Seeking shelter from the storm

Posted on 10/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***That’s why I drink from a bottle. And can say “isa pa” (one more) in Tagalog.***

Here I am riding out the storm at a cheap ass (900 peso per night) love motel with crap internet, so we shall see if this post makes it up or not. Anyway, here’s how my surviving Super Typhoon Uwan has gone so far.

Right after I left the house to feed the gals at Hideaway, the power went out in Alta Vista. And it has been out ever since. I was surprised because we went dark before the storm had hit with any real force. And knowing that, it didn’t bode well for it being restored anytime soon. I proved to be right about that. Anyway, the feeding at Hideaway went fine, then I met Swan at John’s place for dinner

Hmm, the internet isn’t working for uploading photos, even on my mobile hotspot. Must be storm-related. So, that takes a lot of the fun out of blogging. Oh well, Swan surprised me by ordering a pasta dish. I, in turn, surprised her by ordering birria tacos so she could satisfy her weekly addiction.

***Okay, photo uploading is working again.*** ***That’s lemon alfredo pasta.***

***And the lonely birria taco I saved for Swan.***

After dinner, we stuck to our Sunday routines with a stop at Red Bar.

We normally make Jumpin’ Jacks our venue for the Sunday nightcap, but they were closed because of the storm, so we moved on to Cheap Charlies. We had to sit at the bar because the wind was slamming the plastic curtains against the counter space. There was definitely an end-of-the-world vibe going on. So, knowing there was still no power at the house, we agreed that getting a room in Barretto was our best option for the night. I figured the lights might not stay on in Barretto either, so a hotel with a generator was the main requirement. The nicer places were a wet walk up the highway, while the Anbon Hotel was just across the highway near the It Doesn’t Matter Bar. I confirmed they had a working generator and booked my cheap room. I’m not saying it’s the worst room I’ve ever stayed in, but it is in the top ten of the bad ones.

Rules and electricity. We took a trike back to the house, grabbed some fresh clothes and toiletries, and triked back to our room. Seeing as how the It Doesn’t Matter Bar was steps away, we settled in for a drink before bedtime. And sure enough, the power went out in Barretto. I heard the generator kick on at Anbon, so I was happy with my choice. I was also surprised that IDM has a generator as well. The Barretto outage lasted only about 30 minutes.

***What? Ten o’clock comes TWICE a day?***

Wow! The old man stayed out late last night! One good thing about going to bed later than usual was that it meant less time dealing with the discomfort of a shit bed and crappy pillows. We heard the wind and rain through the night, but there doesn’t appear to be any flooding or other visible damage here in Barretto.

Woke up hungry, so we ventured out in the rain in search of breakfast. The wind rendered our umbrellas worthless. Jewel Cafe is only a block away, but alas, they were closed, likely due to the storm. So, we moved down the highway to the Arizona Resort to eat.

And I ate like a hungry American:

***A sausage and egg muffin with hash browns…***

***And some French toast on the side…hey, for all I know, this could be my last meal.***

I used to visit Arizona to eat frequently, but it’s on the wrong side of town with lots of other good options in between, so I just don’t make it here much nowadays. It was good to be back, though.

***I offered Swan some toes-in-the-sand time, but she deemed the beach too wet for walking.***

Walked back to the Anbon in the rain and checked on the status of power restoration at the house. It’s still a no-go. Check-out time here is noon, so it was decision time: do I stay or do I go? Welp, I’m down for spending 900 pesos to keep my laptop going and phone charged. If the power gets restored before bedtime tonight, we’ll just mosey on home. If not, it will be an easy crawl to the Anbon after the Hash.

Speaking of the Hash, I have no idea what’s in store for today. I can’t imagine it will be anything more than a street walk, and it might be even less than that (a bar crawl). Either way, I’ll be there!

Back to March 2015 in the LTG archives, and the big news in this post is that my Uncle Sam rehired me! I had retired as a GS-15 Human Resources Director and returned as a GS-13 Labor Relations Specialist — the same job I had when I first came to Korea.

Coincidentally, on this date in my history on Facebook:

***Nine years ago, I was re-promoted to the Director’s chair.***

***Eight years ago, I was enjoying my final autumn in Korea on the streets of Pyeongtaek.***

For today’s YouTube video, we’ll stick with the typhoon theme. Lots of places got hit a lot harder than we did. (I didn’t watch this, so can’t vouch for its accuracy.)

