Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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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
Brian, 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
Brian, actually, I only drink beer on two occasions: when I’m alone or when I am with someone. I’ll also drink on days that end in “y.”
Bruce did mention that the mountains in Taiwan are larger than here. That reminds me of when I first moved to South Carolina. I sent a picture of the Smoky Mountains to my friend in Arizona. She responded, “Y’all call those mountains? Folks sure do exaggerate there!”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2024 @ 8:37 am
It’s nice to hear from you again, Thompson. I was wondering how things were going with you. It seems that every day is a new adventure in your life. I’m glad you didn’t get squished in the crosswalk. I read somewhere that women can turn into good drivers, so if you are a good driver, be on the lookout! Apparently, that applies to pedestrians as well.
I’m glad you found something to tide you over until payday. It’s nice to put that creativity of yours to work when concocting a cocktail. And now you know the right level of mixing so you don’t burn your tongue off. Good job!
“So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?”
Hunter S. Thompson» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2024 @ 8:32 am
Kev, No, not settling. It is far from perfect here, but I’m comfortable and know that wherever I choose to live, I will still be me. It’s a good fit for me in my little town, and there is nowhere else I want to be.
Most expats believe they are escaping their old lives for a new adventure and better overall quality of life. The USA has a lot of beauty and things I miss, but I still wouldn’t want to live there.
More and more, I’m like Biden. I hate to think about what is to come. Some would say I’ve always been demented, but this feels different somehow.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2024 @ 8:14 am
I carry cookies and lollipops in my backpack, but they don’t weigh much. Hey, it’s a start!
Bruce wasn’t with us at dinner, so he missed his chance with the old fat white chick. And yeah, I’m not one to talk, but it was just so unusual to see her in the Philippines.
No, I don’t swim in the bay. I’ve seen what goes into that water, and it is not appealing. I can swim, but I don’t really enjoy it.
I believe Bruce was going directly back to Taiwan; I’m not sure if his flight was from Clark or Manila. I’m not a big fan of AC and don’t visit often. I’ve heard a lot of the old bars on Perimeter are gone now, but I also read that some new ones have opened recently. When I do go to AC, it is for the Hash, so I don’t spend much time in the bars there.
Yeah, we are talking about the same guy. I’m told he also used to run a Facebook group page called Warren’s Subic Bay, but he disappeared in 2021, and no one seems to know what happened. Thanks for the link to the RubberBoa blog; it looks interesting.
No, I haven’t b n able to find the motivation to get off my lazy ass and get out of town more often. I still have some places I want to visit; I just need to break out of my routines and stop making excuses. Nothing to do with the Hash; most places I would travel have a Hash group, so I could join in there.
Thanks for the comment and info.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/August/2024 @ 7:58 am
Kev, I didn’t know the origin of “disembark.” And now I do! Thanks.
Yes, “hypocrit” was a compound error. A word I know how to spell but fucked-up, and then missed again when I did my inept proofreading. Speaking of which, I think I’m allowed to hyphenate “fuck-up” but not “proof-read.” I actually found a website called hyphenator, but it’s not much help so far.
Yep, Bruce is like Neil Young. I love their music, but hate their politics. Nice Yeats poem; I don’t recall ever seeing that one.
Bruce is leaving today. We did the morning hike yesterday. I left his Barretto Saturday night up to him but told him where he could find the live music he enjoys.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2024 @ 8:56 am
Thanks again for the advice, Ted. I’m not very disciplined in my old age, but I’ll try to make a few lifestyle tweaks. Knowing what I should be doing is the first step.
I’ve done the Three Crosses hike a couple of times, and all those steps kick my ass. So yeah, you need to join the group to provide the incentive to climb up there again. As for the SOB gals, they come in all shapes and sizes. There are still some hotties to be found in the bars, but you have to look for them. It’s not my thing anymore; I’m just there for the cold beer.
Nope, I don’t know a Warren Carter; at least, I don’t recognize the name. I can’t remember the blog’s name, but I used to read one way back when before I moved here by a Subic guy who played pool. It might have been him. I don’t get many hits on my blog (around 250 on a good day), but I appreciate readers like you who enjoy it. LTG has devolved into a diary of my daily life, but it is what it is.
Yes, the Harry the Horse newsletter was a regular read for me. I miss it. I met Jim a couple of times (I think I was even his “tourist of the month” once) and chucked darts in his bar with him. Good times!
I did a search and couldn’t find a blog called “rubberroa.” Can you post a link?
