Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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To each his own. Public sex just isn’t my style. How’s that old saying go? Get a room!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2024 @ 10:10 am
Swan wasn’t handing out candy per se, but the first time I was introduced to her she was involved in a feeding program for the Aeta natives up in the hills. She still gets involved in projects like that. I do enjoy watching her in action and I’m thankful she joins me for some of my hikes.
Yep, I prefer Groundhog Day over Incineration Day, that’s for sure!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2024 @ 7:51 am
Almost all the bars have GROs who will go with you if the price is right. It’s a negotiation between two consenting adults, and if the price is right, you’ll have some company for the night. Bars with dancers generally have more selection and willing participants.
There is nothing ghastly about Green Room. A pervert who wants a gal to rub his crotch in a public setting is pretty ghastly though.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2024 @ 7:42 am
Some days are good, others are a real SOB
HaHa, yes, I have indeed become a lightweight. Early to bed, early to rise these days. I have a four-hour window (4-8pm) for bar fun. I’ve come a long way since those nights in Seoul. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but it is what it is.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2024 @ 1:08 pm
Brian, yeah, I read the guy is 26 years old. Get a job, dude. Well, it is too late for that. The guy also had posted about how dangerous his surroundings were and he didn’t feel safe. But he also didn’t leave while he could. I guess marrying a local Muslim girl wasn’t the “get out of jail free” card he thought it was.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2024 @ 1:05 pm
Better to grab a pussy than be one.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2024 @ 7:45 am
Brian, I can’t speak for Kevin on this topic, but when I lived in Korea you needed a VPN to access the good porn sites…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2024 @ 1:09 pm
Brian, that’s where my sympathy comes from…being locked up in a Filipino jail would be a death sentence for me. The guy was stupid to mess with drugs in this country, and now he is charged with a non-bailable offense. It will likely be years before his case is resolved.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2024 @ 10:44 pm
If you can tell me how I’ll be happy to try…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2024 @ 10:42 pm
Ha! I was trying to remember the name of that movie. Thanks!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2024 @ 9:07 am
Hello again, Thompson. For the record, I CAN swim, it’s Swan who doesn’t have that skill set. But yeah, why go for a swim and let the beer get hot, right? Mex-urine doesn’t sound tasty, that’s for sure. Still, it is always fun to throw a Snickers bar in the pool and watch the reactions.
“The Edge… There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.” – Hunter S. Thompson
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2024 @ 7:57 am
Kev, that pool wasn’t deep enough to be over her head. She’s not afraid of the water and likes to float and flop around. But yeah, I don’t know why she didn’t take the next step and learn how to swim. I guess it is just a case of bakit pa mag abala. As you know, I grew up in an English-speaking country and never learned the language.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2024 @ 7:45 am
Digory, yep, we didn’t have more than a few sprinkles; so that was a blessing.
Michael has only been living here a few months and I’m still getting to know him, but yeah, he’s been all over the world, is still engaged in some work projects (part of the reason he is here) and he does probably dress better than most expats. Dapper fits.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2024 @ 8:01 am
Yeah, I’m the same Brian. I don’t recall having any more beers AFTER I indulged my sweet tooth. But as you can see, I was pretty wasted by then…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2024 @ 7:55 am
Mike, I hadn’t noticed that. Maybe it is drunken photography–McCranberry sauced.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2024 @ 7:53 am
Kev, well, it’s all highway to San Narciso, flat and straight. You wouldn’t have a problem (other than heat and dodging traffic). I guess I just hadn’t pictured what 29K looked like until I mapped the route.
It’s mōp. The owner (or the husband of the owner, I should say) is Australian. I have no idea if Mope is Aussie slang for something, but the name makes no sense to me. And it is never “Mope’s.” Strange. Next time I’m there, I will ask about it.
Yes, Joe’s wife is the boss. Joe cooks, and she waits tables.
Well, I prefer Zero, and my local haunts all carry it (otherwise, they wouldn’t be haunts), but stepping out of your comfort zone when traveling is part of the adventure, right?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2024 @ 7:51 am
Brian, we are on the same page. Not sure how much longer I get to be alive, but I want to make it as enjoyable as I can. I till won’t spend 150 pesos for a beer though! 🙂
Yes, the guys who come here unprepared or who do stupid shit and lose everything are a sad sight to see. Luckily, I haven’t seen much of that around Barretto. There was one guy living on the street when I first moved here, but he has died now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2024 @ 7:50 am
Brian, it was my first time in Thailand. I was vaping on the street and an expat warned me I’d be arrested if the police saw me. It was hard to believe vaping was illegal and smoking is allowed everywhere. I’m lucky I didn’t get caught at the airport bring my pens and oil into the country. By the time I made my second trip, pot was legal. I’d quit vaping by then so don’t know if that is still a crime.