And now for these:

***Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.***

Damn, this post was one of the hardest to write, logistically speaking—slow internet, no mouse, and some keyboard issues. Oh well, I did the best I could with what I had to work with. Still raining outside with a brisk breeze, but things aren’t as bad as I expected. We’ll see what happens next.

The calm before the storm

Posted on 09/November/2025 by John McCrarey

The big news in these parts is that another typhoon has arrived, and they are calling this one “super.”

***Here in Zambales, we are in the red zone.***

***It’s super-sized, that’s for sure.***

Now it’s just a matter of waiting to see how hard we get hit. Some light rain so far this morning, but it was enough for us to abort our Decay Dance/Candy Walk. The On-Home for tomorrow’s Hash has been moved from Kim’s place on Baloy Beach to the Bella Monte Hotel. I imagine we’ll be confined to a street walk or a bar crawl. I’ll be surprised if we don’t lose power once the winds kick in. And no, I have not purchased a generator.

Super Typhoon Uwan arrived late in the season, but it’s the strongest storm of the year to hit us here on Luzon Island. Assuming I survive, I’ll be back tomorrow to report on the damage done.

We enjoyed our sunny day yesterday in Botolon at the Tumangan River. First time I’d been out this way, and it is always good to see some new scenery. The riverside was packed with locals (our group was the only foreigners in attendance), and it was nice to enjoy some Filipino-style recreation.

***The way we got there. 63 kilometers and a one-hour and forty-five-minute drive.***

***We had reserved this area for our group.***

***The rope swing was very popular. Not for me, but Swan gave it a try.***

***There was also diving off this platform.***

***Martin’s inflatable beanbag chair was a flop.***

***Everyone seemed to be having a good time.***

***Thank you, Jesus or whoever it was looking down on us.***

We started at nine and left at three. I waited until noon to pop the top on my first beer, but I’d had my fill by departure time. I had to ask Martin to stop twice on the way home for a pee stop; sorry about that!

***We got back in time to watch the sunset from The Rite Spot on the Roof.***

Once home, I wasn’t in the mood to go out again, so we just chillaxed until bedtime.

And now a new day has blown in. I expect it to be a wet and wild one.

Marching on to March 2015 in the LTG archives and the first entry for the month is one of the nothing posts y’all have come to know and love here on my humble blog: “Down in the mouth and knee deep in doo doo.” Enjoy!

For today’s YouTube video, we’ll check in with Reekay for his take on whether things like volcanoes, earthquakes, and typhoons should dissuade you from living in the Philippines. Nothing Mother Nature throws at me could possibly be worse than, oh, say living in Mandami’s NYC. Let’s see if I live to regret those words.

Humor me, please:

Yeah, I’ll stop. I’m going to venture out in the rain to feed the Hideaway gals, then we’ll see how things go from there.

Oh thank heaven

Posted on 08/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***But only when I’m alone or with someone.***

Busy day ahead. Riding with the neighbors, Martin and Joss, for the two-hour drive to the Tumangan River in Botolon. We are departing in two hours, so here’s the lowdown on what yesterday was all about. I’m going to start with how it ended and work my way back to the start. Why? Because I can!

***When the sun called it a day, we headed next door for dinner with the neighbors.***

Sorry, I forgot to get a shot of the most important thing: the fondue cheese sauce we dipped those tasty bites in. I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed a fondue meal, but this one was the best ever. Hanging with the neighbors is always a good time, and we’ll have another full day of it today.

As mentioned in my previous post, we had the twice-yearly 7-Eleven Hash run yesterday. The concept of the event is that the group takes a predetermined walk, visiting convenience stores along the way. The other part of the deal is that participants buy and drink a beer at each stop. As much as I enjoy beer drinking, that is something I decline to do. As regular readers know, I’m a walkaholic by day and an alcoholic at night. I prefer not to mix those two passions. Others in our group filled that gap, and the walk concluded successfully.

