Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Kev, Swan’s a keeper, that’s for sure. I’d wager I got lucky, not smarter. I’m gonna try hard not to fuck this one up.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/August/2024 @ 6:42 am
Brian, fellow Hasher Pubic Head (Scott), takes many of the Hash photos, including the one you mention. I’m not sure what that effect is, but I’ve also noticed it. I don’t think it showed in the pic, but Tung ‘n Gruve was soaking wet, having just washed off his Hash birthday cake with a swim in the bay.
Yes, many of my fellow expats are firm believers in the one-night stand modus operandi. As they are wont to say: “I don’t pay the girls for sex, I pay them to leave in the morning.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/August/2024 @ 6:38 am
I was standing up the street in the shade, so I didn’t witness the old man’s wrath directly. Still, it seems it would have been better directed at the kids, who are, after all, his neighbors. We are just passersby trying to do a good deed. The old man’s rant killed Swan’s happy vibe, that’s for sure.
I think the idea is to take a week off from that street, then return and tell the kids if they litter, we won’t come back. We’ll see. We have until Sunday to decide.
Other venues serve fries as chips, so those medallions seemed nice for a change. Tasty too. I just did a quick search to see what authentic chips look like, and I see they are like thick-cut fries. This cooking blog had a good explanation of the difference between a “chip” and a “fry.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2024 @ 7:18 am
Good idea, Brian. I’m not sure it is logistically feasible. Some of these kids are toddlers, and when they come at us in large groups, just keeping the distribution organized is challenging. We’ll remind the kids that littering is not acceptable. We had a kid drop a wrapper while we were still standing there, and I told him to pick it up. He did.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2024 @ 7:03 am
Drain, damn, that was painful. And not only did I write that, but I also read right over it when I did my proofread. Shit.
Ah, the good ol’ days. I missed those. But yeah, the exchange rate has made up for a lot of the inflationary cost increases. The lowest I’ve ever seen was 43 PHP to the dollar, but that was back in my tourist days in 2007 or so. But you are right; it is the working-class and poor Filipinos who are suffering the most during these uncertain times.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2024 @ 10:17 am
Yeah, it has been a boomtown up here lately. Several more houses were recently completed.
There are no vacancies currently that I know of, and houses here are never vacant for long. I’d guess the percentage of foreigner occupancy is at least 80%.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/August/2024 @ 6:36 am
What? You don’t enjoy cultural dancing? That’s like not enjoying street food! Anyway, I understand watching girls doing sexy dances isn’t for everyone. The girls do work hard on their routines, and I try and respect that by showing up a couple of times a month.
Tibag has its charm, but you’d need a vehicle to live there (no trikes or Jeepneys). And there are no bars, so…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/August/2024 @ 7:16 am
Kev, no, you are not missing the joke. The joke is on me. I fucked up. I focused on the birthdate and not the gender. That’s dumb, even by my low standards.
Almost everything is better in a tortilla (and easier to eat)!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/August/2024 @ 7:19 am
Brian, yeah, I’m a dumb shit. When I look at those funeral posters, I focus on the birthdate. So, for some reason, Geraldo appeared female at first glance, and I never looked back. How I managed to post the photo and write a caption without noticing my mistake is mind-boggling.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/August/2024 @ 7:14 am
Up the creek and through the village
Well, I’ve heard from a lot of my lefty friends that Trump is a big dick. Women tend to like that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/August/2024 @ 7:15 am
Kev, yeah, and I think I heard that the founder of Preda was a Catholic priest! Anyway, what I’ve seen from a distance looks like they provide decent facilities and care for the children they help.
Hiking venues here are only limited by our lack of transportation options. When we used to have the Hash truck, it was easy to get out and explore. These days, someone willing to drive and a small enough group to fit in the vehicle is the deciding factor.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/August/2024 @ 8:13 am
Brian, I was “Big John” at Shenanigans. I don’t remember that other guy.
When I first started coming here and saw these old geezers with beautiful young women, I was cynical about the motivation of the Filipina. Him: “Honey, what was it that attracted you to me?” Her: “Honestly, it was the bulge in your pants.” Him: smiling and looking at his crotch. Her: “No, not that one. The one in your pocket.” (pointing at his wallet.) I’m sure that is true in some cases, but not all.
Over time, I’ve come to see it differently. Filipinas have a saying that “age is just a number.” For them, the stability that an older foreign male (allegedly) brings, both emotionally and financially, is the attraction. Some may call that shallow, but that’s not as shallow as the Western woman’s standard attraction to youth and good looks.