I understand the closing on holidays thing. Last time I was in Bangkok there was a Buddhist holiday and bars had to shut down. Oddly enough, the beer bars were serving coffee. Or at least there was something in those coffee mugs. The only time I’ve seen bars closed in the Philippines (other than during the scamdemic) is on election day here. Foreigners are exempt from the no-drinking edict since we can’t vote.
You are doing it right by turning a blind eye to the politics surrounding the King. Weird that criticism of the government is considered a crime, but things seem to be trending that way in the USA too. Stay safe!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/October/2024 @ 8:04 am
Brian, yes, I agree foreigners always have a layer of insultation protecting against the harsh realities the locals experience. We can see it sometimes and be empathetic, but that’s not the same as living it. This vloggers take would be like post a video of Martha’s Vineyard and saying, “See? There’s no homeless in America.”
I was in Thailand on vacation in 2016 when the King died. The police swooped in and shut down all the bars. I was talking to an expat I met and speculated who might ascend to the throne. He told me to shut up and never mention anything about the royal family to him again. Apparently, it is a crime to say anything that might be perceived as negative about the Crown. I’ve been back to Thailand a couple of times, but have never forgotten that police state vibe. Do you feel anything like that there?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/October/2024 @ 8:05 am
Oh, I know how to swim, Scott. I just don’t enjoy swimming pools that much…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2024 @ 3:16 pm
Kev, that map was from the “Map My Walk” app, and the spelling of Barretto High School was consistent. It is surprising that so many otherwise reliable sources can’t spell the name of my town correctly. Poor Mr. Barretto must be rolling over in his grave.
Ah, I miss tangsuyuk! I love that crunchy flavor! There’s a new Korean restaurant on SBMA I’ve been meaning to try. I’ll see if they have it on the menu. Swan declined to eat the instant potatoes but did seem to enjoy the cordon bleu. Oddly enough, the Treasure Island owner came by to greet us and was bragging about his new chef. I guess mashing potatoes isn’t his specialty.
I’m glad you got the reference I directed to you. I don’t think Air Supply sounds like Styx, but I enjoy both groups.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2024 @ 7:44 am
Brian, I know most of those songs by the artists who covered them, didn’t know they were written by the same person. I’m bad about knowing the singer but not the creator. Thanks for the enlightenment!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/October/2024 @ 7:25 am
Kev, the misspelling of Barretto is fascinating. I didn’t realize how frequently the second “t” is dropped until I fooled around with Google Search. There is no question that the official spelling has two “ts”–the Barangay building and vehicles spell it that way. Ah, okay, just did some more research about the origin of the name, and this confirms it:
•Before WWII, Barretto was known as Sitio Maquinaya (headed by then municipal mayor Ruben Geronimo for the creation of Sitio Maquinaya into a full Barrio)
• On July 5, 1961, The municipality of Olongapo and duly approved by the Zambales provincial Board – Barretto was constituted as a regular Barrio
•And the Barangay was named in honor of then Zambales Governor Manuel Barretto (1955-1967)That cloud reflections on the water is one of my favorite shots. Got there at just the right time.
Well, there is “lost, lost” and “how do we get there from here?” lost. It’s usually the latter we deal with on our hikes.
Thanks for sharing the meaning of “Mukbang.” I had no idea. It’s weird that they’d pick that name, but Korean pop culture is pretty big here.
Now, now, I only get “floored” once or twice a year. 🙂
It has been interesting to see just how high my average daily spending has been so far this month. Then again, I could average $200 a day and not go broke.
Styx was a big deal back in the day. A friend named his softball team Styx, which sounded pretty cool. I’d never thought of similarities with Air Supply until you mentioned it. Same era, tad different sound, but I think they fit the genre.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/October/2024 @ 8:40 am
Thompson, I’m not sure how old you are, but some of those ailments are more than a little worrisome. You definitely need to get your heart checked because that’s something you can’t live without!
I wore glasses for over twenty years, but since having cataract surgery I haven’t needed them. Still not perfect vision, but so far, good enough. As for hearing, if the music is loud in the bar, I leave. I want to be able to hear what people are saying to me. Talking on the phone is also very difficult for me to understand.
Ha! I had never heard the term “alcorexia” and had to look to see if it was really thing. I see that it is also called drunkorexia. That’s a condition I don’t suffer from as I live by the standard of “eat, drink, and be happy!” I never drink in the morning anyway, so breakfast isn’t impacted by my beer consumption. But I don’t stop eating when beer o’clock rolls around. Everything tastes better with a cold brew to wash it down!
