Comments Posted By John McCrarey
Displaying 1,861 To 1,890 Of 6,593 Comments
Kamsamnida!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/August/2024 @ 5:14 pm
Waving at or off? Maybe a little of both!
Those ribbons are a pain to remove. I need to carry a knife or scissors–the knots are hard to untie.
Yep, I’m officially 69 today. I’ll be writing about the nightmare Hash in today’s post.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/August/2024 @ 12:29 pm
Brian, it’s better than it was. Still dealing with frequency and urgency, but that might be old age.
If those minor bumps are the worst complaints I have, I’m a lucky man. But they still chill your buzz.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/August/2024 @ 12:23 pm
Smokin’ some Hops and drinkin’ some Brews
Yeah, Hops and Brews has a reputation for being over-priced. The quality is good, though. I thought the portions were small for the price as well, but it was good to sample the goods. Next time, I’ll focus on ribs and pulled pork. And damn, I miss that Brazilian steak house in Itaewon. Wonder if it is still open?
If we get the Electoral College and not the popular vote, the Constitution saved us from the tyranny of the majority our founders warned about.
I think Lucky is more stupid than evil. He’s resistant to authority but mostly compliant.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2024 @ 10:46 am
Trump’s numbers were bad, but Biden is set to surpass them. And the COVID scam played a part in the increase in Trump’s last year. But the more important numbers have to do with inflation (who knew that cutting oil production would raise gas prices?). The economy is in the shitter and that’s not Trump’s doing. To me, it is a simple question: Were we better off four years ago than we are now?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2024 @ 10:30 am
I’m a techno-peasant myself, so have no idea what might be causing the problem. It is slow here sometimes, but I attribute that to my internet connection/speed.
What’s it like being back in the USA? Do you miss Asia?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2024 @ 10:33 am
About those ribbons, they are rarely used, but on some trails with thick undergrowth the hare will tie a ribbon around a branch to make the trail visible. Sadly, most Hares don’t go back to remove them later, and unlike paper, powder, and chalk, they don’t disappear after a rain. I saw two or three ribbons on my hike and didn’t think to remove them myself. I feel sufficiently guilty that I’m resolved to do so when I encounter them in the future. I’m no Tony Orlando!
I’ve tasted enough Filipino food to know that most of the dishes (pancit, sisig) are not to my liking. And chicken feet are so gross to look at I’d puke before I took a bite. Sorry, not sorry!
I don’t recall ever hearing that Sting song. I like it!
Interesting how 1 Corinthians speaks to my love of beer. Now, why didn’t Jesus turn that water into brew?
Yeah, I’m at the stage of forgetfulness that I have to write things down to remember. I’ll think of a post title or song to use on the blog, and five minutes later, it is gone to Bidenland. I guess that old saying, “I’ve forgotten more than you’ll ever know,” is truer than ever. Karma is such a bitch!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 8:57 am
Beckerson, she left me more years ago than we were together. Life goes on, and I’m living it. I don’t follow the tenets of your faith and have no worries about any impending judgment from God. The world is a fucked up mess, and if the all-powerful Almighty is worried about who I’m fucking, He’s not much of a supreme being after all.
Feel free to believe otherwise.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 8:33 am
Thanks for the link, Drain. I’ve subscribed to her channel now. I know a handful of Tagalog words and could stand to learn a few more, but I expect that conversation will be a bridge too far. Still, it is nice that I can call out “isa pa!” when I need another beer!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 8:28 am
I went back and re-looked at the law. It states explicitly that only the cheater’s spouse can file a complaint. I didn’t find anything addressing a non-Filipino citizen bringing adultery charges. Still, logistically, Jee Yeun would not be able to do so, even if that was her desire, which she does not. All of this was her doing, and we’ve been apart now longer than we were ever together.
I have discussed my marital status with Swan, and she is understanding and supportive. I have no intention of ever marrying again, and all Swan asks is that I remain faithful to the relationship.
