Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Thanks, Kevin. I believe we are making slow but steady progress on our journey to find peace and contentment together. I spent the evening at her place last night. Swan’s sister and a slew of nieces were also in attendance, but Swan reassured me that next month, it would just be the two of us. Her family is nice enough; I just crave some alone time.
Good luck with your planned hike this weekend. At least you’ve identified one of the trip hazards to be on the lookout for.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/August/2023 @ 7:07 am
I couldn’t find it on Netflix. I did see that it is on YouTube–for a price (rent it for five bucks, buy it for ten). I started the process to rent it, but when it came time to provide my credit card info, I just didn’t trust the process. I’ve never seen a charge for YouTube before (other than to avoid commericals). My other apps, like Spotify) charge their monthly fee to my phone bill, which feels safer than giving out my Visa card info.
The trailers look great, I’ll do the Pirate Bay thing if I have to…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/August/2023 @ 7:56 am
Sorry if the wording was a little, um, hard on you, Soju.
The VIP room at Snackbar is comfortably furnished and has its own sound system, even Karaoke if that’s your thing. No Shenanigans, though. The door to the kitchen goes through there.
I had no bread for my supper, so it was indeed nice to get the cakes!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/August/2023 @ 4:54 pm
Kevin, thank you for your insights, especially regarding the Swan situation. It is indeed difficult and confusing. I’ve not given up yet, but I confess I’m beginning to question whether this relationship will ultimately be worth the effort. I mean, I get that she is going through an emotional trauma, the pain of which I can only imagine. At the same time, I’m not willing to sacrifice my long-term happiness for someone who can’t or won’t at least try to consider my needs and feelings. Maybe October will be a miracle for us both.
“she’s aware you read her Facebook, yes?”
Yes, indeed. I confess that after seeing her offensive post, I copied it and sent it to her Messenger saying, “Me too.” Hey, I was drunk, hurt, and a little angry.No, I don’t own any raingear. A lot of the locals put on the plastic, but it looks to me like that would be uncomfortably warm. I’ll walk with an umbrella in moderate rainfall, but when it is torrential and windy, an umbrella doesn’t do much to keep you dry.
“Almost looks as if they’re doing a small rooftop wedding.”
Yes, some type of dinner/reception took place on the rooftop on Saturday and Sunday. Perhaps the erection is temporary. Those shelters don’t appear they would survive a moderately windy typhoon.“Boink, boink, boink.”
Does it get any friendlier than that?Gwapo is by far the most common spelling, but yes, the Spanish guapo is also used. I did a quick check on Google to see which is the proper Tagalog rendering and found both, along with guwapo. I’m a gwapo guy; everybody tells me so.
“So who is the serious-looking guy at the bar?”
That’s Rolan, the bartender/night manager. He’s a nice, friendly guy.I’m totally clueless when it comes to math. Everything you wrote about imaginary numbers may as well have been in Greek. Passing basic algebra in college was a nightmare. I still don’t know how I pulled that off. That fuck up with my age is a good example of my incompetence. I briefly considered whether it was my 68th or 69th year and just went with my age. I did have a feeling that was wrong, but I couldn’t be bothered to work it out logically.
I don’t think I ever heard of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” but it sounds like my kind of movie!
Thanks again for sharing your thinking regarding my Swan situation. She at least knows now that I’m upset and unsatisfied. Will she walk away, or will she work with me to fix things? Stay tuned.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/August/2023 @ 7:20 am
Thanks for the birthday greetings, everyone!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/August/2023 @ 7:20 am
Brian, yes, exactly. I was near the top of the rankings in Seoul, but playing in those big-time tourneys back in the USA was a whole other level of competition. It was a good experience, but driving for hours just to get my ass kicked got old pretty quick.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/August/2023 @ 7:15 am
Brian, Bars seem to find a vibe that attracts a loyal base; as often as not, they eventually lose it. The most recent example of that is It Doesn’t Matter. The owner died tragically, his partner moved to England, the bikers who used to hang out there have moved to Sloppy Joe’s, and IDM just seems to be barely hanging on.
