Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brian, yes I managed to throw just well enough to win. It came down to the out shot; he missed, I didn’t.
It was a great cheat day that I’m thankful for, but now it is back to the grind. Once I achieve my target weight (under 200 pounds) I might see how a weekly cheat day works out.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2024 @ 7:22 am
Terry, I’m guessing those calories hadn’t kicked in yet when I weighed myself. We’ll see what happens next week.
Well, I drink low-alcohol beer (3%) so it is about half the power of regular beer. When Zero isn’t available, I have to remind myself to slow down…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/November/2024 @ 7:19 am
Kev, Yeah, I knew the beans were carby, but I was surprised at the high calorie count for that single serving. I’ll try and do better in the future.
The candied yams recipe was very simple and easy to follow. I actually added some cinnamon and pecan pieces which I think made it have an even more robust flavor.
Well, well, well. So, I finally tickled your funny bone! Glad you liked seeing Santa making a Christmas wish cum true!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2024 @ 7:30 am
Ya, thanks for letting me know people on other blogs are using the image of MY turkey. I can’t blame them, it did come out looking good and it tasted even better than it looked!
I’ll be posting more images from the feast today–let me know if anyone steals them.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2024 @ 7:21 am
Kev, Ya Kid Kay is just a random troll, but I take it as a backhanded compliment. If my turkey looks so good it must be stolen, it came out better than I hoped. And it tasted good, too. The brining process was something new to me (thanks again for the tip!), and Swan did a great job with basting throughout the oven roasting. We didn’t stuff the bird, but my helper Teri inserted a halved lemon inside that cavity, which was something I’d never seen before. The turkey was flavorful, and the meat wasn’t dry. A team effort!
Now that I think about it, I’m a day ahead of US time, so all those other images the troll talks about must be from people cooking early. Either that, or THEY stole images of my bird!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2024 @ 7:18 am
Kevin, I went to the trouble of moving the microwave up to the roof so my guests could reheat anything they desired, but I only used it once for the gravy. Everything else, including the yams, tasted okay at room temp (or should I say rooftop temperature), so I worried for nothing.
Yes, I’ve been an editor’s nightmare since I first picked up a pen. I’m surprised about the spelling error with marshmallow because WordPress has a built-in spellchecker (it underlines the word in red). Maybe that feature wasn’t available back in 2010. I’ll go back and review that post and see what I can fix. Perhaps not today; I have some excess calories to burn!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/November/2024 @ 7:43 am
Shit, I accidentally clicked on the link for Japanese rentals instead of opening it in a new tab and lost everything I’d written in response to your comment. Damn it!
Anyway, the umbrella lady’s name is Wendy. She calls me Papa, so I call her Mama. Nicknames should be capitalized, and I will do so in the future. Promise. Unless I forget.
Thanks for the tip on making cranberry sauce from juice. Glad I won’t have to go that route. I’d probably have to order the gelatin online anyway.
No blowtorch, so any needed reheating will be in the microwave. I’m bringing it up to the roof. The logistics of this feast are a little daunting, especially in an outdoor venue. Things may not be served as warm or as chilled as they should be, but the beer will be ice cold for sure.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Kevin!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/November/2024 @ 6:58 am
Yes, two cans of whole berry cranberry sauce at Royal yesterday. Woo hoo!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2024 @ 6:26 pm
Regarding the tail feathers, I was wondering the same thing. They have dogs, roosters, and goats around, so maybe the turkey pissed someone off.
I’ll check out the dry-brining video for ideas, but my prep plan was just to baste the bird in butter and spices, then throw it in the oven for a few hours. I’ll make the fruit salad and candied yams today.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/November/2024 @ 7:40 am
Kev, glad to hear I’m showing improvement. Slow and steady wins the race!
Yeah, it is always a conscious decision I make about the amount I imbibe, but I never really counted the number of drinks; I’ve always measured by how they make me feel. I don’t want to get drunk drunk, and with beer, I can normally tell when it’s time to stop. The gin is stronger and a little trickier to gauge. Still, counting calories against the daily target adds a new element to the decision-making process–“I could go for one more, but is it worth those added calories?” Most of the time, I make the right call.
Sitting here right now, I’m feeling that familiar pang in my belly. Pre-diet, I’d get up and pour myself a big bowl of cereal. These days, I try to ignore the feeling, and it does seem to go away after a bit. If it gets too bad, I grab a dill pickle slice or two, and that seems to satisfy the craving for food.
