Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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For what it’s worth, many women claim to like girth.
I guess it is something that grows on them.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/December/2024 @ 7:03 am
Yeah, there is a downside to investing on the beach. It’s more of a fantasy than a plan, but the right place at the right time for the right amount of money could trigger the Rite Spot. Mostly, I’d like Swan to have something to sustain her after I’m gone.
Yep, Swan can still do the wraparound my middle. The weight is coming off faster than the girth, though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/December/2024 @ 6:10 am
We wish you a Hashy Christmas!
Well, here in the PI grannies can be in their 30s…
I’m not sure where John got his Hash name; he’s been Hashing all over the world. It was pretty funny to learn what Yogini means.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/December/2024 @ 5:13 am
That sounds like a shitty experience that will always be a crappy memory for you. Reading it left me feeling a little flushed.
While not as extreme as you describe, since I’ve started this diet my turds have been more solid and harder to expel. I don’t eat candy so it’s not that. Maybe a lack of fiber.
Hope you are doing well these days.
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
Hunter S. Thompson
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/December/2024 @ 8:05 am
Recharging should just be a matter of plugging it in. We don’t have an outlet in the carport, though, so we will need to run an extension court from the house.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/December/2024 @ 7:56 am
Yes, it is basically a golf cart. It does have plastic flaps you can drop down in the rain.
I have no intentions of driving that thing, even when I’m sober, so there is no DUI in my future.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/December/2024 @ 7:54 am
Kev, it was nice to re-read your blogiversary post. And thanks for the Zen insights; it’s good to know there is a foundational basis for being satisfied with the mundane routines that make up a life.
I think that open-air toilet had a shed around it the last time we passed that way. It is in an isolated area, so I guess it’s possible that someone could be desperate enough to take a dump there.
18-Kilo Ass is a devoted member of the local Hells Angels motorcycle club these days and no longer hikes with us. I occasionally see him around town with his biker buds, and he seems to be doing well. We had to draft a new Santa for our Christmas Hash this year.
The problem with the log bridge was the handrail wasn’t sturdy enough to be useful. I would have tried it anyway, except I needed to wade in the water to clean the mud off my shoes.
I have had lots of readers and regular commenters come and go over the years. I very much appreciate that you’ve stuck around longer than anyone. Your blog was among the first I discovered in Korea (along with Marmot and Nomad). Cheers!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/December/2024 @ 7:04 am
Thanks, Brian. In my fantasies, choosing different paths always ends well. It probably doesn’t work that way. Looking back, I’m glad they didn’t want me in Iraq. I enjoyed the hell out of Korea and still miss it. I met lots of Filipinos there and that ultimately led me here. Should be fun to see what happens next.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/December/2024 @ 6:45 am
Kev, I understand the good and bad trade-offs regarding calories versus carbs. On my previous massive weight loss adventure, I followed a disciplined low-carb diet. This time, I am counting calories and watching carbs, but not as strictly. We’ll see how that works out for me.
I agree that some of the low-carb or low-calorie alternatives just don’t taste good enough to be acceptable substitutions. Swan’s first attempt at healthy carrot cake didn’t work for me, but that’s okay. I think she’s using that sweetener for my morning tea, and it is fine.
I did the Thanksgiving cheat day and might do another for Christmas, but my plan is to maintain discipline (such as it is) until I achieve my weight-loss goal. After that, I’ll allow myself some of the things I’ve been missing occasionally while continuing to monitor my food intake to avoid regaining those pounds.
Thanks for the Bocha link. Swan used the sweetener we have for the frosting, but I’m thinking maybe it was the almond flour that didn’t resonate with me. I’ll share your tips on ways to decrease dryness with her. I’ve been on Diet Coke/Coke Zero for so long that the real thing tastes weird to me, so I don’t think I have a natural aversion to artificial sweeteners. My favorite alternative dessert thus far has been Jello sugar-free instant pudding. It satisfies my bedtime craving for something sweet. I have to order it online, and it ain’t cheap here, but it helps me sleep at night.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2024 @ 7:40 am
Kev, I put some effort into “particle of yesterday” line. I didn’t want to repetitively use the word grain, so I did a search for synonyms and particle seemed to be the best option. Looking back, it does seem a little convoluted.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2024 @ 7:13 am
Brian, interesting history on the L-glucose efforts. Too bad it all went to shit.
I’m not going to stress over the lack of sweetness in my life. It is what it is.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/December/2024 @ 7:10 am
Getting whacked with my walking stick didn’t seem to phase him. Let me stew on your suggestion in case I see him again.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/December/2024 @ 6:01 am
Sorry, Maria. I haven’t been back to the USA since before the scamdemic and I have no idea what the requirements are to enter the country. I doubt anything has changed since your visit last year.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/December/2024 @ 5:59 am
Totally agree with your assessment, Brian. And if someone doesn’t like living here, regardless of the reason, they should by all means pack their bags and go. Despite my prep work and due diligence, I had a Plan B in mind if things didn’t work out here for me–Cambodia. Yes, there are some frustrations associated with living in the PI, but I’m sure I would experience issues wherever I live. There is no such thing as perfect.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/December/2024 @ 7:36 am
All true, Kevin. Heat adds to the stress, but I can still go much further when walking on flat ground. The thing I hate the most is a climb at the end of a long walk. That always kicks my ass.