The girls do frequently move from bar to bar, but honestly, they are all pretty much interchangeable. I met two new gals this week in bars I rarely frequent that I would go back to see. But opening a new bar is fraught with peril; you’ve got to find a niche that will attract customers who have many options available. The bars I like best have outdoor seating, but I do visit the inside places like Wet Spot because I like the crowd there. I hardly ever even look at the dance stage; that’s just not my thing normally.
Yes, my rankings would definitely change. Are you suggesting an update?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/August/2023 @ 2:10 pm
No, I don’t think the stones are connected with the pain. At this point, the goal is for my body to expel them naturally before they become too large to do so. I guess it is just a process of elimination; once the blood work confirms that I don’t have liver or gall bladder issues, the focus will be on the muscular. The bottom line is I’m getting better, not worse, pain-wise, so my body may be fixing the problem on its own.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/August/2023 @ 6:58 am
Kev, my birthday is tomorrow.
I wasn’t familiar with the “Netflix and chill” saying, but it’s funny. I’ll have to add it to my repertoire. Yeah, I didn’t invite that bitch Aunt Flo–she can go back to Redlands and stay there!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2023 @ 7:01 am
I still hate being skunked!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2023 @ 6:50 am
Hello, Bill. Sorry, I missed responding to your comment earlier. I really appreciate your support and encouragement. I try to make each day the best I can, and really, the bullshit doesn’t cancel out all the good in my life.
Thanks for reading!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2023 @ 11:12 pm
Soju, I’ve done something similar to what you describe as a hot toddy in the past, and it did work well. Actually, my cough hasn’t been that bad or constant, but each one has been painful. That pain has been subsiding these past couple of days.
Yeah, I’m getting better at saying no or just ignoring the money requests. If they still persist, they get blocked. The incident I mentioned in my post pissed me off because I felt disrespected and being treated like a sucker. Bye-bye!
I’ve had a sample of Crazy Carabao, a local craft brew, but those rich, heavy beers really aren’t my thing.
It depends on where you get the eye exam. If you see an optometrist at a clinic, you get the whole shebang. It varies in the eyeglass shops. The one I go to doesn’t do the air puff thing, but it is a pretty thorough exam otherwise. He’s the one who suggested my cataract surgery, which worked so well I haven’t worn glasses for a couple of years. My days of freedom from glasses may be ending, just like yours did.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/August/2023 @ 7:19 am
Kev, I say there is one too many commas on that mug.
I’ll be going back to see Dr. Jo this afternoon. If the test results confirm it is not something internal, I’m sure she’ll have some suggestions for the muscle issue. The pain isn’t as severe when I cough now, so that’s a good sign.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2023 @ 7:14 am
Brian, it hurts less today when I cough, so that’s a good sign. I am going back to the doctor this afternoon for the test results; I’ll see what she recommends.
Your charity idea is alright, but I don’t know of any that offer the kinds of things I’m usually asked for. And I don’t mind helping out when the situation warrants it, but I want to choose when, where, and how much. The gal I mentioned wouldn’t take no for an answer. Another one made a request that I didn’t respond to right away, and she deleted it. That’s a method of begging I approve of.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/August/2023 @ 7:06 am
Yes, a lot of bush…I got that part right, at least!
Well, in this Maze, the men are the mice, and bargirls are the cheese. Easy to find, though!
Thanks for the kind words; I plan to live to see another birthday, at least!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2023 @ 3:29 pm
Kev, thanks for the link. It doesn’t seem to be appendicitis, but the cause of the pain is uncertain. Doctor Jo took some blood to check my liver and gall bladder functioning, and today, I’m going for an abdominal ultrasound. Hopefully, the results will give us some clue on a course of action. I’ll update soon.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/August/2023 @ 6:16 am
Kev, in retrospect, I should have waited for the food at Fireman’s, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Speaking of Fireman, he was named long before I got here and may have been named in a different Hash. There was a time, though, that he almost burned down Alta Vista (accidentally), so maybe the name derives from that incident.