Here are some photos I took along the way:

***We caught the Jeepney to Olongapo from the familiar Baloy 7-Eleven here in Barretto.***

***Out of the Jeepney and regrouping here at our first 7-Eleven in Olongapo.***

***Some of the Gash raised a toast of soju in honor of the moment.***

***Then we hit the streets of Olongapo City, headed for the next 7-Eleven store.***

***A salvaged American fighter was on display at a park we passed.***

***It is good to know that our transgender friends can find a place to cater to their needs.***

***Hmm, what kind of entertainment might that be?***

***…was across the street from the shopping mall I visit occasionally.***

***And then it was time to leave the city behind, cross the river, and embark on the SBMA portion of our journey.***

***Walking the old American Navy base has a totally different vibe, much more to my liking.***

Oops! I just now realized that I forgot to get a photo of stop #8 on our quest. Sorry about that. For the record, it was a 7-Eleven convenience store.

**I found this artistic rendering clever.**

***On our way to the last stop on SBMA.***

***Since it was the last stop, I rewarded myself with my first beer of the day.***

***I’m pleased to report that our route was precisely 7.11 kilometers. Also, I’m a liar.***

***We took a taxi back to Barretto and had it drop us off at the other 7-Eleven in town. So yeah, that makes eleven 7-Elevens visited for the day.***

The rest of the group arrived to join us, and then the ritual of connecting the empty beer cans consumed on our trek commenced.

***Taking recycling to a new extreme!***

Anyway, I’m glad the 7-Eleven runs only take place twice a year. Still, it was something different and I enjoyed myself. We did our after-Hash at IDM, and then it was time to head home and get ready for the dinner date next door I talked about at the beginning of this post.

Yikes! Look at the time! I’d better get my ass ready for today’s adventure.

But before I go, I’ll share this post from the February 2015 LTG archives about my glory days as a darter in Itaewon.

And today’s YouTube video is one of mine as well.

Some quick humor:

***This I know, for the Bible tells miso…***

***If I have used this one before, consider it a refresher course.***

Time for me to go. At least tomorrow I’ll have something different to write about. This is my first time going to Botolon.

My way was the highway

Posted on 07/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***Tell me about it. Please release me, set me free!***

Here’s the rare early morning post at LTG. The why for that is because I’m not sure what is in store come the afternoon, which is when I usually blog. The regular Friday group hike has been replaced today with the semi-annual 7-Eleven Hash run (which also takes place on July 11th).

***Yeah, it’s a thing. I missed the July rendition this year because I was in Vietnam.***

Anyway, we are leaving from the 7-Eleven in Barretto at 10:53 this morning (yeah, that’s seven till eleven), taking a Jeepney to Olongapo, and commencing our 7K journey, which will take us to seven 7-Elevens in the city and on SBMA (the old Navy base). We’ll travel back to Barretto when we are done and finish the Hash at Barretto’s other 7-Eleven market. I expect we will find a venue to celebrate this accomplishment, so it is unlikely that I’ll be in any condition to do my usual post about yesterday.

Which is the long way of saying, let’s get started with Thursday:

***I woke up to this greeting from the full moon.***

For our morning walk, I suggested to Swan that we pay a visit to the fishing village of Bantay Bayan and she agreed. After a 5K Jeepney ride, we began our exploration.

***They’ve built a convenient new access road coming down from the highway since our last time walking here.***

***The children of Bantay Bayan like cookies and lollipops, too.***

I’ve always liked the vibe of this village and imagined what it might be like to live here. I was surprised yesterday when we encountered not one, but two, white guys living that dream.

***A dead-end road led us to an angry bay.***

***The high tide, coupled with the waves, dashed our hopes for a beach walk.***

***Find your own place to pee, ladies!***

***This abandoned beach resort always creeps me out in a Stephen King-like fashion.***

***Our best (only) option was the highway walk back to Barretto.***

***We haven’t been to Samba since the Kon-Tiki beach bar closed earlier this year.***

***This pink house along the highway always catches my eye.***

***It’s Fiesta time in Barretto! The big celebrations are on Saturday, but we’ll be out of town visiting a river resort in Botolon.***

***The SOB is dead, but the Aftermath event has been reincarnated as the After Dark and debuts tonight at Wet Spot. The 8 pm start makes it pretty much a no-go for me.***

***We finished our hike by grabbing some takeout food from Sit-n-Bull.***

While we were at Sit-n-Bull, the manager told us that someone had died across the street earlier that morning.