You are in a league of your own–a true marathoner. Not everyone has that impressive capability.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/December/2024 @ 7:42 am
Kev, well, she didn’t have any choice. She wanted to take her shoes off and cross barefooted, but I advised against doing so. Those rocks can be sharp and slippery, and who knows what else may be lurking on the bottom.
Your name came up as we completed our hike. I congratulated Swan on achieving the 9K milestone and told her of my dream of walking the 29K route to the Mope Beach Resort in San Narciso. She replied that it was too far to walk. I mentioned that you regularly hike longer distances than that in Korea. Swan responded that the weather is cooler there; every kilometer feels like five in our heat. Hmm, so I guess our Hash trail was 45K on Saturday!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/December/2024 @ 6:37 am
Brain, Yes, our host, Honeydew, owns a large functioning farm. We walked through a large grove of mango trees, but I’m unsure what else is produced there. As you can see from the Hash Run photos, it’s a pretty rural area. Even so, our hotel was only ten minutes away in the town of Pozorubbio.
Those Scottish accents can be tough to decipher. I had a Scottish friend in Korea who was an English teacher there. I could only understand him about half the time. I also laughed about someday meeting a Korean kid with a Scottish accent and knowing who his teacher was.
Well, yes, now that you mention it, I did have six gin and tonics last night. And today, I’ll have Zero beers at the Hash. It’s good to be back home!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/December/2024 @ 6:28 am
Daeguowl, thanks for the clarification. Scotch eggs are pretty tasty!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/December/2024 @ 6:02 am
There is nothing at all wrong with camping. I was an avid camper in my younger years. These days, I have no desire to sleep on the ground and wake up to no toilet or shower. I’ve become addicted to creature comforts! Now, give me an RV, and I’ll happily go glamping!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/December/2024 @ 8:42 am
The problem is that universities have become indoctrination centers rather than institutions of higher learning.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/December/2024 @ 7:55 am
Brian, my understanding is the godparent thing here is very informal. In this case, Swan just gave the woman her name and a 500 peso donation. I won’t be surprised if Swan gets hit with “help” requests on birthdays and holidays. Then again, the only point of contact is when we walk by.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/December/2024 @ 7:54 am
Castillejos loop de las loonies
Kev, well, I was going for the Spanish vibe, but I see now that I should have used the plural. However, what do you use when the group is mixed? I guess I should have gone with the singular since I’m obviously the loonie.
I’ve never experienced the pebble issue except when wading through water. I just enjoy the vibe of being off-road.
Swan can’t sleep without her Teddy. Sometimes, I hide it and smile while watching her frantically search the bedroom for it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/December/2024 @ 8:01 am
Brian, yes, and walking in dirt feels cooler without the reflected heat off the pavement.
I understand it had a different vibe in the Navy days, and most of the nasty bars were in Subic. The stories my friend told were more about law and order issues. He said back then, the cops were the gangsters, and you always had to be careful not to piss off the wrong person.
Smiling ain’t my style, but Swan insists. I guess it’s the little things you do to keep them happy!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/December/2024 @ 7:50 am
Kev, Nope, I’d never seen penguin sing. Thanks for the link!
I’d wager our “sane” group of Hashers outnumbers the hardcore folks most of the time.
Regarding the pulled pork, I just ordered the sandwich. Once I’d scrapped the meat off the bread, I realized that I’d wasted a perfectly good bun. I doubt the waitress will know what “sans” means, so I’ll just say, “pulled pork sandwich with no bun, please.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/December/2024 @ 7:29 am
Brian, precisely. And some Hares do shitty trails that put you at risk. Nope, that’s not what I came for.
Yeah, I wonder if some of those “first times” are legit. I’m way older than them, of course, but when I was a kid I’d see Ed Sullivan or American Bandstand on TV and get exposed to music I’d never heard on my transistor radio. I’m not sure how they could have avoided being exposed to the oldies, but whatever. Some of them are fun to watch.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/December/2024 @ 7:24 am
Regarding female Asian stereotypes, I agree with you. That said, the type of Western woman who believes and perpetuates those myths is the type who is driving Western men away. And physically, I will take a little brown beauty over the chunky gals back home without hesitation. As I said, it wasn’t the women that made me flee the USA, and women weren’t the primary motivation for moving here, but they do help make it a special place to be.
Honestly, I don’t think our once-a-week brief interactions can influence the kids we candy. I’m trying to get them to stop running down the middle of the road as we approach with limited success. Swan admonishes against littering and sometimes has them line up and wait patiently for their turn at the handout, but that’s about the extent of our behavior modification. I doubt they’ll become dependent on us. Yes, many of them look forward to our weekly arrival, but if we stopped coming, we wouldn’t be missed for long.
I talked to the German Hare who wrote that message on the pole. He said the man who lives in the house is German, and the words were directed towards him. He acknowledged the French origins of “sans souci,” and I noticed as I passed the house on the hike yesterday that the resident calls his house “Sans Souci” based on those words being written on his fence.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/December/2024 @ 6:42 am
We’re on, Baldy!
I’m not sure what happened at the birthday party. Miscommunication or bad timing. Either way, no big deal. I wouldn’t have sat through the videoke anyway.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/December/2024 @ 7:28 am
Sorry to disappoint, Aaron, but there are no trannies at Kokomo’s. Good luck in your search!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2024 @ 6:36 am
Thanks, Kevin. That’s the plan!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2024 @ 6:35 am
«« Back To Stats PageGreg, nope, everyone ate Yankee style. Well, we did serve some rice.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/December/2024 @ 6:37 am