Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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I have to watch that math at the checkout line, too. What it says on the shelf and what rings up on the register are not always consistent.
Swan and her man were the previous tenants (she’s actually still there). I’m not sure what their arrangement with the landlord was, but they were roughing it in ways I’m not interested in experiencing. Cold water showers just don’t do it for me.
As for the searing, I’m motivated by how damn expensive that meat is–I don’t want to ruin a $25 steak through negligence. Mostly it is just paying attention while they grill.
I think you are right about the neediness. And the best part is how much better I feel as I let it go. It would be ironic, though, that as I stop caring, I might attract someone who cares. I’ll be good regardless.
Nope, I didn’t stay to DJ. She “invited” me back yesterday, and I politely declined. Who needs it, right?
Well, I’ll be damned; I had no idea I’d been pronouncing “Tolkien” wrong all these years. Until your comment, I’d never heard it pronounced any other way anywhere. So much for all those knowledgeable literature professors in college!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/June/2023 @ 3:13 am
Kev, I usually add potato chunks to my stews, but I can’t remember the last time I ever even attempted to make mashed potatoes. I’m one lazy fucker in the kitchen!
As for Jo swinging, the rope breaking would be the least of my worries. I looked at how the swing was tied to a branch high up in the tree and thought, “damn, how much can that branch hold? And if it breaks, that’s gonna be a hell of a headache!”
Papers have been signed and money has changed hands, so unless I’ve been scammed, the move is on effective October 1. More on that in today’s post. This house sits high enough up the hill that any future construction below will have no impact on the view.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/June/2023 @ 6:51 am
I carried six bottles of Coke Zero for the last kilometer in the backpack, so it was alright.
Hares usually mark trail the day before or the morning of, in part depending on the weather forecast. It sucks to mark on Sunday morning and have it rain that night and wash away your efforts.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/June/2023 @ 1:38 pm
Brian, I should know tomorrow if we can make a deal.
Nope, typically, the shirts have to be purchased separately. I usually only wear them to Hash events, but I wore my new Manila shirt last night when I went out. The bargirls seemed to like it for some reason.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/June/2023 @ 1:40 pm
Kev, well, I enjoy the Hash, but it’s not something I would die for. I have it on good authority that someday in the unforeseeable future, I will leave this world behind, so the question becomes what to do with what remains of me? I’ve seen the hassle and expense people go through to return their bodies to their homeland after death. The easiest thing to do is cremation, and to make it easy on everyone, just chuck my ashes on my favorite walking path. I ain’t gonna care anyway.
Manila H3 is the first Hash group I’ve participated with that is all male, but that is pretty common throughout the Hash world. Most kennels have a separate female group or another mixed group. Having some hot girls around is a big attraction (ahem) to me, and I’d not enjoy regularly Hashing without them. I’m still trying to figure out what the reasoning is for exclusion; I’d say the majority of Subic H3 females can outperform me on the trail.
As for the Hash shirt, I’m pretty sure the undecipherable English is Hash names, and I guess you need to be a Manila Hasher to grasp the concept they are describing fully. A strange but friendly and interesting group, for sure.
Getting to the new place will actually be much easier, both on foot and by trike. That’s one of the attractions for me. I asked Swan about the neighbors; she said they are mostly quiet foreigners. Best of all, no barking dogs! I’m meeting with the landlord tomorrow, and if things go well, I’ll pull the trigger and hope for the best.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/June/2023 @ 5:49 am
Daeguowl, ah, the blue house of my dreams fell through. I guess the owner’s plans changed, and she decided not to rent the place after moving to the UK. Or maybe she found a tenant she likes better. Anyway, all of her promises proved to be for naught.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/June/2023 @ 5:30 am
Now, now, ONE 18-year-old is more of an appetizer than a diet. Still, someone like Swan could be the catalyst for some lifestyle changes. Sadly, I think she’s got a long road to travel before she might be interested in anything I have to offer. I’ve tried to convey I’m here to assist her in that journey, but my impression is that she is the type who wants to find her own way.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/June/2023 @ 6:01 am
Yes, that’s about my standard per-bottle drinking pace, although I can stretch out longer as circumstances warrant.
Hmm, you just gave me an idea–I could market my pot roast as an aphrodisiac. Of course, I would only serve it to female guests under those circumstances.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/June/2023 @ 7:31 am
Brian, I honestly almost never look at my tab beyond the bottom line in any bar. I looked at the Sloppy Joe’s bill because I was a little surprised I had spent so much in such a short time frame, but it was all legit. I agree, though, that it is a good method for avoiding disputes. BarCelona makes you initial the receipt for every drink ordered, and several other bars have you sign off on lady drinks. I tend to trust the bars I drink in but admittedly do so at my potential peril.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/June/2023 @ 7:27 am
I am what I am, and that’s all that I am
Thanks, DS. It all started so innocently with this one and entirely voluntarily on my part. I had met her on one of our hikes, and the old-timers in our group remembered her from her bargirl days. She wound up marrying and having kids with a local bar manager, and he eventually left her and moved back to the USA. To his credit, he was sending monthly support to her, but then he died unexpectantly. I had the bright idea of stepping in and helping to support the kids he left behind. But yeah, sometimes it seems whatever you do is never enough. It’s the “more, more, more” attitude that bothers me most.