***At six floors, the Central Park Reef Hotel is the tallest building in town.***

***It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.***

Not many details have emerged as yet, but it was a 20-something young woman and likely a suicide. Sad to see a wasted life. I’m glad I changed my mind fifty years ago; I wouldn’t have missed this adventure since then for the world.

We started our evening out with dinner at Mango’s.

***I zoomed in on the village across the bay we’d visited during the morning, Bantay Bayan.***

***The grilled pork chops on our table.***

After dinner, we popped into the Outback Billabong bar. We usually frequent the pool bar when we are here, but since it was already dark, we sat inside with aircon and music. Met a friendly Aussie tourist and we had a nice chat. One of the topics we discussed was this:

***A super typhoon is headed for Luzon. It looks like it will hit a bit north of where I am, but we will be feeling the impact of wind and rain regardless. Should make for a wild Sunday.***

That’s the kind of excitement I don’t need or want in my life.

We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria bar last night and had an enjoyable time. It has a very unique vibe and the dancers are so energetic that they dance even when they are not on stage. The manager told me he has thirty dancers now, which is likely the most in town. Most of them are relatively attractive, especially when compared to the girls I’ve seen in other Barretto bars. I’d rate Queen Vic the best girly bar in these parts, if that’s your thing.

Still plowing through February 2015 in the LTG archives. Today’s share is a photo-laden post about a weekend in Busan, the ROK’s second city. I always enjoyed visiting there. One more place on my list of things I miss.

Today’s YouTube video is a walk through the streets of Bantay Bayan. My photos didn’t really capture the essence of the village like this does.

You know what comes next:

***It’s funny even without the political implications. I mean, you could make the joke, “Trump wants a ballroom because he ain’t got any.”***

***It’s good to expand your vocabulary…***

Okay, it’s gonna be a busy weekend, it seems. The 7-Eleven walk this morning and whatever comes after, then an early morning departure for a day on the river in Botolon. And a blowjob from Uwan on Sunday. Good times!

I hear some people been talking me down
Bring up my name, pass it 'round
They don't mention the happy times
They do their thing, I do mine

Ooh baby, that's hard to change
I can't tell them how to feel
Some get stoned, some get strange
But sooner or later, it all gets real
Walk on, walk on

Doing a bypass

Posted on 06/November/2025 by John McCrarey

Ain’t got much to say, so we’ll keep it short and sweet today. Fair enough?

The Wednesday Walkers, all three of us, took the longish Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and did a walkabout on the GOVIC bypass highway.

***My fellow adventurers, George and Swan.***

***We don’t need no edukasyon, we don’t need no thought control. Teacher, leave them kids alone!***

***Hell, Mary. Aren’t you worried that those three wise men will figure out what you and Joseph have been up to?***

***And then back on the National Highway for a bit.***

***The route we took on our 6K journey.***

Come evening, Swan and I kicked things off at Sloppy Joe’s and shared some quite good chicken wings with fries. Then we went next door to Green Room, where I put my “buy one, get one” coupon to good use. When I’d drunk my fill, we headed for home sweet home.

I told you it was a nothing day. But I liked it all the same.

From the February 2015 LTG archives comes a post about coffee shops on Itaewon’s main drag. I was never much of a coffee drinker, but curiosity got the best of me one day, so I counted how many steps there were between the multitude of coffee houses. And I took a photo of each and every one. Go have a look for yourself.

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Smart Girl Philippines. In today’s YouTube video, she provides the nine reasons a Filipina wants to fuck a foreigner.

And now for these:

***Nothing like getting back to your roots.***

***Well, I’m a boomer, but I don’t like 3, 5, 16, 19, or 20.***

And that’s all he wrote. For today anyway.

Unconnected

Posted on 05/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***Easier said than done, but I’m working on it.***

I’ve mentioned before the struggles I’ve been undergoing as I continue my journey through the uncharted waters of my seventies. Usually, I can turn off my brain, or at least drown it out with copious amounts of San Miguel Zero. But then those nights I can’t sleep soundly come around.

Lying there in bed, my mind inevitably starts traveling back to the past, reminding me of what I had and what I lost. My preference is just to let it go, or sometimes fantasize about what I might do to change things should I be granted a “do-over life.” Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Anyway, last night the struggle with my brain revolved around how disconnected I’ve become. I rarely hear from my children, and it’s been years since I’ve had contact with my two brothers. Long-time friends have also disappeared. I guess this is one of the consequences for choosing to live out what remains of my life on the other side of the world, far away from friends and family.

