Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brian, I’ve got one she could use; I’ll ask her next time. I carry extra sweets in my backpack and we refill her bag as needed, so it is not too heavy at least. And taking off the pack every time you do a handout is a pain, too. Up to her.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/January/2024 @ 7:08 am
I wonder how that happened. I guess old habits die hard, but probably what threw me was that it wasn’t a case of “I wonder” but of someone else wondering. I can see now that it makes no difference. I wonder: will I make that mistake again? Hopefully not.
Yeah, I changed position frequently throughout the hike. Mostly because I’d pause to take a photo (or a piss). Speed-wise, we all march at about the same pace.
Got it–straight face or pursed lips from now on!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/January/2024 @ 7:48 am
Yes, I should have sourced/linked back to the Babylonbee article—sloppy work from me. I’ll try and do better.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/January/2024 @ 9:42 am
I’ve only eaten at the new Mickey D’s once so far. I’ve been tempted a couple of times, though, and can hear the Big Mac calling my name when I walk past.
Well, I didn’t remember your scuba experience. Another reason to visit–we have at least three certified dive shops right here in Barretto.
Yeah, hills are like life that way.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/January/2024 @ 7:08 am
Kev, it is always hot, but some days are uncomfortably hot. Those are the days you say, “Damn, it’s hot today.”
Including the razor wire in that shot wasn’t my intention, but it does create an interesting juxtaposition–it’s beautiful but I don’t wanna go there…
I wonder why I forgot about wondering being a statement rather than a question. Thanks for the lesson and reminder. I wonder: will I forget again in the future? I don’t think so!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2024 @ 6:35 am
Joe, ah, okay, I’m not a fan, but I’m at least familiar with the Ramones. I still don’t recognize the song Picard is doing in the meme, though. Ah, it’s from “I Want To Be Sedated”–thanks!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/January/2024 @ 6:25 am
Yeah, the context was: “How do we clear away all this grass on the mountainside? Fire works!” With the fireworks show being the double entendre Or something like that. I was going to title this post “Fire on the mountain”, but I’d used it previously.
Yes, it seems Swan has come out of the closet now. It’s good she’s looking to the future rather than the past.
I’m an early bird by nature; even a party doesn’t motivate me to stay up into the wee hours of the night.
KuKluxKlan Ridge. Good one! Why didn’t I think of that? I’ve been burning to cross it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 02/January/2024 @ 7:19 am
Soju, yes, I am usually comma-tose too, but the value of punctuation cannot be overstated. An example: No more beer! or No, more beer!
The snowy climb was out Pyeontaek way; if I recall, that’s Mount Asan or something similar to that.
Indeed, I can be a Dick when triggered!
I am lucky to have a sweet woman at my side and some helpers around to keep life easy and healthy. It’s like a dream!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/January/2024 @ 10:13 am
Kev, yes, I always try to have something in my backpack for kids I encounter on the trail. I usually carry cookies and lollipops. Swan handed out some leftover Christmas candy yesterday. I’ve been doing sweet handouts for so long now that I have “regulars” who look for me when I pass by. Swan says giving out goodies is the best part of our walks.
I don’t consider Swan an employee–the money I give her is an allowance, not a salary. She does help out around the house and cook sometimes, but that’s voluntary on her part. Swan has a tutoring gig and does her meat business on the side, but I guess she is hoping to find a “real” job, even if she doesn’t need the money.
Heh, I hadn’t even noticed the Falcon depiction. I guess the joke was on me!
Happy New Year to you, Kevin. I’m glad I’ll be experiencing the coming shitstorm from a distance.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/January/2024 @ 6:42 am
Soju, nope, playing strip poker with two guys, there is no way to win!
At least you can have cataracts removed; I did, and I didn’t need my glasses. However, it is time for a new exam. Things are getting a little blurry lately. And I didn’t see that fly/raisin WHILE I took the photo.
When I sing, people cry. Even when it’s a happy song!
Yes, I feel much safer here all the time than I would almost anywhere in the USA. I actually remarked to my fellow hikers that despite the level of poverty, crime is low. It’s good to know you are armed and dangerous!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/December/2023 @ 12:39 pm
No on the McD’s nuggets. I don’t think I’ve ever even tried them. We keep a bag of frozen chicken nuggets in the freezer, and Swan did the cooking.
Yes, the steak was moist, tender, and tasted excellent!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/December/2023 @ 7:55 am
Soju,
All I am saying is give peace a chance.
Yeah, that Waltermart name always cracks me up. Sam Walton must be spinning in his grave.
It’s about what you’d expect from Mickey D’s: a mediocre burger and lukewarm fries. The pie and sundae were the best part.