Anyway, it is not a legal issue, and I derive some tax benefits by filing a joint return every year. I will consider doing a no-fault divorce back in the USA on a future visit.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 9:09 am
Sorry you feel that way, Beckerson. I would just remind you that Jesus said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 8:58 am
I hope that the loading issue was a one-off situation. When it happens to me, it is usually due to a slow internet connection.
Yes, the guy is fucked, and it’s his own damn fault. I feel sorry for him, but doing drugs here is just plain stupid. There are other crimes that are “non-bailable offenses” (like underage girls) where you sit in jail for years waiting for trial. I’ve heard stories of crooked cops in Angeles setting guys up (all it takes is a minor being alone with you), and then you pay up or go to jail. When I briefly dated the eighteen-year-old, I asked to see her birth certificate before the first meeting. Shit can happen, but most of the time, it can be avoided.
Jee Yeun is not in the country and isn’t Filipino, so she would have no standing to file an adultery complaint. We’ve been apart longer than we were together now. I’m not at risk, and I have no intention to ever remarry. If and when I return to the USA for a visit, I’ll consider pursuing a no-fault divorce there.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2024 @ 8:08 am
Brian, yes, as is true in most cases of foreigners in jail here, they fucked up of their own volition. You hear the occasional story about set-ups and false chargers, but drugs, underage girls, and drunken stupidity are far more common.
Well, I’ve been separated longer than we were married. Jee Yeun isn’t Filipino, so the adultery law is inapplicable, even if she wanted to file a complaint. We are on friendly terms, so I am not worried.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2024 @ 7:52 am
Damn, I should have known better. Pure ignorancia. I guess Spanish is like Greek to me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2024 @ 4:53 pm
Damn, since I can fuck up in at least two languages, that makes me multi-lingual, right? Yeah, it’s been a long time since I studied Spanish in college. Sad that I’ve been wrongfully telling women they are beautiful. ¡Soy estúpida!
I remember one of my Spanish instructors was a sexy blonde woman originally from Spain. One day in class, she told us to be careful in choosing our words. For example, “caliente” and “calor” both mean hot. She said, “caliente is hot,” fanning her face. Then she smiled and touched her hair while saying, “calor.” That’s a lesson I’ll never forget!
Update: Well, damn. Turns out I did forget. What I said above about caliente and calor is backwards.
“Don’t say “estar caliente,” say “tener calor.” This is one of the first things we warn Spanish students of in class. We explain to them that if they say “estar caliente,” then they are saying they are sexually excited, which although often very humorous, causes a negative effect: unsure of when using “caliente” is okay, they just avoid using it altogether!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2024 @ 8:30 am
According to Google, in Tagalog, horse = kabayo. It is often said that many Tagalog words are derivatives of the Spanish language. They usually don’t sound the same to me, though. And when I throw out a Spanish phrase like, “tu es mujer muy bonita,” or “mas cerveza, por favor,” I get a blank stare. Whatever the origins of particular words, Spanish may as well be Greek in the Philippines.
Nope, I have no need for golf balls.
Well, that photo was posed, of course. Some funky song came on, so I did my “funky white boy” routine. It was an even earlier-than-usual night for us, and I was far from drunk when I got home. There is no question that I enjoy drinking, but I don’t enjoy drinking too much. I’m actually kind of proud of my ability to maintain control of my love for beer. I start late and finish early.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/August/2024 @ 6:52 am
Brian, yes, as a matter of fact I am considering just that. I had the cardiology exams before my nasal surgery last year, but I’d like to focus on potential blockage issues.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/August/2024 @ 6:32 am
I may not have picked the best link, but Dr. Jo and Chris were advocating using chelation therapy for other than metal poisoning. They believe it helps clear blocked arteries but acknowledge that mainstream medicine hasn’t bought into that treatment.
I’m hoping my issues are not heart-related, but my mother died from congestive heart failure, and swollen ankles are one symptom of that. I might need to do some more tests.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/August/2024 @ 8:01 am
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
«« Back To Stats PageBrian, 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