Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Ha ha, took me a minute to figure out what “cacti” you were referencing. Yeah, I probably just ought to leave well enough alone and let the pictures do the talking.
The gloves found in nature make more sense as they can accidentally fall out of a pocket. I imagine some disgruntled hiker tossing his footwear while shouting, “Shoe fly! Don’t bother me!” in order to relieve the agony of de feet. (sorry!)
It’s been a long time since I’ve grilled ribs at home, but I enjoy that style when dining out. In the old days, I’d slather them in sauce, wrap them in foil, then pop them in the oven. That’s a whole other texture, and thinking about it just now, I’m going to go that way with my next batch. I like the crockpot version too, but it’s high time to compare and contrast.
My broccoli “sauce” is just butter and melted cheese slices. It works for me! And I always found Sweet Baby Ray’s to have a unique flavor but hadn’t thought of it as sugary. Maybe that’s why I like it too. Not that easy to find here, so when I see a bottle, I grab it.
Yes, I’m a big proponent of the nap after a meal thing (almost feels like Thanksgiving). Of course, some sexercise before or after the nap is nice too!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 11/April/2023 @ 6:02 am
Kev, yeah, even as someone of little faith, I have no problem respecting demonstrations of faith by others. They certainly go all in here, that’s for sure. Now, it could be argued, I suppose, that those floats and statues are unnecessary expenses that create yet another burden on the poor, but if it brings them joy and comfort, then why not?
Interesting info on the origins of “Alma.” I think that’s only her bar name, though. At least on Facebook, she goes by Mhaya (a weird spelling, I know. Then again, most people here spell my name Jhon).
Yeah, those 2-fers are definitely fool’s gold for me. It’s not always about the money, sometimes it is just for the fun. Still, I’m better off drinking slow and moving on.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/April/2023 @ 6:43 am
Thanks, Brian. Enjoy your Easter Sunday, too.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 09/April/2023 @ 6:27 am
Soju, better to be safe than sorry, right?
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/April/2023 @ 5:22 pm
Yeah, it seems more appropriate to mourn, but maybe it’s a matter of faith or “God’s will.” Today they have some guy who will actually be crucified (nailed to the cross) in Castillejos. Apparently, it is quite the event and generates tremendous traffic jams.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/April/2023 @ 5:21 pm
Brandon, I noticed Jelly from across the room because she has a cute and firm body. When she got closer, I saw that she was a bit older, but that didn’t dissuade me from sharing a drink with her. Nice gal.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/April/2023 @ 7:38 am
Yeah, they go all in for the “celebration” of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior. Watched a long-ass parade with hundreds of participants marching past Cheap Charlies last night. And I didn’t say “Happy Good Friday”; I just expressed the sentiment that you “have a Good Friday.” A subtle but significant distinction given that the day commemorates a murder. Plus, it was another of my bad puns.
The Easter sunrise thing is big, too. In fact, we are not going to mark the Easter mountain portion of our trail until Monday because we anticipate there will be a lot of folks up there that morning.
Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t mind being the penis butter in Jelly’s sandwich. She’s long in the tooth for a bargirl but still attractive. The older ones are generally more interesting to talk to as well. So, yeah, the hot young bods are nice eye candy, but the older gals need love too. Come to think of it, Aine (Wet Spot), Pia (Voodoo), and Jen (Whiskey Girl) are all regular drinking partners who are in their 40s. So, I spread it around.
“Wiggle your hips a bit, and…ahh, that’s the ticket. There are treasures stored up for you in heaven, child.”
Thousands of comedians out of work, and YOU’RE trying to be funny? Actually, I do feel creepy sometimes with the really young ones like Mary. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow, I guess. I’ll also take a pass on the Scottish barstools–either variety!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/April/2023 @ 7:35 am
Yeah, I was referring to being out drinking with guy friends as opposed to the paid-for companionship that is my norm.
Oddly enough, scrambling over the rocks is often preferable to a steep dirt trail because you get better traction/less slippage on the rocks.