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/December/2023 @ 8:57 am
I doubt Swan will ever consent to becoming a regular Hasher, but hopefully, she’ll enjoy an occasional hike with me. We’ll see what happens.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/December/2023 @ 6:05 am
Yeah, I didn’t think that “on my left” through, although I did look at my hands to determine which one I write with. Next time, I’ll keep myself out of the equation and count from the edge of the photo.
Not a Lambo, but an Innova (the car on the left side of the first group photo). The stretch of road pictured is misleading; there were places where the car was, in fact, bottoming out.
As far as I know, this particular village isn’t named; it is more of a neighborhood within the barangay. I’ve seen some larger Aeta compounds that are named. It is strange to me that very few Aeta people integrate into Filipino society–they stick to their villages and live amongst themselves.
Damn, I didn’t know about all those memes, and now that I’ve seen them, I don’t care about telling that joke again. Thanks.
Oh, and Troy is retired from the Air Force after 20+ years, so he has a military pension. I’m not sure about other sources of income, but you can live a good life here for a couple of grand a month. I know of one young man in town who inherited a lot of money and is living large. He is very popular with the women folk.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/December/2023 @ 6:50 am
Kev, “spill it” is precisely what I did. I had placed the plate on my desk, not realizing that a portion of the plate was hanging over the edge. When I put knife and fork to the sausage and pressed down, the plate flipped over and crashed to the floor. Stupid is as stupid does.
Your brief research makes you know more about education in the Philippines than I do, although I did read somewhere recently that Philippines schools are ranked worst in the WORLD, but that seems hard to believe. The problem is poverty, which is rampant here. There are costs associated with attending even public schools, and I’ve met several bar girls over the years who told me they were working there in order to send brothers and sisters to school. I can’t attest to the quality of the education system overall, but most of the Filipinos I meet can read, write, and speak at least some English. I assume they are fluent in their native tongue, so they are capable of learning. The bureaucracy and corruption in this country make well-intentioned programs inaccessible to many folks. The successful candidate for that 7/11 job I posted will need to come up with the cash for a health clearance, birth records, and other paperwork. It’s a classic Catch-22 situation for many poor people.
As for poor life choices, I think that goes beyond a general lack of education. The culture here is still dominated by Catholic dogma. Unlike most other Asian countries, the birth rate in the Philippines is booming. Even though birth control is available, most don’t use it. I’m always shocked to see a bargirl prostitute get pregnant–geez, if you fuck for a living, take the pill or make the guy wrap it up. I just don’t get the mentality, but so many women here aspire to motherhood above all else.
I hadn’t noticed that young gringo you mentioned, but I’m not competition for him, especially in a bar like Laharnyz that doesn’t feature bargirls. He probably just didn’t want to be in the photo. That said, when a ship full of young guys comes in and the crew hits the bars, old fucks like me tend to become invisible. Funny how that works.
Well, in my defense, I remembered everything up until I got back home from my night out. I fell asleep on the couch with my head in Swan’s lap. She said I drooled all over her legs. Oops!
Yeah, “feeding” sounds like what I do for my dogs every morning. But the girls always say, “Thank you for the feeding!” so who am I to argue?
Ha ha, I had to go back and look at the rainbow pic again–hadn’t noticed the dog’s asshole. You certainly have an eye for detail. In Tagalog, dog is “aso,” so you saw the aso’s asshole.I wondered what was in those bags, too. Maybe someone from that resort cleaned the beach. That would be great.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/December/2023 @ 6:26 am
Candy is dandy and liquor is quicker
Yep, one of my favorite Garth Brooks tunes. It hurts that it resonates so much.
That is what we call Black Rock Ridge. I’m not sure what the official name might be.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/December/2023 @ 3:32 pm
Yes, no way a regular Santa suit would work. Honestly, I regretted wearing the Santa hat–it amplified the heat on my head.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/December/2023 @ 7:18 am
Thanks, Soju. I may not have everything I want, but there is nothing that I need.
Happy New Year!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/December/2023 @ 9:41 am
Brian, it’s a crap photo lighting-wise, but if you look closely, you can make out the reindeer horns the girls are wearing on their heads. Hence, the “horny” reference.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/December/2023 @ 6:21 am
No breathing problems. I still get winded on climbs, but that is as much old age as anything I expect.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/December/2023 @ 4:18 pm
Just another town along the road
No worries, Soju. I asked her when her birthday was, and she said June. I told her that gives us six months. She asked why. Um, do I look like the kind of guy who’d go out with a 40-year-old? She laughed and said okay then, I’ll stay 39 from now on. Works for me!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/December/2023 @ 10:31 am
Dan, well, part of the problem is my memory is more like Biden’s every day. The other thing is when I see someone out of context, I’m just clueless as to where I’d seen or met them before. I’m also too ashamed to say, “Where do I know you from?” So, yeah, I perpetuate the problem.