Yes, there is a feeling of familiarity with the rolling hills and landscapes here. Sometimes the dominance of Easter Mountain reminds me of my life in Prescott, AZ, when I was greeted each day with a view of Thumb Butte.
I was hurrying to get back On-Home before that rain you can see on the bay reached us. Luckily, most of it stayed off shore, so no one got wet. It was a good and lucky day for sure!
It is great to be surrounded by beauty. Keeps the depression at bay.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/August/2023 @ 6:19 am
Rascal, 18 Kilo Ass is still around, just not joining us for the hikes/Hash lately. Wendy (the black gal) stopped coming too.
Glad you found some pie–eat it while you can! I believe enchilada is Spanish for “eat early and often!” Glad I could help. Enjoy!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/August/2023 @ 6:02 am
Umbrellas are a pain in the ass. I’m always leaving them behind if it stops raining while I’m out. I prefer the small ones I can carry in a pocket, but if it is raining hard about all they do is keep my head dry. At least they are cheap here.
Yeah, glad it wasn’t something like appendicitis. I never had a pain quite like that, which was a little disconcerting. It’s much better today; I’m guessing it was muscular. Or old age.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/August/2023 @ 7:03 am
And now my secret identity has been revealed.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/August/2023 @ 7:27 am
Kev, I’m just passing the time, however comfortably and well. Being generous to the bar staff is part of that. There is certainly no ulterior motive or expectation of earning any favors.
To your larger point that my behavior may undermine my aspirations with Swan, I don’t see it that way. I mean, if I were ignoring Swan to spend time in the bars, I’d agree. But it is rather the opposite–she is where I want to be, but sadly, I’m not her priority. So, my options are to sit home alone and pout about it or to live the life I was living before Swan came along–with some modifications. I don’t do anything physical like massages, I’ve been upfront with my bar friends that I am in a relationship, and I make no pretense about not wanting more than a shared drink. I’ve actually cut way back on buying lady drinks too.
The way I see it, it is up to Swan. I’ve made clear that I want to be with her. She keeps promising that “soon” we’ll share more time together. So I’m waiting for that day to come. But until it does, I’ll continue to frequent the bars, drink beer, and wile away the hours as best as I am able.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/August/2023 @ 7:26 am
Soju, those penis-shaped walks came *ahem* by accident. Thanks to you, I am now thinking about what walking a vagina would look like. Stay tuned; I might do some experimenting.
Oh, and what is a clitoris?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/August/2023 @ 7:06 am
I see a lot more young people playing basketball than I do playing soccer. In fact, I can’t recall ever seeing any soccer fields in the area (maybe at the schools?) The NBA is a big thing on TV here too.
Well, Soju, I don’t share your attraction to penises, but I’ll see what I can do… 🙂
I do indeed recall the “no gas, no grass, no ride” bumper stickers. Back in the day, I almost always had grass, so no problem…
And as always, thank you for your loyalty and support. I’m going to be okay no matter what happens and trust me, that is progress indeed!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2023 @ 5:58 pm
Kev, yes, rereading that paragraph now, I can see that it is indeed confusing regarding location. I’ll try and do better in the future.
Regarding the chicken wings, you are correct. John seasons them in the Korean fashion, but they aren’t fried crispy like those tasty buggers I always drunkenly enjoyed in Korea. I need to ask him about that.
Regarding Swan, I am doing my best to hold on and remain confident. I’m just tired of being alone all the time and last on her priority list. We had a messenger chat last night that was somewhat reassuring. And she keeps reminding me that once I’m moved in, we’ll be sharing a lot more time together. Onward!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/August/2023 @ 6:27 am
It ain’t much, but it’s all I got
Kevin, Yes, it is often the case that when a local accompanies me on a mountain trail, it is the first time they’ve seen the countryside surrounding them. I enjoy taking their scenic virginity!
Fries were one of the burger side dish options, but damn, those beans were good!
All the bullshit scamdemic policies have been rescinded, including masking requirements. I’d estimate that around 10% of the population continues to mask up voluntarily. When I see a foreigner walking around with a mask on, I either laugh out loud or feel pity for them. More often, it is laughter.
What? You don’t like the SOB? Why not? Attending every week gets old for me, but I enjoy it once or twice a month.
I’m no expert on happiness, but I have often repeated the old saying, “Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy a lot of things that make you happy!” As for alcohol, I think it sometimes enhances whatever emotion you are feeling, good or bad. Hence another old line–“alcohol may not be the answer, but it makes you forget the question.” Regardless, I know that I am responsible for my failures, not beer.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/August/2023 @ 6:37 am
Alcazar is what I see too. I’ll keep an eye on what’s happening there. It’s near the start of the My Bitch trail, so I pass by pretty regularly.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/August/2023 @ 6:14 am
Kev, the big guy is Daniel. He’s also a Hasher (Gas Man) but hasn’t participated lately. This hike was his first time back in several months.
Yes, basketball is definitely the national pastime. Almost all the neighborhoods have a covered community basketball court. And where there are no courts, folks improvise with backboards like the one in the photo. The NBA is huge here, judging by the number of young folks wearing team jerseys. I’m not sure, but I think the Philippines is competitive in international basketball events.
I should have said, “whose side.”
Actually, most nights, I just have a “same, same” experience. That’s why the sour ones stand out. Anyway, the issue with Whiskey Girl has been resolved.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/August/2023 @ 6:54 am
Brian, I didn’t get ANY beers for free. The regular price is 110 pesos, and you get a free beer for every one you buy. Because I was using my voucher, the bar charged me for EVERY beer I consumed, unilaterally doubling the price. Again, the voucher’s value was 500 pesos, not for a specified number of beers. Anyway, I spoke with the General Manager, and he told me the bar was wrong and he would fix the misunderstanding.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/August/2023 @ 6:34 am
Drain, Precisely. The voucher reads, “500 pesos good for local customer drinks at Whiskey Girl.” It doesn’t list any exceptions. A San Mig Zero qualifies as a local drink. The price of a beer at Whiskey Girl is 110 pesos, and between the hours of 6-9, you receive a free beer for every beer you purchase–no exceptions indicated. So, I was entitled to the regular price, regardless of how I was paying for my beer. My prize was the equivalent of cash money; only it had to be used for local customer drinks. What the bar did was DOUBLE the price of my beers, so my coupon was worth less than the indicated amount. As you say, it was petty bullshit that wound up costing the bar the profit they would have made on the lady drinks I would have inevitably bought.
Last night, I met with the General Manager for the group that owns Whiskey Girl (along with Voodoo and La Oficina). When I told him what happened, he said, “No, that’s wrong. The voucher is worth 500 pesos. No exceptions.” He promised to address the issue with the staff at Whiskey Girl. So, the issue should be resolved.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/August/2023 @ 6:27 am
«« Back To Stats PageDrain, yes, the law is poorly written and full of redundancies. But as I mentioned in another comment response, enforcement runs the spectrum. Someone called the cops on a guy at the mall with his girlfriend’s daughter, and another guy got busted for giving a girl a ride to the bus station on his scooter. Scary stuff, and it is just best to avoid ANY situation that could be interpreted as violating the broad standards outlined in this law.
It is my understanding that the key violation is the being “alone” with the child part. If a parent or guardian is present, you’re okay. Still, as you note, where do they draw the line? At the beach and the GF says, “Honey, I’m going to use the CR; please watch Trixie until I get back.” Nope, take her with you. Better safe than sorry.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/August/2023 @ 7:40 am