As for shortcut decision-making, it depends. Sometimes, the Hare sends out a map, and you can make a plan beforehand. That didn’t happen yesterday, so I was on my own. As fate would have it, during my walk to the starting point, I encountered a portion of the day’s trail, so I had a good idea of what was in store. I arrived at the start three minutes late, and everyone was gone, so I just continued with a street walk. Got in 7.5K, though. No, I don’t have contour map apps to consult, but unless I’m in unfamiliar territory, I can usually find alternative routes based on past experience.
“Back when CGI was primitive”.
And you could call gay folk “faggot” in your lyrics.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2024 @ 8:14 am
Brian, I know nothing about drumming, but the concept of simple equipment mixed with extreme talent seems like a winning formula. I don’t mind listening to AC/DC music, but I hate their videos. That cheesy guitar player hopping around in a schoolboy uniform is annoying to me. Give me Eric Clapton just standing there letting the guitar display his mastery is so much more entertaining.
Well, we still enjoy the Sunday candy walk, but it does feel like an obligation knowing that kids are expecting us and will be disappointed if we don’t show up. When we do other walks with sweets, we try to not visit the same neighborhoods regularly so the kids are always happily surprised to see us. On the other hand, we have some Sunday regulars we enjoy seeing every week, so it works out for both the givers and receivers.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/November/2024 @ 7:43 am
Geez, I’m such a dumbass. Answer was staring me right in the face…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/November/2024 @ 10:28 am
Yep, the wording on that banner was the worst I’ve seen. It would be almost funny if the subject weren’t so serious. The family should have just said what they wanted in Tagalog.
Sorry, I’m not getting the “elbo” reference. Help me out.
I still have not had a taste of the erythritol. The spearmint cooling you describe doesn’t sound that appetizing, but perhaps it’s not as noticeable after baking. That shit ain’t cheap, so we’ll find out soon enough, I suppose.
Never really been a Skeletor fan, but I do enjoy a good pun. I’ll check it out, thanks!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/November/2024 @ 7:46 am
Kev, you have to be careful as a pedestrian, that’s for sure. Some of the pits are in the middle of a sidewalk with no barriers whatsoever.
Ah, now I understand the context of “lector.” Makes me hungry for more!
Daddy Dave owns Wet Spot and Green Room. He’s been hosting the SOB for over twenty years now (starting in Angeles). Seven bars participate, and the contest rotates weekly. This time it was La Oficina’s turn. Dave has no authority in that venue; he’s just there to run the show. Local drinks are the standard fare at the standard prices. Coke would be included in that. Some bars overcharge for wine; others charge prices similar to local drinks. La Oficina and Queen Victoria are the only SOB venues that wouldn’t allow Swan her wine. The stupid thing is that I offered to pay the difference in the price of a local drink, and they still refused.
I do keep count of what I imbibe these days, but I was in the mood that night. And who knew that a few chicken fingers would cost me 500 calories?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2024 @ 8:00 am
Terry, I can blast anytime, anywhere, without warning. But that spray bottle is alcohol for cleaning her hands.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/November/2024 @ 7:38 am
Nice to hear from you again, Thompson. I’ve never been a fan of Indian food, and your description of the meal’s aftermath doesn’t entice me to try some anytime soon. Sipping beer in an old man’s bar sounds nice, though.
It’s strange how a song can trigger a memory. I’ve had that happen, too, but alas, most of the time, they are not happy ones. I guess that Proclaimers tune really stinks for you. I’ll try not to regurgitate it in the future!
“If you get people asking the wrong questions, you don’t have to worry about the answers.”
Hunter S. Thompson
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2024 @ 8:05 am
Joo can dew eet!
I’m not sure how adopting Judaism will make a difference in my distance-walking ability.
I don’t eat rice, and seeing the drying method here makes me glad about that.
I think if I tried long daily walks like that, the blisters would be the least of my problems.
I re-read your post on beer bellies, but I can’t blame the beer or heredity for mine. My dad’s beer drinking puts mine to shame, and he remained thin his entire life. Almost everyone I know is a drinker, and a lot of them aren’t fat. I blame sweets and other poor diet choices for my current obesity. Beer doesn’t help, I know. I’ve probably reduced my consumption by 50% since beginning my current diet regimen.
At least she gets to know what you’re like on the inside.
That’s what I tell her. And caring is sharing.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2024 @ 7:46 am
Kev, Or maybe he found Waldo in a bar, joined him for a beer, and then never left. The comma goes after “day”–just don’t ask me why! 🙂
Yep, tampo is like being on the rag and usually lasts about the same amount of time. The big difference is Filipinas go silent. Some guys enjoy it when their gal is in tampo mode.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2024 @ 8:51 am
Scott, nope. I have no interest whatsoever in interrupting the joys of retired life. Besides, I don’t have the foodie skills needed to maintain John’s quality standards. I’m not sure how the place will fare without him, although John’s wife did most of the cooking. I think it will come down to finances.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2024 @ 8:45 am
Kev, what I was trying to say was that I prefer the “goopy” canned cranberry sauce over the gelatin style. I’ll eat either, though, and enjoy it.