I’ve come to believe that many of the older/younger relationships are a win-win for both parties. Filipinas can be sweet, loving, and natural caregivers. With their steady pension incomes, oldsters can pay the bills and give the gal a comparatively stable and carefree lifestyle. That’s a win-win. At least until the old man dies, but why worry about the future?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/August/2024 @ 8:00 am
Nice to hear from you again, Thompson. Yes, we are all thrilled to have Kevin still among the living. He lives in Korea, so I doubt American food products are his problem. He’s also a foodie and knows how to cook healthy meals.
Your latest update seems to be an escalation in your relationship issues. You could write a book (this comment makes almost a whole chapter!). I’ve been married four times, so I’m in no position to give advice. Looking at your story from distance makes me wonder both how and why you tolerate it, though. I will say that I hope you avoid resorting to physical violence–that won’t end well for either of you.
Drinking is so much more pleasant when your companion is loving the opportunity to share the joy on the road to drunkenness. Try and stay calm and ignore the distractions. Good luck! I’ll be looking forward to the next chapter in your story!
“No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride…and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well…maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/August/2024 @ 8:30 am
Brian, yes indeed, everyone has their own likes and preferences. AC is one man’s heaven and another man’s hell. As long as that vlogger is happy, good for him.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/August/2024 @ 7:24 am
I’m glad you have your bros there for support. You’ll get through this.
Yep, the old cars brought back some nice memories. Spent a lot of teenage nights cruising in my friend’s VW bug.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/August/2024 @ 7:22 am
Thank goodness! Great to hear from you!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2024 @ 7:33 pm
Jim, no, I don’t. At this point, I hope he is safe somewhere, even if it is a hospital. Maybe he can’t access his phone but is getting whatever help he needs. I’m trying to keep thinking positively, but I am worried about him.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2024 @ 5:22 pm
Yes, those are scheduled posts. You can tell because they always go up right on the hour (8:00, 3:00, etc). Comments aren’t being approved either. Somethings wrong.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2024 @ 12:46 pm
Something is definitely wrong. I just hope it is fixable.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/August/2024 @ 7:24 am
Brian, I’m not sure if it is a crackdown, per se. In the past, extensions were pretty much automatic. Now, they are asking questions and trying to verify that you are worthy of being a tourist here. One theory is they are looking to oust some criminal Chinese elements. The other is that they want to move long-term stays to retirement visas. I’m eligible for the SRRV, but it’s a pain in the ass to jump through the hoops to get one. I guess we will see what the future holds come Tuesday.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 12/August/2024 @ 7:37 am
Yeah, I figured the Mope sign was BS, too. I enjoyed the ocean vibe and views in La Paz—a different feeling than on the bay.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 10/August/2024 @ 7:11 am
I don’t know; to me, the name is what it is, and all the signage and references say DeLeon. There are two ways to spell Barretto: the right way and the wrong way.
I’m going to work on lowering the glucose levels in my blood as best I can. When it comes to beer, it is not a matter of willpower–I have no desire to quit drinking. I take pride in the fact that I am a disciplined drinker and, for the most part, don’t overindulge. Beer is in my genes and is a family tradition. And if it leads to my death, well, we all have to die of something.
Your post created my metformin red flag. I discussed those concerns with Dr. Jo, and she reduced my daily dose by half. Now, Dr. DeLeon wants to increase it again. I’m going to schedule another consult with Dr. Jo to discuss alternatives.
Teri went to school to receive certification as a caregiver, and she is qualified to provide services to decrepit old people. Her current duties are more of being a domestic helper. She keeps the house in order, takes care of paying the bills, gets my prescriptions filled, and anything else that needs to be done. I told her when I hired her that her job was to make my life as easy and comfortable as possible. She has fulfilled my expectations.
They call pizza with pineapple “Hawaiian” here. The ones I’ve tasted have been good, adding to the kaleidoscope of flavors. It inspired me to add some pineapple chunks to my chili once, and it was surprisingly good. I still prefer the old-fashioned way, though.
I’ll keep working on my pun skills until I get so bad I’m funny. Thanks for the inspiration!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/August/2024 @ 9:30 am
Nope, it’s Mope. I’ll try to ask about the origin of that name during my visit.
I don’t recall seeing “Sleepaway Camp.” I’ll try to check out that ending, at least.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/August/2024 @ 7:43 am
Greetings, Ted. Yes, the one negative data point was my glucose/FBS reading of 120 (normal is 76-100). That means I’m still firmly in the pre-diabetes category. So, there is work to be done in that regard. My mother was diabetic, and I don’t want to go down that road.
I only know Griff travels to the UK when he goes home…he may indeed be Welsh. I’ve never bet with him.
IDM is located in the old T-Rose location. It is nothing like the old bar. The gals are friendly, but only in waitress mode–no hanky-panky allowed.
