Comments Posted By John McCrarey
Displaying 1,771 To 1,800 Of 6,593 Comments
Kev, yes, Gen (Jenn) was scared but fine. She was a little irked at me for going that way, though.
The new bridge has no effect on me other than alleviating the need to witness the disaster if the old one had collapsed. I’m happy for the folks in that San Isidro neighborhood, though.
Yep, someday, someone will be making a video about those silly American woke superstitions.
Regarding the expenses, thus far, what I’ve noticed is that it is a real pain in the ass to keep track of what I spend. There are no real surprises yet. I assumed a night out would cost between one and two thousand; we’ll see how that plays out over the course of the month.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2024 @ 8:30 am
Brian, Good one, but it took me a while to get it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2024 @ 8:16 am
Digory, in my tourist days, I often stayed at Blue Rock. The rooms back then (2015-2017) were a bit dated, but you could get one with a nice bay view. The kitchen and bar were fantastic back then, especially the grilled meats. They even had my favorite floating bar. Alas, Blue Rock never recovered its past glory after the COVID lockdowns. It gets horrible reviews, and I don’t know any locals who go there now.
Treasure Island has the best kitchen on Baloy, but I never liked their rooms. Wild Orchid just remodeled their beach rooms, but I’ve never stayed in one. The beach bar looks very nice, but I won’t pay 150 pesos for a beer. Mangrove reportedly has very nice rooms, but I’ve never been there. If I were going to stay on Baloy, I’d probably try Harley’s–it has good food and a great pub.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/October/2024 @ 8:15 am
No, the one on the map is in Barretto. The one we see at Samba Resort is 3K further down the highway in Lower Kalaklan.
Hmm, I don’t fit all of your definition of “ugly American.” I guess I’m just unattractive.
I am glad the dog will no longer terrorize the neighborhood, that’s for sure. His partner in crime was never as aggressive, and now that he is on his own, he still barks but doesn’t go into attack mode. I don’t bother carrying a stick now.
All that candy will be gone at the end of Sunday’s walk. The challenge is finding a way to carry enough so we don’t run out before the end of our regular route.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2024 @ 7:48 am
Beckerson, Bad dogs are the result of bad owners. Death for that dog was probably a blessing, but the way he died was pitiful.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2024 @ 7:37 am
Drain, it’s been a year since the bite, and Lucky is still on probation. He’s lost my trust, but not his life. So far. Swan’s family visits frequently and he is never aggressive around them, so hopefully there will be no future incidents. He’s a good watchdog, barking at anyone who approaches the front gate, so there’s that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2024 @ 7:29 am
Digory, yeah, rocks work most of the time, but not with these two. They’d back off, then come back for more. When I came after them with the stick, yelling and screaming like a madman, “ONE OF US IS GOING TO DIE TODAY!” they’d flee. Now that his partner in crime isn’t around, the other dog is much less aggressive. He still barks but doesn’t try and approach me. I no longer need my stick!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2024 @ 7:25 am
Brian, yeah, that’s what I thought I remembered, but I don’t trust my memory much these days. Glad we had the chance to quaff those brews! Man, my Korea years were the best time of my life. There’s no going back and I’m trying hard to appreciate the blessings of life in the Philippines.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/October/2024 @ 7:34 am
Compliment…he said the meat he finds is too fatty…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/October/2024 @ 6:19 pm
Finally, a clip from a movie I’d actually seen. Of course, I’d totally forgotten about it. Thanks for the memories!
Gary’s a Brit, and he complains about Walz-like politicians there.
Luckily, it wasn’t as slippery as it looks. It can be, though, so we were treading cautiously. The stair moss hadn’t grown thick enough on the steps to be an issue, but I was still glad to be going up and not down them. We both know the heat here would be all the dissuasion you’d need.
Regarding the machete, it’s funny. Right after we exited that patch, Michael asked if anyone knew where he could buy one.
I usually bring some mud down on my shoes…make of it what you will.
Yeah, I was pissed at myself for not getting a photo of Swan’s burgers. Michael asked where she got the meat because it was so lean. I guess they were Hawaiian burgers because she had a pineapple ring on top.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/October/2024 @ 8:18 am
Brian, I’ve known several who have taken that tumble over the years—same at Bless U/Shenanigans next door. I took a fall inside Dolce once that resulted in an ambulance ride, but thankfully, never down the stairs.