To me, the cranberry flavor goes well with turkey. Or maybe it’s just that I only eat cranberry sauce at a Thanksgiving feast. I hope I can find some at Royal this week.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/November/2024 @ 7:53 am
Kev, thanks for the tips and the links. Turkey is in the freezer, I’ll fridge-thaw starting on Monday.
You know me, I’ll keep it as simple as possible. I ordered some pumpkin pies pre-baked for delivery on Wednesday. I hope to find some canned cranberries (I prefer berries to sauce). I don’t think fresh cranberries are available here. Swan reminds me of you–she’s been checking out YouTube for some preparation ideas. I’m confident we will find the right mix of easy and tasty.
Yes, I had the same idea about having plenty of take-away containers on hand so I won’t be tempted by leftovers!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/November/2024 @ 8:30 am
Kev, the first turn was to the left.
Ha! That was a creative solution to your keyless adventure. Didn’t even have to break anything. Well done!
The death rituals here are like none others that I’ve seen. Maybe it’s a Catholic thing. You’ve seen the funeral banners I post from my walks. That’s the precursor to erecting a canopy in the street near where the deceased lived, with chairs and tables underneath. Those are up for two or three days, and friends and family come to hang out, play cards, and reminisce. On the final day, the coffin is displayed with the corpse in full view. It’s freaky to walk by and see a dead body lying there.
Anyway, like you, I don’t want to see the body of the dearly departed. The living memories are the ones I hold onto. I’d never thought of that ashes-to-paint idea, but yeah, it seems a tad haunting to me. I won’t care what happens after I’m gone, of course, but my preference is to be cremated and have the ashes scattered on a Hash trail. On-On to whatever comes after!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2024 @ 6:53 am
Brian, turning right is my usual path, but I started out that day going left. Then I made a HARD right and continued on my way. 🙂
It’s great that you don’t need to lock up when you leave home, but yeah, relying on the garage door opener could leave you stranded. I assume those keypad entries also depend on electricity. Now, there was a time when I used the “hidden key” strategy. Not under the mat, that’s too obvious. Of course, coming home drunk and remembering the hiding place could be problematic. Looks like keys in the pocket are the safest way to go. Until you lose them.
Ah, well. Francis Scott will always be my favorite Key. I should put that on a banner. Spangled with stars.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2024 @ 6:37 am
Kev, Wow! That’s an amazing menu and much more extensive than what I have planned. I’m going to steal a couple of these ideas, though. The biggest issue will be finding some of the items I want. Seeing cranberries in a can is rare here, and I doubt fresh cranberries exist in my corner of the world. Pumpkin pie is my favorite, but I’ve never seen the ingredients for sale. I’m going to stop into Myleen’s today and see if they will bake a couple for me.
Yep, Thanks for Giving us a day of carb love. Then we can walk it all off!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/November/2024 @ 6:28 am
Shorter than it should have been
Kev, I still haven’t gotten over being dumped by Jee Yeun almost ten years ago. So, while I have no reason to doubt that Swan will stay by my side through whatever trials and tribulations may come, harsh experience has taught me not to count on it. Maybe I got lucky this time.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2024 @ 8:01 am
Brian, in the case of serious illness or a need for major surgery, most expats I’ve known here travel back to their home country for treatment. That’s likely what I would do. I put off that nasal surgery I needed for a long time because I didn’t want to go under general anesthesia here. I finally relented and went to a local hospital for the procedure. That only required a one-night stay. I had a private room, but it was still uncomfortable.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/November/2024 @ 7:53 am
Drain, Yep, nothing like it before or since. Glad I got to experience it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/November/2024 @ 7:26 am
Yeah, we enjoy it almost as much as the kids, so we will continue the candy walks as long as we are able.
It must be both BMR and activity calories. I just woke up, and according to the Fitbit tracker, I’ve burned 530 calories.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/November/2024 @ 7:57 am
Kev, I’ve been on several hikes to so-called falls, but the only real waterfall I’ve seen is Mampueng Falls in Olongapo. I’m sure there are others, just haven’t found them yet.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2024 @ 8:12 am
«« Back To Stats PageThe demoncrats aren’t acting in bad faith. Their goal is the destruction of American values and freedom. I do not support those efforts. It is my fervent hope that Trump can change the course we are on before it is too late.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/November/2024 @ 8:02 am