I was never a Thorogood fan, but I do remember “Bad to the Bone”. I don’t know how I missed out on “I drink alone” when it was a hit. Maybe I was drunk.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 07/April/2023 @ 5:29 am
Soju, yes, it is true. The past belongs in the past, where it can’t destroy the present. There’s no going back, so forward march!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 08/April/2023 @ 5:23 pm
Kev, nope, it wasn’t intentional to misuse that apostrophe. I did the post title first, and later when I had to pluralize Goodyear in the post, I questioned the need for and decided not to use an apostrophe. Now, why didn’t I go back and fix the title? Because I’m a lazy fuck that couldn’t be bothered. Nothing personal! One of the helpful examples you provided gave me a smile–“I used to get a lot of A’s in school.” Yeah, without the apostrophe, someone might think you left an “s” off of “as”.
That post article did seem to be targeting the French love of wine and the purported health benefits of fermented grapes as the reason for the “faulty” science on drinking. Well, I call BS. Jesus turned water into wine, and Jesus loves me; this I know (for the Bible tells me so), so there is no way he would create an unhealthy beverage. Anyway, all things in moderation. I will continue to respect the diversity of opinions regarding how moderation is defined.
Good luck to Young back home. To me, after experiencing a taste of international life, the vanilla world of the USA would be hard to adapt to.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 06/April/2023 @ 6:50 am
Kevin, Re: windfarms. I’ve never seen one in the PI, but it turns out there are currently seven of them scattered about the country. Generally speaking, I don’t care for them either–they don’t seem to offer much bang for the buck. Of course, given the erratic reliability of the power grid here, sometimes I wish I had a personal windmill in the backyard. Actually, I’ve thought about looking into a solar-powered generator to use during “brownouts.” There is also talk of building a nuclear power plant here, which given the generally poor quality of construction I’ve seen, is a whole other kind of scary.
Yes, I went on a feather-smoothing mission yesterday and apologized for being a dick the previous night. I think I’m redeemed now.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/April/2023 @ 6:01 am
Brian, No, it was just me being a whiny bitch, nothing to do with the beer (it was early, I’d only just begun).
I went back to IDM yesterday and apologized. Bought the waitress I was a dick to a drink, and we’ve put it all behind us. Also said sorry to a couple of the innocent bystanders. Luckily, being a punk is rare behavior for me, so folks seemed willing to cut me some slack.
I’ll strive to be better in the future.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/April/2023 @ 5:46 am
Kev, Yeah, no question that gin was not a healthy choice for me. There are worse things than a beer belly, for sure. I will henceforth stay in my comfort zone with my low-alcohol beer for company.
I don’t know what the “experts” would say about my drinking other than it is too much, too often. I don’t have any of the classic addiction indicators, and I function just fine without it during the 20+ hours per day I don’t drink. Beer is a part of my life for sure, but not the dominant part. And if I were to compare myself to a lot of the expat community, I’d say I’m practically a teetotaler.
Coincidentally, I came across a Washington Post article in which the “experts” are now saying that moderate drinking (that whole 2 drinks a day is okay meme) is unhealthy too. Fuck it; I don’t care. Not enjoying whatever time you have left in life is also unhealthy. I’m going to do it my way.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 05/April/2023 @ 6:15 am
Well, I don’t know about Alchohol Use Disorder (AUD); it’s the first time I’ve heard the term. I’ll read up on the link you sent. I assume it’s a polite way to say “alcoholic”. Now, clearly, I over-indulge based on the “recommended” average daily consumption of no more than two drinks, and that may certainly have health implications down the road, especially for my liver. Truth is, I’ve never adhered to that low standard at any point since I began drinking fifty years ago. I am perhaps blessed with good alcohol tolerance genes–my father was a heavy drinker until his passing at 83.
Even so, I don’t consider myself “alcoholic,” which implies addiction to the booze, although maybe I’m fooling myself. I choose to drink on a daily basis because I enjoy the social relaxation it provides. I almost never drink at home, and when I do, it is when I have company. I work to control my consumption so that I’m comfortably buzzed without being overtly drunk (i.e. falling down). Most nights, I succeed at that, especially when I confine myself to the low-alcohol beers that I prefer.
Anyway, next time I see Dr. Jo, I will engage her for thoughts on AUD and how my imbibing may impact my health in general and my lungs in particular. We’ll see what’s in the ARDS!