But here’s the thing. I don’t miss the vanilla American lifestyle I left behind and can’t imagine living in the nation of my birth again. I miss the people I’ve loved, even if it feels like they no longer love me. They’ve chosen to go their own way, just as I have chosen to go mine. Life goes on until it doesn’t.

Somewhat coincidentally (I was checking to make sure I hadn’t used this post title before), I found something I had written in 2008 expressing sentiments similar to what I’ve been feeling now. Back then, I was reflecting on my life after three years in Korea, lamenting what that had cost me, yet I was still unwilling to change course. That’s where I’m at today as well. The mistake I want to avoid this time is getting trapped in regrets over what I’ve lost and forgetting to embrace the good in the life I have.

So, as unconnected as I might be, I have my routines to fill the hours. Yes, they are mostly mundane and meaningless, but I enjoy them and will do my best to continue living the best life an elderly man can hope for. Let’s see how that works out for me.

***And there’s no going back, so I’m taking the future one day at a time.***

Take yesterday, for example. My new driver, Bong, who is a friend of Swans, arrived promptly at eight in the morning for my weekly grocery shopping excursion. There was an additional stop at the immigration office to extend my visa, and that went without issue. Then it was on to the Filipino supermarket, YBC, to stock up on the week’s candies and treats. Checking out can be a very frustrating experience, as I was reminded once again. It seemed to take forever for the woman in front of me to get her groceries squared away and paid for (she had them in three piles to be rung up separately. And then it took a long time for her card payment to go through. I stood by patiently, reciting my mantra, “take a deep breath, relax, and accept the Filipino way.” It’s not vanilla here; sometimes it’s a rocky road.

Royal is a comparatively American shopping experience, so there is usually nothing much to get upset about. My only issue was at checkout, when the cashier tried to entice me to buy eco-bags for my groceries instead of the cardboard boxes that are the usual method. When I declined the bags, she said the boxes were unavailable. I responded by pointing to the customer who was ringing out several aisles away, using boxes. Then the cashier disappeared for several minutes, presumably in search of boxes. Meanwhile, one of the baggers came by with boxes sufficient for my grocery load. The cashier eventually returned and began ringing up my purchases. Maybe it was my imagination, or perhaps she is just incompetent, but damn, it seemed like she was moving in slow motion. Anyway, if that’s all I have to complain about, I’m living a charmed life indeed.

Back home, I was feeling lazy and skipped the usual afternoon neighborhood hike. At beer o’clock, Swan and I made our way to Barretto and paid our monthly visit to my old darts bar, Alley Cats. I was reminded of how disconnected I’ve become from my former darting life. It’s still nice to see the familiar faces occasionally, though.

After Alley Cats, we crossed the highway for some dinner at the Outback Fish and Chips diner. We’ve had takeout from there in the past, but this is the first time we’ve actually sat down to eat there.

***It’s an open-air joint, which I like. This is the view from our table.***

***I’d been craving fish and chips for some reason. This is the mahi-mahi version, which I prefer to the standard dory variety. I wasn’t disappointed.***

I had a 500 peso voucher from the final SOB for Whiskey Girl, so that’s where we headed next. At first, they declined to accept the voucher, saying they were no longer a member of the SOB. I was livid, saying this prize was given to me at the last event, and their refusal to honor it was tantamount to fraud. I was ready to walk out without paying for the drinks I had ordered when manager Mick interceded, saying he would accept the coupon but still claimed it should not have been given. So, I had four beers for free (one glass of wine I paid for) and left.

Then, we once again crossed the highway and popped into the newest bar in town, Gold Bar. We were warmly greeted by the manager and took our seats. I was a little surprised to see that I knew our waitress, Lydell, whom I first met at Snackbar several years ago. A little later, neighbors Jeff and Davina joined us. I didn’t take any photos, but Gold Bar is a clean, well-lit place —the kind I appreciate when I’m drinking inside. There is a pool table in the back and a small stage where four dancers were performing their swaying routine last night. They were attractive (i.e., not fat) by Barretto standards. It was a pleasant enough nightcap venue, and on those occasions we are visiting this side of town, we’ll pay them another visit.

Not bad for a Tuesday, eh? Except for the part about not being able to get a good night’s sleep.