I have my limits, though, so we’ll see how this is going to play out.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/June/2023 @ 6:56 am
Kev, yeah, the Titanic connections are huge. (sorry, I just can’t seem to stop myself this morning)
It is certainly an interesting scenario, and I do hope the cause of whatever happened is discovered. The story has certainly generated a lot of talk–mostly about rich people taking crazy and seemingly illogical risks. I like your take, even if I personally wouldn’t pursue it in the manner these folks chose. Money buys you the freedom to do the things you most desire, and if death-defying adventure is what you seek, go for it. Stumbling home drunk in the dark in a city I don’t know or speak the language is about as adventurous as I get these days!
Re: Joy. Kids that don’t belong to you come with lots of issues. I was a step-father in three of my marriages and pulled it off okay, I think. I’m lots older now and living in a country with some strict laws that bear severe consequences. Being charged with a non-bailable offense and waiting years for a trial is something I choose to avoid at all costs. What is this crime of which I speak? Being alone with a minor child you are not related to is one aspect of the law I’m referring to. So, even if I choose to have a relationship with a mother, I would never let her kids live in my house. A simple, “Honey, I’m going to the store, be back soon,” and leaving me alone with the kids would technically make me a criminal. It is not all that common, but I’ve read horror stories of that stupid law being enforced against foreigners. Nope, that’s not going to be me.
Wow! Some new wardrobe additions; thanks again!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/June/2023 @ 5:42 am
Kev, farts being the body’s puns is a hilarious take. Good to know it’s not just that I’m full of shit!
Enjoyed the Zen story as well. It was a berry good ending! (oops, farted again)
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/June/2023 @ 5:21 am
Rascal, I think even the good ones will push the envelope. The key will be how she responds to my laying down the law.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 23/June/2023 @ 5:15 am
Rascal, actually, it was enjoyable overall. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded spending one more week there. Not a good fit for me as a retirement home, but perfect for a beer-drinking vacation!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/June/2023 @ 1:13 pm
“If you do that again, I’ll kill you.”
I hope it doesn’t come to that! I’ll do my best, I promise.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/June/2023 @ 1:11 pm
To err is human, to edit divine.
Actually, it is Grammarly’s fault. I used a comma after bring, and Grammarly told me to “correct the comma splice” and suggested the semi-colon. Bastards!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/June/2023 @ 6:23 am
Kev, thanks for the link to the song “Bali Hai.” I don’t recall hearing it before (or at least not paying attention to it during the movie I *might* have seen. Just read the lyrics, and it is a powerful song. I can relate!
If my memory keeps fading, I may have to resort to that Far Side method. Although, come to think of it, I probably won’t remember to do so.
Yep, that link on Spirit Houses clears things up. I had seen a lot of the soft drink offerings but had not paid enough attention to pick up on the fact that it was red Fanta bottles. I guess the spirits are thirsty for carbs!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/June/2023 @ 6:14 am
Brian, I wondered about access to that area. It seemed to me from a distance that it would make for an interesting hike. I wonder if the local Hash guys ever do that?
Yeah, you are probably right–us Cheap Charlies need a place to call home! It did make me laugh seeing bars all over with names that reminded me of home. They didn’t seem all that similar on the inside, though! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/June/2023 @ 5:55 am
Thanks, Kevin.
I appreciate the introductory lesson on some of the tenants of Buddhism. It is a fascinating religion.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/June/2023 @ 5:22 am
I did have some breathing difficulty, but not nearly as bad as that first time. I had a bigger attack on the Hash trail, but my portable nebulizer saved the day.
I woke up this morning, and my phone was dead and won’t take a charge. The wifi in my room doesn’t work (I’d been using my phone hotspot), so I’m fucked. I went to the next-door restaurant with my laptop to see what I missed.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/June/2023 @ 11:09 am
Man, you don’t miss a thing! I wonder if they intentionally messed up those renditions of “penis” as a joke? It’s all over my head, regardless.
I’m ignorant of the tenants of Buddhism as well. So, I guess soul music isn’t a thing here…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/June/2023 @ 8:25 am
I don’t know, Vaster, all the Danes I know are Great.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/June/2023 @ 8:16 am
Cop coon crap for the laugh, Soju. And damn, how did you know I love Maurice’s and Rush’s? Remembering that almost makes me want to jump on a plane for home. Almost. I’ll probably wait until fall to go back.
