Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brian, we had a bunch of Hashers join us from Angeles City and Manila, which brought the numbers way up. Not sure what made them all decide to come this week, but it’s always nice to see new faces.
Yeah, Seoul was crazy expensive, especially near the Army base. Our housing allowance was generous but not enough to rent the nicest places. My two-bedroom, two-bath apartment was new, modern, and furnished, and $3500 a month 20 years ago. The cost of living is one reason I didn’t stay in Korea after retirement. I really did enjoy my time there otherwise.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/February/2025 @ 7:03 am
Kev, I guess the science of lousy humor is settled. Who knew? I’m not sure my “jokes” have gotten worse with age, but it is what it is. Some folks are born with gifts: artists, writers, actors, etc. My talent is bad puns and lame jokes. And any reaction to my attempts to be funny, even a cringe, is all the reward I need. So, thank you!
As to the kids, sweetness and trauma go hand-in-hand. Serves them right! 🙂
Yep, nobody goes to Hideaway for the skinny girls, that’s for sure.
John’s place is being run by the widow and the children, and I haven’t noticed any drop in food quality. This is not surprising because the wife had been trained by John and was pretty much running the kitchen long before John’s passing.
I’m not looking for juice from the pulled pork joke, but a little sauce would be tasty. 🙂
Putting ice cream on a McD’s pie was a first-time experience for me; sorry, I didn’t document it with a photo. It was a tasty treat, indeed! I didn’t know that they stopped frying the pies in the USA. When I was looking for the picture I posted, I noticed that some of the pies were in green boxes (they are red here), so I guess green means baked.
Sorry for the undesignated photo with my siblings. I did mention that Greg is my baby brother, and I was the one with the goofy expression, but I should have been clearer.
The pictures from the mountain climb in Korea were taken by a co-worker I used to hike with.
Drinking myself to death? Getting plenty of fluids is part of a healthy lifestyle! What next, breathing yourself to death? But yes, the Philippines is a land fraught with peril. Typhoons, earthquakes, volcanos, bad drivers; it’s no wonder most of the funeral banners I see are people who died younger than me. As for construction methods, a bamboo shack is cheap to build and cheap to replace if it blows down in a storm.
Ah, the Pea is a cutie. Love her personality and humor. And those legs!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/February/2025 @ 8:25 am
Brian, I’m with you on this. Sometimes when I search for the calorie count of a food item, I get a wide range. Birria tacos go from 270 to 630 calories; I tend to pick something in the middle.
Yeah, that awareness thing is a big help. I always bake a batch of muffins on Tuesday morning for my helpers. Just now, I had a hunger pang and figured, why not have a muffin? Checked the box, and each muffin is 150 calories. Nope, not worth it to me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/February/2025 @ 7:45 am
Kev, I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions for improving the quality of my videos. I’m a work in progress, but I’ll try to incorporate these ideas going forward. This is all new to me as I’ve always been into still shots, but video offers a different quality and perspective. Besides, I’ve taken photos of the same scene so many times even I’m bored with it. Video makes everything old new again!
Hmm, maybe it was a 3-pack of cookies…Swan did the crumbling. As to the accuracy of my calorie count, I just trust what the app says when I enter the food selection. I may misjudge the volume consumed, but that cuts both ways, high and low. I’ve never counted calories before, and it is a pain in the ass sometimes, but it is helpful in a “Is this food really worth it?” kind of way.
Well, twelve beers is a rarity and definitely my max (for example, I had ten last night). That said, I was drinking San Miguel ZERO (3% alcohol/60 calories). San Miguel Light (5% alcohol/100 calories) would floor me if I had a dozen!
I’d love to see you review Groundhog Day! Yes, I picked up on that Murray/McDowell chemistry I’d forgotten about in that clip I posted. Woo-hoo! I just checked, and the full movie is available on YouTube! Something to watch while I’m waiting for the “Squid Game” finale!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/February/2025 @ 7:37 am
Brian, I get what you are saying about inertia, but how do you differentiate that from bland satisfaction? I recall the times I was not happy with my life, and this isn’t the same. Maybe I’m unwinding at the end of the road.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/February/2025 @ 7:13 am
Brian, the nice thing is I’m not feeling hungry all the time. I’m eating smarter and avoiding most of the high-calorie foods I love, but I guess I’m getting enough of what I need.