Oh, I’ve often wondered why Filipinos don’t speak Spanish, despite being under Spain’s rule for four hundred years. This article explains what happened.

Moving on to February 2015 in the LTG archives, and this post about one of my best days as a darter brought back some nice memories.

***A fifteen dart out in 501, the best I’ve ever thrown. The pros can do it in twelve, but they don’t use aiming fluid (beer).***

Three years ago, I was still enjoying my visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In today’s YouTube video, a white girl (or, more likely, an AI-generated image of one) shares her first experience in a Manila grocery store. She encounters the variety of snacks and flavors the locals enjoy. It is short, so bite your tongue and try to enjoy it.

And now let’s move on to the funny business:

***Don’t ask me, I’m just a grammar spammer.***

That’s all I’ve got. Sorry for going a tad off the rails today, but that’s what happens sometimes.

Fair to middling

Posted on 04/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***But what about all those dead voters?***

Yesterday’s Hash trail was nothing special, but I’ve only got myself to blame for that. I opted not to follow the route the Hare prepared and set about on my course. Coincidentally, the Hare’s trail did intersect with mine for a kilometer or two, then headed back up into the hills. My path started with the My Bitch trail and then came down into San Isidro for a flat street walk to the On-Home at Smokes and Bottles in Calapacuan. I did manage to log 7K on my journey, and that ain’t bad for a fat old guy. Pubic Head (Scott) was going to a street walk to Smokes and Bottles from his house, but he decided to join me on my trail instead. It was good to be Hashing together again!

As we set out, I couldn’t help but notice that the new SBH3 shirt Swan was wearing had some ambiguity about it. I imagined encountering someone reading the Hare’s name (Anal Receptive) and taking it as an invitation to poke that ass.

***Into the tall thatch grass that is part of the Bitch experience.***

***Swan posing for my Easter Mountain shot.***

***Waiting at Mountain Mama Onelia’s place for Pubic Head and his contingent to arrive.***

***Well, lookee there, we are On-On the official Hash trail.***

***The path was going our way, so we took it.***

***Crossing Bridge #3. Not long thereafter, the Hare’s trail went one way and we took another.***

***But our paths reconvened near the On-Home venue. The Hare (Almoranus) speaks German, and I *think* “saufn oida) roughly translates to “beer near.”***

***On-Home at Smokes and Bottles, one of my favorite Hash venues.***

***That’s the Hare, Almoranus, on the right.***

After-Hash revelry at It Doesn’t Matter, then back to the house for a good night’s sleep before waking up thankful to still be amongst the living.

It’s still January 2015 in the LTG archives. Now, I personally have a very low tolerance for people who feel the need to act out and become a drama queen. Except when I are one. Live and learn.

Today’s YouTube video is also from the LTG archives. It was funny to see it again.

Let’s roll on into these:

Another day, another post. Let’s see what happens next.

Blessed be the day

Posted on 03/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***And I have no intention of finding out!***

Here’s the down and dirty on how I spent what the locals call All Souls’ Day.

As is our custom, we kicked off our Sunday with a Sweets Stroll.

***Filling the void with some sweet goodness.***

Speaking of goodness, Swan made me a meat pie for lunch:

***She’s a natural in the kitchen, and being with a Brit for many years expanded her repertoire.***

But the feeding wasn’t over, I still had the Hideaway gals to tend to.

But wait, there’s more. At John’s place across the highway, I rendezvoused with Swan, who had just returned from family time at the cemetery in remembrance of her mother.

***The dinnertime sky view from John’s.***

***This should come as no surprise to regular readers.***

After our meal, we ventured out to Red Bar and met up with the neighbors.

***We usually sit outside, but Jeff was craving the aircon.***

Swan said she saw on Facebook that there was live music at Jumpin’ Jacks starting at 7 pm. So, off we went. When the music didn’t start as scheduled, Davina graciously helped fill the void.

**It was almost eight before the scheduled act took the stage. That’s awfully close to my bedtime, so we didn’t stay for much of the show.**

And that’s all there was to the day, but it was still blessed. I hope there are many more to come.

From the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute to my mother on the fourth anniversary of her passing. Gone but never forgotten.

***Mom’s life was not an easy one, but in the end, her thoughts were only about the power of love. She urged us to love and to be loved because that was all that really mattered.***

And Facebook also flooded me with memories from this day in 2018, during my last visit to the USA. We rented a place for the weekend at Seven Devils, North Carolina, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.