” “For women, as well as for men ages 65 and older, drinking levels for low-risk drinking are defined as no more than 3 drinks per occasion or 7 drinks per week. Exceeding these daily or weekly drinking limits significantly increases the risk of developing AUD”
Well, there you go; if I don’t have AUD, I’m a prime candidate. I’d say 7 drinks per NIGHT is more my standard level of consumption.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 04/April/2023 @ 8:10 am
Like sands through an hourglass…
“Wouldn’t it be nice to find someone you can simply be with without worrying whether there’s some angle?”
That’s been my fantasy for a long time, but I’m slowly coming to the realization that it’s not going to happen for me, and I need to let it go. I’m not saying it is impossible; I do know guys here who have very happy relationships. Some of them with former bargirls, so it can happen. Ultimately, my failure in that regard is all on me. I miss having someone to wake up next to me and share my time with and make dreams together. And then I remember the last time I had that–with Jee Yuen–and what it cost me when I lost it. It’s not fear, though, that holds me back. I’ve grown more and more selfish over these past few years, and I’m simply unwilling to make the mutual sacrifices that are integral to a successful partnership. I’d rather deal with the loneliness than the drama. It’s high time I accept that reality and live with it.
I do appreciate the consistent feedback from you and Brian that has awakened me to the need to embrace these realities and truly be the man I’ve become without apology. It’s not the life I imagined, but it is the best one I have.
Oh, maybe you’ll get a kick out of this–I did! I posted that line from yesterday’s post: “Who knew that embracing the emptiness could be so fulfilling” on Facebook. This morning there was a comment from Nerissa: “embracing emptiness with a bag of pie while walking at the side of the road is way much more fulfilling…hahaha.” I guess she saw me from Cheap Charlies as I was on my way to feed the girls at Hideaway. I responded thusly: “Feeding the hungry is one of the ways to give an empty life some meaning, I agree.”
That’s pretty much where I’m at these days, and it is high time I start being okay with it. Thanks again for helping me see that.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/April/2023 @ 7:38 am
Okay, you busted me, Brian. No, I didn’t see my bar antics as being a player. In my mind, I was a do-gooder spreading some lady drink commissions around to help the struggling bargirls make ends meet. Again, I very rarely barfine, and I guess I always thought that a true player doesn’t wake up alone every morning. I think the disconnect is that my perceptions are different than the women who witness my behavior–they’ve seen it all before and assume the worst. So, yeah, I’m trying to embrace rather than resist the “player” tag. I am what I am, and it’s high time I accept that.
As for my “list”, that was my current offering of how well I’m doing with the player lifestyle. You did miss one, Aine from Wet Spot. I missed one, too, though: Virginia from Alaska Club messaged me this morning. I hadn’t heard from her for a while, so figured she had met a steady. Maybe she did, and she’s back now, but she invited me to stop in and buy her a drink tomorrow, and I told her I would.
So, yeah. It looks like I’ve chosen the path I’ll be walking. That non-transactional “real girlfriend” thing is just a dream that I’m probably too selfish to achieve anyway.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/April/2023 @ 7:07 am
I would suggest a comma after perceived. Still, nothing bothers me about a missing comma; I have a good imagination and always see them in my head.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 03/April/2023 @ 6:41 am
Adding to the confusion, they are right next to each other too. I’m still learning to pronounce the names correctly, but getting better at it. KA-Lop-Ah-Die-Un and CAL-Uh-Pock-U-On
Stuart was in the Air Force and a high school coach, so I guess he’s lived a fit life. I don’t know much about Rob, who is a Brit. Works on a ship that lays/repairs underwater cables, so that probably keeps him in shape as well. I note that you didn’t ask about the third guy, the old fat one.
Yeah, it was pretty creepy walking past the death scene this morning. He looked pretty young too. You get up in the morning, grab a jeep for Barretto, and then all of a sudden, you are bleeding to death on the highway. You just never know when your time here will end.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/April/2023 @ 5:44 pm
Thanks for the insights and advice, Soju. More and more, I’m thinking going home is my best option. Maurice’s baby back ribs and Rush’s chicken wings are the icing on the cake!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/April/2023 @ 8:27 am
Kevin, the vultures with cameras thing seems to be a cultural norm. I first observed it when my bar friend died here a few years back, and the Filipinas took and shared photos of him on his deathbed after passing. Whenever there is an accident involving a motorbike or pedestrian, the victim laying in the street is photographed by more people than those trying to provide help.