I didn’t start playing darts until I moved to Korea and was hanging out in Itaewon bars a lot. Darts is a sociably acceptable reason to drink–I used to call my beers “aiming fluid.”
“You can’t add time to the end of your retirement, only to the beginning!” That’s a great way to put it, and it’s very true. They tried to get me to stay “just one more year” in Korea, but I couldn’t help but feel it was time to start my new life.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/February/2025 @ 8:11 am
Kev, The Microsoft “drunk warning” was intended as a joke. I didn’t get floored or otherwise out of control that night. I stayed out an hour later and drank more than usual, but that was the extent of my abuse. I like to imbibe but don’t want to be the loud and obviously drunk guy in the bar.
Yes, we encouraged Tim to continue hiking back in the States. He said he was going to check around for a local Hash.
That bridge was a rebuild of one that had collapsed while Ed (the first guy in the video) crossed it a few months ago. The thing about bamboo planks is they bend when you step on them. A couple of the guys have balance issues, so that movement underfoot can be off-putting.
The dart game I mentioned was “501.” You start there and subtract the total of your dart throws until you get to zero, but you have to finish with a double out (that ring on the outer edge of the board). A ton score of 100 is usually thrown as a triple 20 and two single 20s. Four tons, then the 101 out (triple 17, single 18, double 16) for the win.
There can be lots of drama in a dart match (alcohol + competitive spirit can do that), but you learn to deal with that early on if you want to be successful. I was a pretty solid player back in the day, but eventually lost my passion for the game, and it stopped being fun.
I have no idea what Jee Yeun is doing these days. I guess neither of us is motivated to go through with the legal process to end the marriage that ended, in reality, nine years ago. I get a tax break, and I guess she just doesn’t care. Losing her and the life we shared was a soul-crushing experience for me.
I always enjoyed Phil Collins’ music, too. I just read his Wikipedia entry, and he is still alive at 74 but has health issues. According to Wiki, Collins wasn’t popular with his peers, who said he was an asshole. Later in the article, it mentions he’s a conservative supporter, which might explain his unpopularity. Neil Young is a stupid lefty, but I still like his old songs.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/February/2025 @ 8:01 am
Kev, Finished Season 2 (or part one of Season 2) last night. I’ll definitely be sticking around to see what happens next. Things I find “unbelievable” include the inability of anyone to discover the location of the island. You can’t build that kind of infrastructure to support the population of players and guards without leaving discernable traces on the land. Where are the docks? Where does the electricity come from? The smaller questions about whether regular folks off the street would willingly become brutal murderers for money I can pretty much ignore. Still, once they found out that only one person had survived the previous game, you’d think they’d see the wisdom of voting to leave while they had the chance. The “Matrix” was easier for me to accept as science fiction, “Squid Game” presents itself as reality. Swan is enjoying it very much.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/February/2025 @ 7:08 am
Maybe a first-class airplane meal. Tiny portions = low price. The steaks at John’s place cost 3X more.
Yeah, I don’t care enough about the story or characters to be interested in any spinoff shows. I’m hooked enough to want to stick around and see how it ends, but I’m still not believing the basic premise of “Squid Game.”
So, those slimy fat cells aren’t going to slither away? Damn, that bites. (thanks for the link)
It wasn’t really a party; just me and Scott joining him for the SOB. It was more of a fishing expedition for Tim as he searched for a hook-up for his last night in town. Tim had two on the line when I departed. Looks like he’ll be staying at the same place when he returns.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/February/2025 @ 7:37 am
Kev, I asked Dr. Jo about that yesterday. She said you can see improvements through things like reduced BP and improved blood sugar measurements (which I don’t monitor). Otherwise, I’d need to redo some of those tests and compare results to know if my veins have less blockage. She said for someone like me without severe symptoms, the chelation was more of a preventative treatment. According to her, folks who are suffering feel the difference after chelation.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/January/2025 @ 7:18 am
Brian, it is hard to imagine a crazier thought than that! 🙂 I’ll just keep on keepin’ on this path I’ve chosen.