***It was the last time I experienced snowfall.***

***It was also the last time I saw my children.***

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. You just live the life you have and make the best of it. Looking back still makes me sad sometimes.

Speaking of looking back, today’s YouTube video is about growing up in the baby boom generation. Those were some sweet memories. I’m glad I got to experience life the way it was. I’m also happy to be living life the way it is, but the clock is ticking for us boomers.

And now let me offer you these tidbits of wisdom that may be worthy of a smile or two:

***I’m fucking trying to get it write.***

There you go. I hope you got what you came for. It’s Hash Monday and I’ll be hitting the trail again this afternoon. When I say “the trail,” I mean “my trail.” I’ve decided that making the effort to reach the official start at the end of Rizal Extension isn’t worth the hassle, especially since I’m not a fan of the previous trails by today’s Hare. Damn, the older I get, the more inclined I am to say, “Fuck it. I’ll do it my way.”

I heard this song as background music last night. It had been a long time since the last time it tickled my senses. In my old-man style, I sent myself a message with the song’s name so I’d remember it today.

This is the day
Of the expanding man
That shape is my shade
There where I used to stand
It seems like only yesterday
I gazed through the glass
At ramblers
Wild gamblers
That's all in the past

You call me a fool
You say it's a crazy scheme
This one's for real
I already bought the dream
So useless to ask me why
Throw a kiss and say goodbye
I'll make it this time
I'm ready to cross that fine line

Rockin’ on!

Posted on 02/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***I’m glad I don’t live in NYC. They are fixin’ to find out what comes with being stupid.***

Don’t worry, I’m not going there. Arguing politics online never changes any minds, mine included. Just glad I’m watching from a safe distance.

Here in my world, I had a mix of the same and something a bit different.

***The dawning of another day as seen from my balcony.***

Then it was time for the weekly Decay Dance.

***Litter here takes many forms. The locals don’t give a crap. What a pisser.***

***There’s something you don’t see every day on the streets of San Isidro.***

***I liked the juxtaposition of this dead tree and Easter Mountain.***

***Doing her duty…those teeth ain’t gonna rot themselves, you know.***

Neighbors Jeff and Davina invited us to join them in the afternoon at Treasure Island on Baloy Beach. Sure, why not?

***And at 4:30, the live music, featuring Engine Band, kicked off.***

No Zero available, so I enjoyed a bucket of San Mig Light (six beers for the price of five). I guess you could say I kicked the bucket!

***And as long as you are being bad, you might as well go all in. Damn, that banana split was delicious!***

The combination of starting early and drinking beer with 5% alcohol content (versus the 3% I’m accustomed to) inevitably brought the evening to an early end.

***Once home, Swan lit candles in remembrance of the dead, including two for my parents. They probably didn’t notice, but they weren’t forgotten.***

This may well be a record for me:

***Nine hours of sleep is a lot for me, but damn, I fell asleep at 7:24 p.m. I’ve got to build up some endurance for chrissakes.***

It wasn’t a long day, but it was a good one.

Back to the January 2015 LTG archives, where I write about moving into a new high-rise apartment building and my commute to work in Seoul. Ah, to be young and in my sixties again.

Lots of Facebook memories from this day in my history:

Eleven years ago, I was darting with one of my best friends, Duke Gates. And now he’s disappeared himself from social media and doesn’t respond to emails. No one knows what happened or what is up with him.

***Seven years ago, I visited the USA for the last time. It was nice to see my mailman jacket still fit me. It wouldn’t now.***

***Three years ago, I was in Cambodia and saw my good friend Dennis McPeters for the last time. I fear the worst in his case.***

***I’d almost forgotten how cute those Cambodian gals are.***

***A bar zone right across the street from my hotel. Phnom Penh had several streets lined with girly bars like these.***

Today’s YouTube video is from my pal Jambo. I promise this is the last time I’ll post a video from the SOB.

What the hell? Okay, click the link instead. Sorry!

Humor time:

***Sometimes you just can’t shake that booty!***

Another day, another post. Now I will get on with the rest of my Sunday routines.