I was going to say something about memory lapses, but I forgot what it was.
I’ve been lucky so far that my innards know when it is time to go, and can hold it in when the time ain’t right. It sounds like your experience is a pretty shitty thing to deal with. Putting up with crap like that must really stink. Maybe it is time to invest in some Depends! (Reminds me of the girl who asked, “do you wear boxers or briefs?” I said, depends. Then she walked away.)
Thanks for the update, Thompson. Hang in there! And I hope you find your lost libido soon.
“Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.”
― Hunter S. Thompson» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2024 @ 8:03 am
Hmm, I’ve heard of another country where unmarried sex is a crime but don’t recall where now. But that law in Laos does explain why it has become a haven for lonely old white men like here in the PI.
It’s funny how time changes perspectives. Six years ago when I first moved from Korea, Barretto was cheap by comparison. Beers were half what I had been paying and rent seemed like a bargain. I’m far from being a cheap Charlie, but I do find myself paying more attention to prices these days.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/October/2024 @ 7:40 am
Kev, the knees are fine; there are just some scratches. It’s pretty great when that’s the worst that happens to you after a fall!
Some of the Hares use a machete to bushwhack a trail before the Hash. Too much like work for me. I can barely climb those hills, no way I’d have the strength to mow the grass on the way up.
No repercussions with Scott’s ankle that I know of. Hot days and hard climbs stress his heart rate, but he seems to do fine.
Myleen’s offers an enchilada plate with Spanish rice and refried beans, but I wasn’t feeling that hungry.
The Cambodian people I met were friendly and welcoming. I’ve got a friend who lives there and likes it better than the Philippines (he used to live here). There doesn’t seem to be any of the commie vibes from the Pol Pot days. I made the mistake of visiting the killing fields, and it was traumatic. Hard to believe that human beings can be that cruel. I chose the PI because of the lessor language barrier. No regrets so far.
HaHa! That’s not what I meant, but white women in these parts are very scarce indeed. That’s one of the differences between here and Thailand, Vietnam, etc. You see a lot of Western couples and families visiting as tourists. For some reason, this isn’t a couple’s destination. Go figure. I always remember when I brought Eun Oke here from Korea. We are waiting in the immigration queue, and she says, “John, there are a hundred people in this line, and only two of us are women. Why?”
The doctor’s news wasn’t terrible. I’ll post about that today.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2024 @ 8:35 am
Brian, I like visiting Thailand, but I don’t know about living there. During my first trip, the King died and I was shocked at the police state tactics used to shut everything down. I never forgot that vibe. My plan B is Cambodia right now. Never been to Laos, but I always wondered why it wasn’t on the expat map.
Doctor news wasn’t that bad, I’ll share in today’s post.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/October/2024 @ 8:11 am
Well, the budget data will give me a better idea of where it goes and whether or not I can afford this life I’m living. I can see some tweaks may be necessary in the future so that the data gathering will be helpful information.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2024 @ 2:56 pm
Kev, the beer I drink is like making love in a canoe…they are both fucking close to water. I think if I were drinking the hard stuff and getting pass-out drunk every day, I’d be in trouble. Dr. Jo suggests less beer would help me lose my belly fat, and I can’t argue with that. But if I had to choose between the two…well, I guess I have.
The grocery bill is high, but I’m feeding myself, Swan, Swan’s sister, my helpers, and three dogs. If I cut back on some of the imported stuff I like, I could reduce the tab. In some cases, I have; I won’t pay ten bucks for a bag of shredded cheese, for example. I guess my mode for now is that I can afford to live large and will do so until I no longer can.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/October/2024 @ 10:44 am
«« Back To Stats PageKev, yeah, my shortcut made the trail a tad too short, but I only had one climb in me, so I did what I had to do.
I’ve not noticed any Hare get upset when folks choose alternate paths. Some of them refer to us as “lame” but they seem to understand our desire to do a trail we are comfortable with. Most Hares mark a long and short (or easy and hard) version. The majority of Hashers will do one or the other without modification. Just designating a start and finish wouldn’t be feasible, especially for people from out of town or who are unfamiliar with the area. The system we have seems to work to everyone’s satisfaction.
Nope, the smell issues haven’t impacted my appetite. I still have some sense of taste and still enjoy eating my favorite foods.
I’ve gotten better at picking deserving recipients of my generosity. I’ve been helping out with Ethan’s school expenses for years, and the mother only asks for small amounts occasionally. Emmanuel is well thought of around town. He works hard when he is healthy enough to do so and only tends to ask for help when he has no other option. I haven’t violated Rule #1 for quite some time now.
“Beer is the answer, but I can’t remember the question.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/October/2024 @ 8:17 am