What years were you there?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/October/2024 @ 7:54 am
Kev, the first of the month has the big items like rent and salaries, so that’s a one-off.
The only place I use my credit card is at Royal. Very few local businesses accept plastic payment. I withdraw cash weekly from an ATM and pay for everything out-of-pocket. So, my bank statements will show my grocery bill and ATM transactions but no details on where the cash was spent.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/October/2024 @ 8:23 am
Brian, I have an app on my phone where I can log my spending. When I first moved here, I monitored how much I spent on different things to establish the framework for a budget, but it is not something that I strictly adhere to. I’m tracking this month mostly out of curiosity; I don’t anticipate any lifestyle changes as a result.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/October/2024 @ 8:13 am
In the best of all possible worlds
Brian, Kris would agree with you. I saw a quote where he said all the singers who covered the songs he wrote sang them better than he did. A lot of them were bigger hits for others, too. Still, he had a unique voice. “Sunday Morning Coming Down” was a big hit for Johnny Cash, but I like Kris’ version better.
He lived an interesting life, and seems to have lived it well. RIP.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/October/2024 @ 7:38 am
Kev, thanks for the info on heart tests. I just laid there and didn’t ask questions, so I’m unsure what format I’ll get for results. The one I did here didn’t have pictures, so maybe this version is more in-depth. I should know soon.
No, I don’t plan on renewing the S&R membership again. It’s a long and expensive trip to get there and back, and then to be disappointed in the available selections makes it a waste of money.
Yeah, I’m never sure how to spell “Tung N’ Gruve,” but that’s how I saw it on the Hash FB page, so I’ll assume that’s right. It seems like the apostrophe should go before the N, but what do I know?
It will be interesting to see how the breakdown works, but I expect beer and charity projects will be up there.
Well, in my “do-over” afterlife fantasy, I remember past events. That’s how I avoid making the same mistakes over and over. This life I’m living now with so many fuck-ups would be a great foundation for going back and getting it right next time.
No problems with the house of the landlord. She’s very proactive in repairs and improvements. Didn’t raise the rent either, so overall, this is the best rental I’ve had in the PI.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/October/2024 @ 7:34 am
Brian, glad you enjoyed the sunset views.
Yeah, there is plenty to see and do, that’s for sure. My nephew is working on Jeju, so that would be on the itinerary as well.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/September/2024 @ 6:40 am
Yeah, I’m thinking cherry blossom season.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/September/2024 @ 6:37 am
Brian, the enforcement of “community standards” is definitely inconsistent. I mentioned in another comment that I’ve had the equivalent of porn (dicks slamming into pussies) in some ads on my feed, but I guess that’s okay by FB standards. The initial review I requested was denied, most likely exactly in the manner as you described. The appeal I made goes to an outside group. supposedly not controlled by Facebook. They only selectively accept appeals to review, so I don’t expect mine to make the cut. That’s why I raised the cultural insensitivity issue, figuring that a woke panel might not want to be viewed as racist. I really don’t care, it just seemed beyond ridiculous to suspend me over this.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2024 @ 10:12 am
Sorry, Aaron. I have no expertise regarding ladyboys. They are rarely seen in Barretto. You might tell your mate to check out Johm’s Resto Bar. I’ve never been inside, but I understand they employ ladyboys there. It’s next door to the 7/11 on National Highway (across the street from Sam’s Pizza).
If a “girl” says to him, “Let’s get something straight between us,” there’s a good chance it’s a ladyboy!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2024 @ 7:31 am
Terry, Precisely. It is just so natural and common, I hadn’t even noticed. And how dare they assume those little girls don’t identify as male! It takes a perverted mind to look at happy children playing outside on a hot day and see “nudity or sexual activity.” Shame on them!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2024 @ 7:24 am
Kev, Facebook denied my challenge to their decision, so I’ve forwarded my complaint to a third party, the “Oversight Board,” for consideration. I doubt it will make a difference, but at least I took a stand against an unjustified and possibly racist attack on Filipino culture.