I really appreciate your research and the links. I was wondering if my fear of general anesthesia was unfounded; now I see that it is not. If it were a matter of life or death, I wouldn’t hesitate, but I’ve lived with this nasal blockage for months. I may just wait and make a trip back to the USA for the surgery.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/April/2023 @ 7:41 am
I’ve not seen an update yet, but the accounts I heard said the bus driver and one Jeepney passenger didn’t survive the crash. I agree the Jeep driver was lucky!
I made the choice when I moved here not to drive. I’m happy with that decision, even if it sometimes requires I ride in unsafe public transport like Jeepneys and trikes. When I drove in Korea, I maintained a strong defensive driver stance–it was as if all the other drivers were drunk. Here, the drivers have the worst skills and lack of common sense that I’ve ever seen. Unsafe passing and the inability to execute simple actions like backing and three-point turns are common sites. I get road rage as a passenger in my driver’s car on our short drives to the grocery store each week. Just dumb shit done aggressively. The horn is used constantly and seems to be saying, “I’m stupid, look out!”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/April/2023 @ 6:53 am
Yeah, it’s funny; the doc said in Korea, it can be done with local anesthesia, but here is full out. I also asked about outpatient, but he said because of the anesthesia, it requires an overnight stay. I’m still considering options, including maybe going out of the country for the surgery.
.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/March/2023 @ 9:50 am
The appointment went about as expected. Surgery, including knock-out anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay, is in my near future. The doctor isn’t available for two weeks, but I have some preliminary testing to do in advance of the operation.
Yes, that photo is a nice metaphor for what happens when you go left…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/March/2023 @ 7:11 am
Brian, yeah, except for things like milk, I don’t care much about expiration dates. So, I’m happy to get half off on cereal that I’m sure will taste just fine.
Glad you haven’t had any issues. Hopefully, the new host will keep things moving forward.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/March/2023 @ 12:15 pm
I’ve not had any issues so far today. Got another email from my new host. They are still having trouble logging onto my old host for the migration. I checked the info I sent, and my last name was spelled wrong…no idea how that happened. Even my Biden-like brain hasn’t deteriorated that much. I hope.
Hmm, I’m going to be careful around the Aussies I know, just in case they have Walibri ancestry.
The sandwich was pretty filling, but double your pleasure, double your fun!
I ain’t ready to die yet, but hey, if it happens that way it gives a whole new meaning to “happy ending.”
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/March/2023 @ 5:07 pm
The chimichangas were on the daily special menu, which prompted me to give them a try. Those two small ones were plenty for me.
Re: The Hare. Here’s an example, last night, he received a Hashvest as recognition for completing 300 runs. Instead of being honored, he was pissed because he didn’t like the color. He griped about that throughout the presentation and song. When the song was over, he took off the vest and threw it on the ground, saying he didn’t want it. He revealed himself as an asshole to me months ago. I needed to pee really badly and tried to enter the CR he was using (there were two toilets). He slammed the door on me and wouldn’t let me in. Then he took his sweet fucking time coming out just to mess with me. People like that I don’t want to be around.
I had an email from my new host this morning asking me to resubmit my login info for my old host, something had gone wrong. I did resend it, so hopefully we are back on track.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/March/2023 @ 5:53 pm
Kev, I shit you not!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/March/2023 @ 2:18 pm
I was dealing with Chase, too. In the past, there was always an option for email…no idea why that didn’t happen today. Spent at least an hour trying to sort it out.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/March/2023 @ 2:20 pm
An SOB kicked my ass last night
Kevin, I’m not grasping the Jeremy Clarkson reference. Did he do something stupid recently too?
Well, gravity is an unforgiving bitch, and I want to avoid future faceplants. It could have been worse (broken bones), and I don’t need that kind of problem. I’m confident my new plan will resolve these issues.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/March/2023 @ 6:18 am
«« Back To Stats PageBrian, I am hopeful that switching back to beer will resolve my memory/balance issues. The problem isn’t the drinking per see (or so I choose to believe) but rather the overindulgence. Gin sneaks up on me. I am better able to monitor and maintain my desired level of inebriation when I’m consuming beer. Bottom line–I like to drink, but I don’t like getting drunk.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/March/2023 @ 6:13 am