Screw the Doubt, Just Do It

The title is brash, but for good reason. There's no sugar coating this post. No holding your hand, walking you through it, no babying you until you hear what you want to hear. This is a full force shove into the deep end with no life jacket. The training wheels were never there. User manual? Never existed. That tiny voice in your head that instills doubt...screw it.

For many years I let that voice rule me. It held me down, ruined what would've been epic memories, and stole incredible moments. Even after I thought I had beaten it, every once in awhile, it would resurface. Attacking moments I considered insignificant, but in hindsight were crucial. No matter what condition you are in, everyone deals with this voice, some just louder than others. And the truth is that if you coddle that voice to make it feel like it compromised...you're wrong. It won.

An old example comes from my childhood. Every summer I took swimming lessons at our local pool. And I absolutely hated the deep water. I did it each year because it meant a week of going swimming. There were at least 8 levels to get through. They weren't restricted to year, but they were restricted to the one week. Some kids got through 3 levels in a week, some one, and some didn't even pass. I was the third kid. Each level took me multiple tries. My first attempt at level 1, that voice harassed me. Telling me they were going to force me to do scary things and if I started drowning, no one would be there to help me. So I cried my way through level 1. The next year I came back as did the voice, but I managed to keep it at bay to make it past level 1. The next year two years were the same results. Two years for level 2. Then came the dreaded level 3. This meant jumping in the deep end. For three straight years, that was the only thing keeping me from getting to level four. And that evil voice screamed louder each time. "You'll drown. Those instructors are lying. They won't catch you. You're weak."

My fourth attempt at passing level 3 was going to be my last. We were moving in August. The first four days went fine. But on the fifth day came the dreaded jump. There I stood on the edge of the deep. Dreading that moment. The voice came screaming in like it always did. But then another voice emerged. A human voice. One of the girls in my class admitted she was afraid of jumping in too. And after some consideration, she decided that it was her last chance for a whole year to do this and to heck with it, she was jumping. I watched as she leaped into the deep. In a matter of seconds, she surfaced and was treading water. My instructor encouraged me and she did too. "If I can do it, you can too." Then a new voice popped in my head. It sternly said "Screw the doubt, just do it!"

I jumped.

Mere seconds after I hit the water, I found myself above the surface and made it to the wall. Two emotions swept over me. Sheer joy that I had just conquered a dastardly fear and slight irritation that I let that stupid voice rob me of progress. Then the whistle blew and as I reunited with my parents, I had a certificate in my hand that proved I passed level 3. But because I let that evil voice rule me, instead of making it through 8 levels, I only completed 3.

Even though I beat that voice then, it never totally went away and it never fully will. It can sometimes linger in a smaller way.

A more recent example is from when I was in NYC for the first time in 2016. I didn't have a plan for when I was there other than I knew what I wanted to see and do. Nearly every day I winged it. Starting at one place and moving to everything I wanted to see within the time I had. After five days of this, my time was running out. I had one full day left and I still hadn't done one of the things I had mainly planned to do. Most of the stuff I did was before all my friends arrived for the wedding we were all attending. And the days following, we did stuff together. So by then, it was hard for me to do some other individual things.

When the city woke me up on my final day there, I realized I had a small window to go do what I had been dreaming of doing since I was a mere lad. Stand at the base of the Statue of Liberty. But that dreaded voice arose and spoke these words: "It'll take you an hour to get there and at least another 3 to do the whole process. You'll have to deal with mass crowds of people, long lines, and all in the hot sun. What if your friends wake up while you're there and have other plans in store? You've seen so many other things already. No need for more. You've seen it from a distance, isn't that enough?" Part of me actually began to believe it was right. But then I realized what was speaking. I unlocked my phone and saw Lady Liberty staring at me from my wallpaper. I recalled the feelings of incredible joy from stumbling upon the Balto statue in Central Park. I had been waiting my whole life to see the Statue of Liberty and I wasn't going to let that voice of death stop me now.