Yes, I’ve visited Mope a couple of times and spent the night once. We are just doing an overnighter for a change of scenery and to satisfy Swan’s lust for hanging out at the beach. We are going to do a candy walk through the local neighborhoods, but no real hiking. I haven’t done Pinatubo before, but I heard it is a real ass-kicker. I’ve only done a one-day trip to Bataan and liked it. I need to go and explore more. Thanks for the tip!
What are you protesting?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/August/2024 @ 7:39 am
Kev, yeah, we knew we were near the beer, and the Hares were just trying to be funny. I remember once a Hare did the “beer is near” mark, but it wasn’t. That sucked.
Yeah, for me, it is the hills. I can handle a climb early in the hike, but the ones near the end are ass-kickers. I can’t even imagine doing one of your 30K treks.
I had some of the pork goulash (which I guess isn’t Filipino) but had no interest in the grilled chicken feet. Sorry, not sorry!
Well, the only penalty for skipping the circle is missing out on the “free” beer. We pay a 300 peso fee to participate in the Hash each week, and that includes all you can drink, but I usually get my money’s worth of beer before the circle starts. That’s what I did this week.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/August/2024 @ 7:46 am
Ted, no offense taken. I didn’t know the guy beyond seeing him around sometimes. I guess having people die around you more and more frequently comes with growing old. It makes you wonder, “Will I be next?” Oh, and Sohee wasn’t a bargirl; she ran an animal rescue business.
Yes, I, too, look forward to Thompson’s comments. I’ve had that same thought: People come to LTG for the drivel and stay for the literature in the comments. Okay by me. I’m sure Thompson can’t be Griff because he doesn’t write with an English accent.
Nope, I don’t recall my mom ever singing Johnny Ray. I know she worked as a carhop for a while in the late 50s, so maybe she did. I was the editor of my high school newspaper and wrote a column called “A few words on…” about current events around campus. I had my name mentioned in the sports section of the Prescott Courier during my softball playing days and once in the Fort Smith Times-Record business section when I got promoted for the first time. That’s all I know about. Perhaps there will be an obituary in the distant future.
I seem to have lost the self-discipline required for one of those fasting diets. And I think to lose the beer belly, I’d have to lose the beer. That’s been a lifetime relationship, and I don’t want to let it go. We’ll see.
I hope the salt bath helped!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/August/2024 @ 7:33 am
Ted, to be clear, it was Marissa’s business, I just provided the start-up money and had no other involvement. Yes, we met at Alley Cats and Marissa was the first relationship I had in the PI. On and off for over the years, we were just never on the same page. I still care about her and it hurt when she ended all communication and moved away. But life goes on.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/August/2024 @ 7:13 am
You can see my fat-assed finger in the left corner of the photo. I blame the kids!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2024 @ 9:11 am
Ted, sorry to hear about the flare-up, hope you feel better soon.
No one seems to have a clue about what happened to Warren. Someone speculated he may have returned to Thailand. And yeah, maybe he died. The guy in the middle in that photo is the woman’s husband, not Kevin. He died a few years ago. I’m friends with his widow.
I never met Dickie, but Griff is a good guy. He enjoys alcoholic beverages for breakfast and sleeps them off in the afternoon. I personally couldn’t handle that, but he seems happy. I might be more worried about his bar than he is, but what do I know? I’m just a once-a-week customer.
I’ve heard of Griff’s in Calapandayan, but it was gone before I got here. I remember reading about the bar owner who got arrested (bragging about banging underage girls to an undercover reporter, if I recall correctly). There are still a couple of bars there I’ve walked by but never visited. I have no idea what’s inside, but I expect they cater to a Filipino crowd.
Well, when I hand out goodies, I leave the van with the puppy inside at home. 🙂 Swan is the one who does the candy hand-outs. I give away cookie packages on my walks, but I usually make sure there is an adult with the kids when I do.
Nope, Hasher “I’m a fucking Cupcake” is gone without a trace. I got an email from a private investigator in the US asking about a picture I’d posted with Cupcake in it, but I have no idea where he wound up. The story I read about his crime involved underage teens.
Yeah, that guy came to a Hash and stole a phone. When confronted, he denied it. He pissed someone else off a few weeks later and got his ass kicked. Wisely, he left town shortly after that, hopefully never to be seen again.
Thanks again for the info and link. You take care.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2024 @ 8:36 am
«« Back To Stats PageBrian, that’s an impressive account about the embassy intervening on your behalf. I’m glad you didn’t get “disappeared” by that evil government. I agree that it is not the responsibility of our embassy to bail out folks who make bad life choices. Free flights should only be for those in our country illegally (joke). Getting someone home if it is a matter of life or death is another matter; requiring reimbursement for that flight is fine by me. I didn’t mean to sound negatively judgmental in that regard. I’ve only dealt with the U.S. embassy in Manila a couple of times, and they have taken care of business. It’s a bureaucratic hassle, but that’s government.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2024 @ 8:07 am