The PI is a little cheaper, at least for beer and transportation. I haven’t inquired about bargirl pricing because I’m just not wanting to go down that road (into that cave?). That goes double for a “girl with something extra.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/June/2023 @ 12:49 pm
Kev, I think you nailed it–I’m just not that adventurous when it comes to food. If I see something on the menu that looks good, I’ll try it, but I am never in an “I wonder what this is like, let me try some” mode. I’m really not a fan of Thai food in general. We have a highly-rated Thai place in Barretto that I’ve never felt compelled to visit. Anyway, the Thai dishes I’ve tried so far haven’t been bad, so there’s that.
I have a Blue Cross plan attached to my pension, so I should be covered back in the USA. Overseas, I have to pay medical out of pocket and then submit a claim to Blue Cross for reimbursement.
Yeah, it’s weird to see familiar bar names attached to unfamiliar places. Happened in Cambodia too. The bar scene here in Pattaya is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. Even outside of the bar districts, almost every street has a bar or two. I don’t know how they all stay in business. And yes, Repent is really a bar name here. I guess with so many bars, it’s hard to come up with an original name, but that seems out of place.
Yes, Virgin (another odd name) is the place with the fancy food menu. Other than the view, it was a big disappointment. We didn’t even bother ordering food there.
Honestly, I’ve learned zip about Pattaya’s history (besides what Brian shared in his comment). The only shrines and statues I’ve seen are those related to Buddhism, which is huge here. I do feel completely safe walking around both day and night. I never encountered anyone shady at all (other than the usual bargirl games). I don’t know if I’d call it a subculture, but the Indian presence is very large here. I’m sorry to admit I’ve not even learned to say “thank you” in Thai (well, now I have from Drain’s comment). I have gotten to where I put my hands together and do that head nod thing, though. Progress!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/June/2023 @ 9:02 am
Brian, the train sounds cool, although honestly, the drive from the airport wasn’t bad.
One thing that has stood out for me because you rarely see it in Barretto is the diversity of the tourists here. Lots of white women, including older ones (I’m talking grandmothers). I hope they don’t stray down Soi 6!
By far, the largest ethnic group I’ve seen around town is Indians. Lots of restaurants around serve their kind of food, too.
Yep, I wanted a second opinion, and now I have it. I guess a trip home to the USA is in my future.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/June/2023 @ 8:27 am
Cop coon crap, Drain. I actually had a chat with a bargirl last night using Google Translate on her phone. It worked better than I thought it would.
I doubt I will need to say “pom raccoon crap” this trip, but good to know, just in case!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/June/2023 @ 8:18 am
Kev, Thailand does have air pollution issues–Bangkok is often like Seoul in that regard. So far this trip, I have not noticed any air quality issues in Pattaya…maybe those ocean breezes drive it away.
Those ubiquitous pot stands are the biggest change since my last visit. I used to vape in those days and found out it was a crime to vape or even possess the equipment. Now marijuana is legal, and vaping is still not allowed. Weird. But no, I have not seen anyone smoking any (it is not permitted on the street, and most bars prohibit it as well). I have seen any obviously stoned tourists or locals either. Still, the sheer volume of shops says there must be a massive market for it.
Now that’s funny! I hadn’t even noticed that the Thai script for toilet looks like a fancy rendition of “Kevin.” Maybe that dog got into someone’s weed supply…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 15/June/2023 @ 8:45 am
Hmm, thanks for the list, but now I will be challenged to find a title you haven’t already used. I went back and checked, and no, I haven’t used “Thai one on”–the Thai one On-On was a double pun since the post was Hash-related.
There is a special Hash coming up this Saturday I’m planning to attend. I know it involves taking a boat to an island, so that should be interesting.
It hasn’t felt all that humid here, although I did get a little sweaty on my morning walkabout yesterday. It’s been raining in the Philippines since I left, so I’m glad for the weather here so far.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 14/June/2023 @ 7:18 am
DS, yeah, I vaguely recall that story about the PI ditching the 4th as Independence Day. Thanks for filling in the gaps in that history. It is so typically Filipino.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/June/2023 @ 9:06 am
«« Back To Stats PageI scheduled this trip to coincide with Dave and Jo’s travel schedule. I rode with them to the airport and the transport they arranged from Bangkok. They are staying in another part of town, so we won’t be hanging out together much. They are both Hashers, though, so I saw them yesterday.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was mostly flat, but I was still huffing during the hike. I think that is my new normal. I brought my portable nebulizer with me but didn’t use it on the trail. That deep breathing exercise Rascal suggested in the comments helps.
As weird as it sounds, I do not see much Thai food around. This town is full of Western fast food joints (I’ve never seen so many KFCs in such a confined area), but even the regular restaurants seem to cater to Western tastes. I guess that isn’t so surprising when you see the percentage of expats and tourists on the streets.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 13/June/2023 @ 9:04 am