I waited in the lines. I boarded the boat. As we got closer, my excitement kept building. As we cruised across the ocean, she became larger and larger. Once the boat docked, I wasted no time getting off. I hastily moved to where she stood. And as I gazed upon her, I was in complete awe. I drowned out the crowds around me, as if they weren't there. I was standing at the feet of the very statue that promised hope to so many years ago. The moment was incredible and as for that voice, not even a whimper could be heard. I know that if I had given any ground to the doubt, I'd be regretting it
heavily still to this day.

Now to be clear, I'm not advocating for you to do anything stupid. If you're hearing that voice, don't ignore it because that's your conscience. Ignoring that would be bad. But the voice I mentioned here is more concerned with filling you with fear, doubt, and despair. It's sole purpose is to destroy you. Don't let it do that. Don't let fear and doubt hold you down. Sometimes you have to take that chance. That leap of faith. Because you truly will never know what it's like unless you just do it. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

Birthdays

Do you remember way back in 2006, when Facebook was just two years old and had just opened up to high schoolers? Do you recall when all it was meant for was sharing photos, checking in on each other's lives, and keeping in touch? This was before all the apps came in. Before any joe schmoe could create an account. Before corporations, advertising, fake news, political propaganda took over. Before my generation, the ones that helped make Facebook the billion dollar empire it is today, started pushing the deactivate button and leaving for greener pastures. Why the reminiscing? Because there was a time that happened once a year, that made me stay glued to this social media platform all day.

You see, back when facebook was worth using and keeping track of on a daily basis, people wrote on each other's walls. They posted messages and interacted in lengthy comments. People could scroll down your wall and see all this interaction. Because it was about the human connection. Your friends could see this. They could chime in. And pretty soon, you'd find your self in an epic conversation. And most of it was never negative. You had no need to block anyone. Or to delete comments your regretted posting. It was a happier time for sure. But what made this phenomenon most enjoyable, was when one's birthday rolled around. Starting at midnight, every one of your friends who logged into facebook would see very obviously (as long as you had your birthday listed in your profile) that it was indeed your birthday. At this time, there was no sidebar, no window to right a simple message, no "birthday card". You literally had to take the time to go to their page and write on their wall.  Usually when one did this, they left more than a simple "Happy Birthday".  And it was usually a decent number of your active friends who did so.

But those are bygone days. Yes people still send out birthday greetings, but it's not the same as it was 13 years ago. But that doesn't mean I love seeing those notifications any less. The one thing I have noticed in recent years is the group of people who takes the time to write that wonderful message is an interesting group. As I scrolled through the messages, there were a number from people I've known for awhile, but hardly ever interact with on facebook and some I haven't seen in years that took the time to send warm greetings my way. And I love it. It shows me that people I still think about, who at one point had an impact in my life, are still aware of my presence and they still care. 

My birthday was this month. It is the last year of my 20s. It still blows my mind saying that. So this is all fresh and relevant. And because this simple act of kindness is near and dear to me, I, in return, extend the favor. Facebook says I have 563 friends (as of this writing). That's more than 365. And while not every one in that 563 was born in such a way that all 365 days are covered, there are still hundreds of days that come with birthdays. It doesn't matter if I haven't talked to you in years. It doesn't matter if I only knew you for a few days or my whole life. What matters is that you were born and you entered my life. Therefore, every day (if I don't forget), I check facebook at least once to see who has a birthday. And then I will take the time to wish you a happy birthday because I know how much it makes my day, so why not make yours?

Truth is, the older you get, the way you view birthdays changes. But I still appreciate it every time it rolls around. It reminds me that I'm alive. It brings out the good in people, and it shows how many do care.

So when this time rolls around again next year, you can bet I'll be looking forward to those little notifications pinging my phone. And if you are reading this and it is your birthday, well then, I wish you all the best and a very happy birthday!