Nope, the SOB pics are fine. What’s weird is I’ve gotten advertisements for things like erectile dysfunction meds in my FB feed that were flat-out pornographic. I guess since FB makes money on those, it is okay.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/September/2024 @ 7:17 am
Kev, regarding stenosis vs. synopsis, can I blame auto-correct? I don’t know how I missed that.
Yes, I take drinking to heart. And I have the belly to prove it! The real surprise is that my liver hasn’t revolted. Yet.
We share the same taste in country music, it seems. I grew up listening to my dad’s favorites, like Marty Robbins and Patsy Cline, when he came home from work every night. I still listen to them now. I think my ears are still bleeding from that Chinese opera you shared. Ouch!
Yep, I’m gonna keep pounding away. At least for as long as my heart is beating!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/September/2024 @ 8:12 am
Brian, the Clark Medical City hospital in Angeles is first-world quality. It’s the go-to place for many expats. It is also VA approved for veterans who require treatment. But yes, I’ll go to Manila if need be.
A trip to Korea is not a bad idea. The last visit I made there I got a little overwhelmed by memories, but with Swan along, that shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll have to see about the visa process. When I lived in Korea, it was difficult to bring a Filipina over to visit. We’ll see.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/September/2024 @ 7:59 am
“I bet you’re the picture of health.”
I posted the picture of my health and you called it a “lunatic’s grimace.” Oh, wait. That was the picture of my MENTAL health. Never mind!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/September/2024 @ 7:28 am
HaHa! You got me, Mike! If I start spending my cash on expensive ice cream, how am I going to pay for all that beer?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/September/2024 @ 5:41 pm
Kev, yeah, when I hear the carols like “Walking In A Winter Wonderland,” I’m like, how would you know? You’ve never even seen snow. But good for the folks who find comfort in three months of Christmas cheer.
“It always saddens me to see the incurious”I’m curious what you mean by that… 🙂 But seriously, I need to try a little harder to share some adventures with Swan and make some memories for her.
You may not like onions, but they like you!
Nope, Swan is not a drama queen; that’s one of the things I love most about her. I’m also really happy that she is not mindlessly jealous. She took the photo of me with the Whiskey Girls and wasn’t bothered by me treating them to a drink. Naturally, I don’t do anything provocative like touching or flirting, of course. Swan shares my philosophy that the girls work hard for low pay, and a lady drink commission is a small act of charity on their behalf. And nope, she hasn’t tried anything overly kinky or masochistic on me. Yet.
Yes, Swan added the smiley face to that photo. It really wasn’t that risqué (she was wearing shorts), but she thought her panties were showing. At least she didn’t make me delete it!
I think 60 will just be the milestone you remember when looking back on your walk in Spain. You got this!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/September/2024 @ 4:00 pm
Brian, maybe passion is the first thing to die. I gave up darts a couple of years ago now and don’t really miss playing. My retirement plans included frequent international travel, but now, other than the occasional overnight getaway to the beach, it seems I can’t be bothered. So, yeah, I seem to have grown lazy and unmotivated in my old age. I guess the good thing is I’m still enjoying my life, such as it is. Perhaps making firm plans (and paying for them) like the upcoming La Union trips is the way to go. I ain’t giving up yet!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/September/2024 @ 9:41 am
Cums Alone is wearing a Hash shirt in the photo. She got it last year at the Angeles City Hash I took her to.
My normal resting heart rate is usually in the low 60s. I guess that’s a blessing. It shoots up real quick though when I start moving around. I have some arterial blockage, first diagnosed ten years ago. One of the things I want to pursue with the cardiologist is whether that has gotten worse. But yes, given my lifestyle, I’ve been blessed. So far.
The food-ratings can be be your checklist to try if you find a Filipino restaurant nearby.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/September/2024 @ 6:17 am
It’s hard to say, Brian. It’s primarily an expat hangout, and I think now that owner Griff is back in town, his drinking buddies are more inclined to drop in. Also, when there is a pool league match, some folks stay after for a bit.
I’m a once week visitor for the feeding tradition, but Hideaway would not be worth the trip across for me otherwise.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/September/2024 @ 7:51 am
«« Back To Stats PageI shared the link with Swan so we’ll see if she accepts the challenge!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/September/2024 @ 7:46 am