When I worked for the Army, they had a “five-year rule” limiting overseas assignments. The stated rationale was to ensure that skills didn’t deteriorate from lack of exposure to new ideas/challenges. The other reason was to provide opportunities for other people to experience the challenges of working outside the USA. The problem was that while lots of folks wanted to work in Europe, recruiting to Korea was a real bitch. I would argue to no avail that sending someone home because their five years were up and being unable to find someone as good to take their place was not wise. Occasionally, exceptions would be made for critical positions, but it was still a dumb policy, in my opinion. Perhaps the going native thing was the real reason.
I know some expats prefer the province life and being the only foreigner around. I’m the opposite–sharing this PI adventure with other like-minded folks is what I like best. I guess that’s just putting a foot in the water rather than diving in, but it works for me!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/January/2025 @ 7:09 am
Yes, a GoPro is on my shopping list! Thanks for the suggestion.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/January/2025 @ 7:10 am
The main turnoff for me on SBMA is that “Americanness” you noticed. I looked at a nice duplex there, former officer housing on the Navy base, and it had a huge American-style kitchen, a comfy upstairs master bedroom, and a view of the duplexes across the street. A real American suburb vibe. Except I wanted to live in the Philippines. SBMA is nice to visit, but I have no regrets about my decision to reside elsewhere.
The key to successfully videoing in horizontal mode is starting and finishing recording, holding the phone in that position. It is a bit of a pain in the ass, and I need to improve my targeting. A camera clipped to my hat ought to give a better “John’s-eye view” to my videos. I hadn’t noticed the heavy breathing; I’ll try to control myself better in the future! Yeah, I’ll need to make sure whatever software package I wind up with is easy to use and worth the effort.
Yes, Justin is the third “J” on the nephew list, and he is the one you’ve met. He couldn’t attend the funeral because he was (and still is) living in Korea.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/January/2025 @ 7:18 am
Kev, I did the introductory Korean class on base, then hired a tutor for several months. But spending my days on the American army base and nights in Itaewon, where everyone spoke English, I rarely got to use or develop those Korean language skills. So, I never pursued fluency. My Korean vocabulary is still larger than my ability in Tagalog.
Yes, Carol and I shared many traits in common. Except our dreams for the future.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/January/2025 @ 7:37 am
Brian, I’m hoping most of the smoke I encounter is from burning leaves, but I see many remnants of burned garbage piles so that crap is in the mix. You’d think the authorities would make it easier by providing receptacles at collection points, but that’s not the case. Honestly, I would not know where to leave my trash if it wasn’t picked up each week.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/January/2025 @ 7:29 am
Kev, yeah, I need to up my game if I want to add some videos to my routine. Some new equipment will be a start. I’m also going to look into some video editing software. We shall see.
I try to be sympathetic to the garbage issue. These folks live in an area that is not accessible for trash collection vehicles. Yeah, they carry the goods home; they ought to be able to take the empties out in the same manner. However, the local government has provided no dumpsters or other drop-off options, so people just find a spot and chuck the rubbish there. Sad, but somewhat understandable. If I were in that situation, I’d probably dig a hole and burn it there. I’m sure many do just that, and that’s why the air is sometimes smoky.
Yep, we watched episode 3 last night. A surprise ending seeing Number One in the game.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/January/2025 @ 6:59 am
I had to look up the name, but yes, that’s a Dao tree. They are very impressive.
Tim is heading back but plans to return later this year. He’s got a few years before he can retire.
And I didn’t get an “interrogation” vibe from your questions. No worries!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/January/2025 @ 8:12 am
Drain, I’ve gotten better with age at discerning who the liars out there are, and I take pride in sleuthing out the truth. It’s especially satisfying to be proven right in those assessments like I was with the COVID scamdemic bullshit.
Anyway, as you say, there is no point in letting politics distract from the importance of enjoying your life.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/January/2025 @ 7:43 am
Brian, thanks for the GoPro tip. I’ll see what I can find. Swan also says I need to get a microphone.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/January/2025 @ 7:37 am
Kev, I’m not sure what I did differently. Maybe it was as simple as holding the phone camera horizontally before hitting the record button.
That’s Barbie with the tattooed ass. I personally don’t like it, but I understand she’s pretty popular with the fellas.
Well, if I didn’t acknowledge the rare occasions when I overindulge, that would be a problem. I’m a drinker and have no desire whatsoever to change that. It is a part of my life that I enjoy and look forward to. I strive to maintain my self-imposed limits and drink responsibly. I don’t always succeed, but getting “floored” is a rare event.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/January/2025 @ 7:36 am
Kev, I got 9 out of 10 correct on the “real or AI” quiz. But yeah, AI is getting better and better. It’s going to be scary times when lies can be supported by manufactured “evidence.”
She never said it, but I’m quite certain I was my mama’s favorite. The middle child usually is. That said, I take pride in not being normal! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/January/2025 @ 7:51 am
Terry, yes, I’ve seen clips from various sources of Pelosi admitting she failed to take steps to defend the Capitol building. We have a lot more yet to be revealed about the events of that day and the scandalous actions of the J6 Committee in covering it all up.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/January/2025 @ 7:47 am
Kev, I am no fan of AI voiceovers, but what I’m seeing more and more is faked photographs created by AI. To me, that is blatantly dishonest (unless there is a disclaimer, which is rare). It’s sad when you can’t trust your own eyes.
Hey, I was born a mouth-farter. You say that like it’s a bad thing!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/January/2025 @ 8:26 am
Steve, thanks for the feedback and for sharing your point of view. I agree that arguing politics on a blog like mine is pointless. Rest assured, it will not become the primary focus, but I will occasionally chime in on issues I consider important.
I’m looking forward to the whole story of what happened on January 6, 2021 being revealed. It’s telling that Biden had to pardon the Congress-critters involved with the J6 committee.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/January/2025 @ 8:21 am
Drain, we obviously see things differently and neither of us will likely change our point of view, regardless of the arguments put forth here. After four years of destruction under the incompetent Biden administration, I’m glad to have a real leader in charge. I don’t agree with Trump on everything, but we are on the road to making America great again. That works for me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/January/2025 @ 8:13 am
Drain, thanks for the feedback. We can agree to disagree.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/January/2025 @ 8:28 am
Brian, you can see the websites I consult in the “Places I go everyday” section on the right hand side of my blog. Yes, they tend to provide a right wing perspective, but they provide links to many sources. I read, research, and make up my own mind. I learned long ago that the bias in MSM is found in what they DON’T report.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/January/2025 @ 8:18 am
Kev, I can’t vouch for the accuracy of those pardon numbers, but they would have been at the end of Trump’s first term. I had forgotten that among the Carter commutations were the Puerto Ricans who attacked the Capitol and killed several Congressmen. I guess that was (D)ifferent.
Well, shelter from the storm and all that. Folks here salvage scrap and throw together whatever they can make of it. Sad and impressive at the same time.
When I first moved to Korea, I noticed much more litter on the streets than I was used to seeing back home. Of course, from my Philippines perspective, Korea seems almost pristine by comparison.
No time to complete the activity list this morning. Let me think about it and post something soon.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/January/2025 @ 9:50 am
Drain, it is almost scary how you have accepted the corrupt narrative surrounding the J6 “insurrection.” It is interesting how Pelosi has admitted she turned down Trump’s offer on National Guard protection. And how the Congressional Committee was so bad (including illegally destroying evidence and suborning perjury) that Biden was compelled to pardon them.
Here’s the story of just one of those “ignorant thugs.” Try a taste of my Kool-Aid, maybe you’ll like it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/January/2025 @ 9:33 am
«« Back To Stats PageBrian, if you choose to ignore the reality of what happened on January 6, there’s no changing your mind. At least read this example.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/January/2025 @ 9:35 am