This song was released the year I graduated from high school:

RIP SOB

Posted on 01/November/2025 by John McCrarey

***I don’t know what to think about this.***

It’s a holiday weekend here in the Philippines. Yesterday was Halloween, today is All Saints Day, and tomorrow is All Souls Day. It’s a big deal here, and the cemeteries will be packed on Sunday with family gatherings and celebrations to remember those who have passed. Where I grew up, it was only about the trick-or-treating. Today’s YouTube from the Pea explains the Filipino traditions in more detail.

So, my Halloween this year consisted of an 8K street walk from the Subic marketplace back to Barretto. Then I attended the funeral for the SOB dance contest. It was a rather sad affair. I’ll get to that later in this post, but to keep things sequential, we’ll start with the walk.

***My fellow Friday hikers, Swan and Gary.***

***There’s no trick to handing out candy on Halloween***.

***I ain’t afraid of that rickety bridge.***

***Not exactly a walk in the park, but no complaints.***

***There’s something haunting about this abandoned subdivision.***

I walked through the gate for the first time yesterday. Big, wide streets, paved in concrete and tree-lined. Very nice despite the ghostly vibe. It felt a little like being in a Stephen King novel.

***As we passed the graveyard, there were many people busy cleaning and painting in preparation for the coming All Souls Day***.

***Spooky decorations at this beach resort.***

***A brief interlude on the highway heading back towards Barretto.***

***This loosely translates to: Fuck off! Don’t leave your trash here.***

***Oh look! You can see Alta Vista from here.***

Next on the day’s agenda was attending the final SOB, held at Wet Spot.

***Swan dressed up for the occasion. My costume was invisible.***

***Neighbor and fellow WHS alumnus, Mike, was our tablemate at the SOB.***

***The stage was nicely decorated for the event.***

***And Wet Spot was jam-packed with attendees.***

***I apologize for failing to get many good pictures from where I was sitting last night.***

Only three bars competed last night, another reason the SOB has been on life support for quite some time now. All participating teams had nice costumes and put some effort into their performances. Creepy Halloween gear and sexy dancing seem to me to be incompatible, but I guess monsters need love, too.

***Wet Spot finished first, followed by Queen Victoria and Green Room.***

***That’s the scary manager from Queen Vic.***

***I added all the teams I used to enjoy watching to my scorecard. Thanks for the memories!***

And then it was all over and done with after more than twenty years of weekly competitions. Things change, and life goes on.

***My final coupons from the SOB. I don’t like Whiskey Girl, but I might enjoy drinking 500 pesos worth at their expense. The Green Room coupon will be easy to use.***

So, after making sure I had drunk enough to cover my 750 peso SOB entrance fee, I was ready to head home when the show ended at 8 pm. And that’s just what I did.

Back in January 2015, I linked to a post of mine written on New Year’s Day 2005 from Oklahoma, where I was visiting my parents as I looked towards an unknown future in Korea. Here’s what I had to say back then:

And that leads to my current insight on this New Year’s morning. I never really had a plan for life; I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroad, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose. No mulligans. But I have been extremely fortunate and blessed. Good people got hurt along the way, and for that I am truly sorry. But the roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck, perhaps, but even though I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be, it has been a very nice ride.

So it is time to look forward again. This year brings a new road in Seoul, Korea. And it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure. My point (if there is one) is just to say that I have discovered it is important to take the time to enjoy the life you are living, even as you chase rainbows. I think I missed the best part of Oklahoma, and it is only in looking back that I realize that I should have allowed myself to be happy there.

Reading the above this morning had me shaking my head, realizing I never truly learned that lesson. I spent a year in Pyeongtaek, missing the life I’d left behind in Seoul and looking ahead to my upcoming life in the Philippines. I was too foolish to appreciate all the good things that surrounded me back then, and it is only in looking back sadly at what should have been an enjoyable chapter in my life if I’d only allowed myself to live in the moment. So, for better or worse, I’m embracing this life of mine in the Philippines, warts and all.

Today’s post from the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute I wrote to my friend and workmate, Dennis McPeters, upon his retirement from government service. I met him back in our Postal Service days, and he had become one of my best friends over the years. I last saw him three years ago in Cambodia, where he was living. He hasn’t responded to my emails for over a year now, and I fear the worst. I sent him another today, just in case they have Gmail in heaven.

Here’s the YouTube video from the Filipina Pea I mentioned earlier in this post: