Comments Posted By John McCrarey
Displaying 2,671 To 2,700 Of 6,501 Comments
Yes, scary times indeed, Drain. I fear for the future of my country.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/July/2023 @ 5:32 pm
Nope, my boys are still virgins, and I hope to keep them that way.
Um, the cake photo is just something I came across on the internet. It reminded me of something else, thus the double-entendre of “having your cake and eating it too.” I’m not sure if the cake is chocolate, but it does appear to be female.
It did rain some before and during the Hash run. Thankfully, not enough to wash away the trail markings.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/July/2023 @ 4:27 am
Was Liza getting fresh? No, not at all. She’s in a relationship and not into guys. And, of course, I’m in a relationship too!
Yes, the shelter will have to be strong to withstand the elements. I also want a thatched top to keep the heat down–those metal roofs can feel like an oven.
I’d never heard the term favela before, thanks for the link. Yes, that word aptly describes many of these squatter towns and shanty villages I pass through during my hikes. I’m happy the folks are generally friendly and welcoming.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/July/2023 @ 6:35 am
Thanks, Drain. Eyes wide open, but this feels different somehow. No choice but to take the chance and see where it goes. “What if?” hurts longer than a broken heart.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/July/2023 @ 6:25 am
DS and Kev, yes, I will discuss that with Swan over coffee in the morning. Maria, the Filipina widow I mentioned earlier, also made the point that she thinks sharing the same house the deceased lived in would be a mistake. They only lived there a couple of years, but the place is full of pictures and other mementos of Swan’s life with him. I’ll need to make sure Swan is comfortable with my living there in her presence.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/July/2023 @ 4:38 pm
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights, Kevin. “Liberty through boundaries”–I like it! I’m definitely in uncharted waters, but I am feeling optimistic. In a twisted kind of way, this is an opportunity to do things differently, and perhaps I’ll achieve a more desirable result. I’m all in!
No worries about me seeking comfort through other female companions. Despite our uncertain circumstances, I consider myself in a committed relationship with Swan. I’ve already spread the word to the gals who express any interest beyond a lady drink. And yes, that includes telling them no more backrubs–“My girlfriend wouldn’t like it.”
It is too soon to call myself a changed man, but I do feel differently and have a new attitude. I’m committed to making things work with Swan in the long term. I’m not going to do anything to fudge that up.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/July/2023 @ 6:45 am
Kevin, the water and mud did deposit a sandy substance inside the shoes, which was mildly irritating. Unlike your marathons, I only had about 2K left to walk in wet footwear. My helper always cleans and dries my hiking shoes after a watery adventure.
I sincerely appreciate your advice regarding Swan and your experience-based insights on the way forward. I’ve had a similar chat with another reader who talked with me from her perspective as a Filipina widow. I was only vaguely familiar with that one year of mourning, but it is a HUGE deal in the culture here. Clearly, I’m going to need to adjust my thinking or let go. I’m not inclined to give up on someone as rare and wonderful as Swan, so I’m going to need to achieve a comfort level we can both accept. It’s been almost four months since Swan lost her man, so there is still a long way to go.
I have already had one discussion with Swan about my marital status. She was afraid my wife would cause us trouble, and I reassured her that wasn’t the case. Jee Yeun and I have been apart longer now than we were together, and she has never asserted any remaining privileges as a wife. It was her decision to leave, and I believe the hassle of processing a divorce is on her. I personally don’t care about being legally married (however, there are some financial advantages); it doesn’t change anything. I did assure Swan that unlike in the Philippines, a divorce in the USA would be quick and simple should I ever be motivated to pursue one.
Yes, I’m at a crossroads in my life (again), and I need to choose the path to follow carefully. Lots to think about as I try and determine if I’m capable of doing what is required to live the life I’ve dreamed of for so long.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/July/2023 @ 6:37 am
Then I would have grabbed my lighter and flamed that Moth Man. Or we could have talked about old times in Charleston.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/July/2023 @ 1:58 pm
Yeah, I’m going to add it to my queue, just so I can revisit Phnom Penh…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/July/2023 @ 8:20 am
Kev, yeah, that’s the entrance street in Alta Vista. Not your typical Filipino neighborhood, for sure.
Not sure what those critters were, but they were moth-like in their attraction to light. What got me was their volume. I felt one buzzing around my leg, so I looked down to see what it was. When I looked up again, there were hundreds swarming around me. Freaky!
Yes, Swan has consented to join me on non-group hikes occasionally, provided they are not too hilly. She has committed to every Thursday for now, and we did 8K together yesterday. I was pretty impressed.
Do I really need to drop the “e” in Hareing? It’s weird enough using “Hare” as a verb, but without the “e,” it doesn’t seem recognizable as relating to the Hash. Can this be an exception to the rule?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/July/2023 @ 7:02 am
DS, Thanks for the tip on the Khmer version of “Both Sides Now,” I really enjoyed it.
I read up on City of Ghosts as well. The premise sounds interesting, but it was a box office flop and poorly reviewed on Rotten Tomatoes. I’d consider watching just for the Cambodian scenery, though…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/July/2023 @ 6:47 am
Brian, for sure. Koreans were crazy and aggressive behind the wheel. What I’ve seen in the Philippines is an overall lack of basic driving skills manifested ignorantly and dangerously. Also, a disregard for basic traffic safety rules. What laws there are are rarely enforced. I get road rage just riding with my driver (he’s better than most but still does some crazy shit), but then I remind myself to take a deep breath, relax, and accept the Filipino way. What else can I do?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/July/2023 @ 5:38 am
Yes, John has an extensive and varied menu, and you wouldn’t go wrong with any of his offerings.
I usually spend between 10 and 15 thousand each week at Royal. I don’t tend to scrimp when it comes to keeping the pantry full. That amount also includes laundry products and other household items. My helpers partake as well. I’m more budget conscious of late, but I’m likely to be making reductions to my bar expenses rather than my food bills.
The Philippines was a Spanish colony for 500 years, so it only seems appropriate that I partake in some of my favorite treats from that culture. (Yes, I know Mexican isn’t really Spanish in origin, but that ain’t gonna stop me.) I occasionally order in Spanish, but that goes over about as well as when I speak Korean. All in fun!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/July/2023 @ 5:31 am
The webpage does have the slogan “It’s nice on ice” corrected now. I’ve been added as a content provider there, but I still need to figure out how to edit the blog description. Call it a work in progress.
Well, I didn’t rely on Grammarly for my most recent post, but I’ve got a feeling it might have similar fuck ups. I got really rushed writing it. I’m going to do better!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/July/2023 @ 5:58 am
Jesus. Just over a year ago and my mind drew a complete blank. I said I would check Netflix, and you said it was there. And I just put it in my queue to watch now. Let’s go, Brandon! Duh.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/July/2023 @ 7:56 am
Kev, it’s funny, but I can’t remember the last time (if ever) I visited the Hash webpage. All the information there is available on the Hash FB page, and the stats are emailed each week. I gave the webmaster a heads-up about the issues you’ve noted.
Damn, my post was also chock full of errors; just one of those days, I guess. That damn comma between the names of the Hares wasn’t my doing, fucking Grammarly wanted it there. I don’t always go along with its suggestions, and that one didn’t feel right somehow, but I relented. Shit, I can’t even spell “semicolon” right, let alone use one correctly in a sentence. And now I’m even inventing words…I have no idea what I was thinking (obviously I wasn’t) when I came up with “embibing.” Jesus, that’s embarrassing even for me.
As I understand it, Mary is packing parcels for one of the big mail-order shippers (similar to Amazon) here. Still, she has a six-day workweek and has to live in a shithole city like Manila, so yeah, that’s close enough to a Dickens story.
Thanks for the YouTube clip; I hadn’t heard of either the song or the movie. Watched a couple more clips while I was there. Good stuff!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/July/2023 @ 5:34 am
Yeah, the wind renders the umbrella pretty useless and destroys it if you don’t hold it right.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/July/2023 @ 6:44 am
Alright, point taken, Brian.. Although I hope my girl would never be in a bar without me, I probably would not like the rubbing.
I am probably going to rethink my venues.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/July/2023 @ 6:43 am
“Would you let a guy give you those rubs?”
Well, when you put it like that…
I had forgotten that scene from Pulp Fiction. Thanks for the reminder!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/July/2023 @ 3:08 pm
The gals stroking your shoulders and arms is a pretty common thing in a lot of bars. Nothing sinister or sexual about it. I look at it as working to earn the drinks. And to be clear, I don’t touch them, although some guys do.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/July/2023 @ 6:58 am
Thanks, Drain. What can I say except, “But this time, it’s different!” Anyway, I’ll keep my eyes wide open and trust my instincts. Ha! Maybe those two things are mutually exclusive. Anyone, all evidence thus far (even before I started courting her, she refused tips when making a meat delivery) says she is not all about the money. I guess we are going to find out. Stay tuned.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/July/2023 @ 1:47 pm
Kev, I agree. And I do think there is a conflict between whatever it is she is feeling towards me and her sense of loyalty to her recently departed love. I was only acquainted with him, but my sense is he would be happy she found someone who wants to be her partner in life. Of course, only she can decide how she feels.
I think what triggered me to go all in so fast was the fact that I’ve never met anyone quite like Swan. She ticks all those boxes you and others have said I should be looking for–older, wiser, educated, non-bargirl, generous, loving, and caring. Yeah, when I describe her like that it begs the question–why would a woman like that be interested in a man like me?
No other option but to let her decide what her future will be and whether there will be a place for me in that life.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/July/2023 @ 6:00 am
Brian, yep, I’m putting on the brakes to avoid breaking. We’ll see what happens next. This has definitely been a different experience for me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/July/2023 @ 5:47 am
Glad the surgery went well for your daughter, Rascal. I understand it is a pretty routine procedure, but the being knocked out part bothers me. We’ll see.
Glad you are enjoying the “high life” in Korea!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/July/2023 @ 1:13 pm
Yeah, it was a close call, but I managed to keep my feet last night. It’s gonna be a long rainy season, I fear!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/July/2023 @ 1:11 pm
Kev, yes, the Bitch trail has some short uphill sections, but nothing really steep or particularly challenging. Starting from Alta Vista, you are pretty much already at elevation. Of course, getting back up to Alta Vista is a longer uphill, but not technically part of My Bitch.
I will probably do the surgery in the US since there are no language barriers, and using my insurance would be more convenient. My big concern is not going under general anesthesia, which apparently is the only option here and in Thailand. So, we’ll see. I’ve got tentative plans to visit the States this fall or winter.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/July/2023 @ 5:49 am
MJ, Yeah, I know. We’ll see if and when it really happens.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/July/2023 @ 3:27 pm
Good stuff, Soju!
The weird thing is kids call cookies biscuits here. But man, they must have radar because they always see me coming!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/July/2023 @ 8:25 am
Yeah, I agree; that must be one of the worst songs ever.
I think I mentioned the first time I met Swan five years ago; it was to assist with a charity project for the native Aeta people she was involved with. Over the years, I’d seen her and her man around town and was envious of the obvious love they shared. When he passed away, I attended the memorial service and offered my condolences to Swan. Several weeks later, Swan contacted me to ask if I was still looking for a house to rent (she’s the one who had hooked me up for the ill-fated Blue House deal), and I told her yes. So, my new digs will be the house Swan is currently living in. And if things go as I hope, she’ll stay when I move in. What makes her so special to me? I don’t know, other than she’s unlike most women I’ve met here. Older (39) and no kids, not a bargirl background, intelligent, funny as hell, a loving and caring nature, and not needy despite her current circumstances (getting her to accept something as small as trike fare is a challenge). It’s a matter of pride and self-respect for her–she wants to make it on her own. Anyway, I feel like having someone like her in my life would be a very satisfying experience. The big question is, will a woman like her be able to love a man like me? Yesterday she mentioned my meeting her family soon; that’s a HUGE step forward in this culture.
Regarding the meds, the confusion is from my poor wording. The doctor who prescribed the meds said they were a short-term fix for my nasal blockage and that I’d still need to get the surgery. The pills worked like a charm though, and I could breathe, smell, and taste again. When the prescription ran out, the old symptoms began to reappear. So, my consult with Dr. Jo yesterday was to explore the downside of continuing the meds compared to the symptoms they relieved. So, prednisolone is a potent steroid, and its side effects include reducing the body’s immune system capabilities. After talking it over, we are going with a reduced dosage on a three weeks on, three weeks off basis and see if that maintains my improved sinus functioning. Oh, and the drug also stimulates weight gain, and doc said I need to cut out the carbs. I laughed and said everything but the beer, maybe. I’ve been very slack in diet discipline lately and have the belly to prove it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/July/2023 @ 6:06 am
«« Back To Stats PageSo far, so good with Swan.
Yeah, it’s fun to mispronounce foreign words. I have always enjoyed using the lovely Thai city of Phuket in a sentence.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/July/2023 @ 7:09 am