged. I stand corrected!

» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/May/2025 @ 9:31 am

Kev, In a way then, given the context of the joke, “How often do you drink beer? I drink Zero.” Everyday can be appropriate usage. Granted, my intent was every day, but still…

» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/May/2025 @ 3:22 pm