Enjoy those pints, and thanks for reading!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2024 @ 8:36 am
Brian, yeah, it does seem that expats are their own worst enemy when it comes to failures and fuck-ups. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the crowd I hang with for the most part. Most of the bad shit I see happens in relationships.
I’ve been here over six years now, and most of the people I know have reliable pension incomes and have lived here a lot longer than me. I reckon the financial failures probably occur within the first couple of years. I’ve also noticed that when people get seriously ill, they tend to go home for treatment.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2024 @ 4:08 pm
Ted, Dr. DeLeon cancelled her clinic hours yesterday, so it will be next Wednesday that I see her. I don’t have my numbers in front of me, and I can’t remember shit, but the ones that had Dr. Jo most concerned were the ones that said I was on the road to diabetes. Improving those is my primary focus. My cholesterol is in the high normal range.
I’ve not heard about the Hep B endemic, but I’m not sure what I can do to avoid it. Doesn’t sound like the vaccine makes much difference. I can’t remember the last time I used a condom, but I don’t sleep around these days, so it’s not something I worry about. I’ve been snipped, so no worries there, either.
Well, I have noticed that my upper body strength is practically non-existent. So maybe I ought to look into some lightweight training.
My dad smoked and drank beer and made it to 83. That’s my goal!
Thanks for sharing all this good information!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2024 @ 4:00 pm
“John, you’re a great rationalizer”
So, what I hear you saying is that I’m rational. Thank you! 🙂
Seriously, I’m sorry you haven’t seen any improvement in my writing. My awareness level is enhanced, and I do try to catch the mistakes prior to posting, but apparently, I’ve failed. I guess acceptance is the best option for me.
Thank you for trying to teach me. I sincerely appreciate the effort you put forth. I never took offense at your admonishments, and I apologize for the stress and frustration my incompetence caused you.
Hmm, reading the post you linked, I’m thinking, okay, I can live with being in School B. Until I got to the part where you equate that to being a litterbug. Ouch!
Anyway, life goes on, even for the slovenly. I’ll continue to do my best, even if my best isn’t good enough. I can’t help but wonder how many cringes this comment induced. Sorry in advance!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/August/2024 @ 8:58 am
Curses failed again! Sorry to be such a disappointment.
Obviously, we both have different perspectives. You are the professional when it comes to the written word, and I understand that perfection is the goal you strive for. I’m not at the other extreme because I do care, but I’m accepting that what I write satisfices for my purposes. Anyway, we are what we are.
Just so you know, I am making some effort to improve, as lame as those efforts might be. I’ve read your comma posts and done some other “research” on the ‘net, and I think I have a basic understanding of the punctuation concepts we’ve discussed. Granted, that may not show up in my sloppy writing style, but I believe I’m better now than I was, so your efforts were not totally wasted.
I apologize in advance for those future cringes I will inspire. Back when I was a smoker, we might say “took a hit” or “took a drag,” but now that I think about it, those were marijuana cigarettes. Still, if only 185 examples of “puff” exist in the Google universe, I’d proudly deem that creative writing.
Anyway, I’m an old man somewhat set in his ways, but maybe not totally hopeless. We shall see.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2024 @ 9:18 am
Welcome to my world. Even words I know how to spell, I spell wrong these days. Those errors are compounded by my stupid finger mistakes on the keyboard. Then there’s the stuff I should know but don’t.
Still, being a living fuck-up beats the alternative.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/August/2024 @ 8:15 am
«« Back To Stats PageShe took a puff of her cigarette, and coughed.
Well, I’d say she took a puff off her cigarette, but maybe that’s just me. There is no need for that pesky comma interrupting the flow of the sentence either.
As for the quiz, I don’t want to compound my errors when it comes to commas, so let me just pause here and admit that punctuating that issue is, and always has been, a problem for me. Yes, some of it may be stubbornness and rebelling against the Gods of Grammar, but I’d also argue that it is a matter of style. I tend to write like I talk, especially on the blog where I’m imagining a friendly conversation with my readers. So, I want what I say to be understandable and make sense, and to the extent that proper grammar and punctuation facilitate that, I’m all in. But as I write, I’m just not thinking about the rules. I guess that makes me guilty of being one of those in the “It doesn’t look/flow/sound right” crowd. This is not to say I’m opposed to doing it correctly, but that doesn’t come naturally to me. I always do a quick re-read before posting, but I don’t always catch even the most obvious errors. Once you point them out, I can almost always spot the mistake.
So, teacher, are you going to fail me on this quiz? I’m grammatically challenged and should be given consideration for my handicap. Don’t make me file a discrimination complaint!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/August/2024 @ 4:34 pm