Thanks, things are going better and better with Swan. She wants to spend time with me and is willing to join me in the bars to do so. It’s nice having company I don’t have to pay for! That said, Swan is friendly with the girls, doesn’t seem jealous at all, and doesn’t object when I treat the waitress to a lady drink now and then. She always dresses up when we go out and does have a classy look about her.
I do hope to lose some belly fat in the new year, so I guess I’m resolved to do so. Other than that, I want to stay healthy and enjoy my life as long as I am able.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/December/2023 @ 10:28 am
Soju, I don’t know about Hamburglar, but I’m already a Big Mac.
No pier in this Santa Monica, but it does flood during rainy season.
Yes, unfortunately, this is the land of dirty roads.
No, the fishmonger didn’t ask for a drink, but she does look thirsty. I wish I could remember which bar I saw her in.
Yes, I also get that “come again when you can’t stay so long” vibe sometimes.
Your friend Peter sounds like a wanker.
Thanks, Soju. Swan does look good for an elderly woman (she’s 39!)
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/December/2023 @ 9:42 am
Kev, I’ve never heard a name similar to “Ming Hang” here. I don’t know if that was bad writing or an inside joke I didn’t get. Still, it was nice to see the Subic Bay women get the well-earned recognition for their talents.
It occurred to me that while I’m not a pillar of the community, I may be achieving rafter status. It’s a start!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/December/2023 @ 5:52 am
I’m glad you are feeling so “spunky,” Soju! Keep it up! (ahem)
Big or small, it is better than none at all!
Yep, the Walrus lives on in our memories. Sometimes we don’t know how good we have it until it is gone.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/December/2023 @ 10:54 am
Kev, Star Wars, Star Trek. Does it really make a difference? Yeah, that’s pretty egregious. I’ll make the correction. I wasn’t even drank when I wrote it.
Honestly, Grammarly told me to use drunk, but I didn’t care. I liked the way drank sounded in the context of a sentence that was trying to express a casual rendition of speech after several beers. I claim writer’s privilege!
HaHa! I’ll let Swan know the ATM t-shirt is available. The funny thing is, until I brought Swan to the bar with me, she and Aine hadn’t seen each other for years. Aine wouldn’t have thought to ask if she didn’t know there was a white boyfriend involved. That makes Swan “rich” by association.
Once you are up there, the ridgeline is a relatively easy walk. I’ve made the climb up to Tralala a couple of times, and it’s a bitch. Maybe next time, I’ll try to come down at Tralala.
Yeah, when LTG Vandal retired, he and his wife had plans to purchase an RV and travel the highways and byways of the USA. Then, he got a prostate cancer diagnosis and died a few months later. A shame; he was one of the good ones.
Thanks for the teeny-weenie link. I’ll watch it after Swan wakes up (don’t want her dreaming about small dicks!). But size doesn’t matter. It’s not the meat; it’s the motion!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/December/2023 @ 7:49 am
Soju, I lived in South Carolina for many years (technically, I still do) and have actually visited South of the Border a couple of times. It’s too touristy for my tastes, but I’ve seen their punny billboards, and they always make me smile.
And when it is cold in Mexico, do they say chili today?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/December/2023 @ 9:29 am
Kev, I can’t seem to find the motivation to practice at home. I’ve just lost my passion for the game. Oddly enough, I rarely drink at home and try not to imbibe outside of my 4-8 p.m. window, so I’d likely practice without the aiming juice.
I hadn’t noticed the Arabic. Hopefully, I won’t lose my head over it!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/December/2023 @ 7:43 am
Brian, I love that song and considered using it, but “Up, Up and Away” seemed a better fit with the post’s theme. And yes, those two songs are like day and night in tone and spirit.
Damn, I hadn’t done the math–maybe I’m not better than a forfeit! The key to having enough players is doubles–automatic losses there if you are one short. I participated in four games, losing one singles match and one doubles.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/December/2023 @ 7:35 am
«« Back To Stats PageKev, at one time there was a dirt road on top of the ridge that ran from Olongapo to a gold mine. The mine was abandoned in the 1990s, and much of the road has disappeared. I’ve walked the ridge as far as Tralala, which is probably 10K or so. Not sure what it is like after that. I did find this post from a guy I’ve met who is still doing amazing hikes in his 80s. It’s about his adventure trying to reach the old mine.
Well, the raft ride to shore is less than 5 minutes, so that’s the best option for taking a shit. I guess in an emergency, your idea is better than the alternative of shitting in your pants. Best to poop before you go!
I never paid attention to the Chekov accent. I guess faking it is what acting is all about.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/December/2023 @ 8:21 am