But God

But God
By Josh Watkins


My fears are great, but God takes them away.
My sorrows are deep, but God is deeper.
My pain is unbearable, but God heals all.
My struggles are many, but God is my strength.
My life isn't easy, but God carries me.
My storms rage, but God calms them.
My heart is broken, but God makes it whole.
My future is uncertain, but God is sure.

My joy is temporary, but God is eternal.
My hope is is bleak, but God is true.
My faith has cracks, but God is the glue.
My love wavers, but God's love never fails.
My life has an end, but God makes it eternal.


No matter what my state,
No matter what comes at me,
No matter what questions torment me,
No matter what the world says,
The answer always is...

BUT GOD.

Travel Itch: San Francisco Part 2

Day two got off to a slower start. The previous day's activities wore me out, so I slept in. I only had four major goals for this day. 1) Explore Golden Gate Park (and no the Golden Gate Bridge is not located here). 2) See the beach. 3) See the Golden Gate Bridge up close. 4) Watch the SF Giants at Oracle Park.

After arising from our slumber, Josh and I hailed an uber to take us to GGP. As we got closer, the sun quickly disappeared as the classic SF fog had rolled in off the ocean. Our warm temperatures took a nosedive. Josh kept saying he should've brought a sweater, I told him he'll be fine. Upon arrival, we headed towards the beach so I could see the view...which was non existent due to the heavy fog. But I still am glad I saw it regardless.

We spent the next few hours exploring GGP. We kept stopping to find some geocaches along the way, but man, you could get lost in there. Fun fact, GGP has more acres (1017) than Central Park (848). We swung by areas such as the buffalo reserve, the casting ponds, and the polo fields. The lack of fellow tourists in the area was nice as I could really enjoy what was around me.

Having our fill of GGP, the Golden Gate Bridge was next. We ubered over to the Presidio, which is the park where the Golden Gate Bridge stands, and not the park that shares it's name. Once we arrived, we weren't even at the bridge yet, but I can say with confidence that nearly anywhere you go in SF that's by the water has amazing views.

We walked along the shoreline, stopping every once in a while to capture the view forever. As we walked, I noticed the last of the fog engulfing the GGB, almost as if it was fighting the forces that were slowly extinguishing it. As we got closer, the fog kept fading, and the bridge became that more magnificent. Let me say this. When you travel, don't be the full on anti-tourist. By that I mean, don't focus on all the hidden gems and lesser known sites and smells. Of all these places I grew up seeing in books, on TV, and on the internet, nothing compares to seeing them in person. I remember the chills and patriotic pride that overwhelmed me while standing at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. I recall my breath being taken away at the views from the Space Needle and Empire State Building. I reminisce on the state of euphoria I  was in when I stood between the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. And now here I was, underneath one of the most incredible man made marvels, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Below the GGB on the SF side is an old fort dating back to the civil war days. You can go all the way up to the roof and stand where the cannons sat years ago. The GGB hovers right above and gives you an amazing perspective of just how vast it is. I imagined myself standing there over 100 years ago, clad in full uniform, staring over the Pacific, closely watching for enemy ships. It really is a sight to see.

Mid afternoon crept up on us quickly, so we headed back to Josh's apartment to take a breather and freshen up. Once the R&R was complete, it was time to check another MLB ballpark off the list. But first we needed some fuel. Mmm spicy ramen noodles for the win.

And now, Oracle Park. Home of the  San Francisco Giants. And what made it even better was that Madison Bumgarner was on the mound. I remember witnessing his amazing world series performance against the Kansas City Royals. So for me to see him pitch on his home turf, possibly for the last time in a giants uniform, was pretty surreal. Oracle Park itself is also a real gem. If anyone ever asks for the top five MLB ballparks, Oracle is definitely on that list. The history, the atmosphere, and most importantly the scenic backdrop. Take a look.

In the end, the Giants lost to a bad team, but that was the epitome of their season. The game was still incredibly fun and the full mooning aligning with the right field foul pole over the water was pretty sweet. To end the night and the trip, we headed back to Josh's place, and up onto the roof. We sat and talked into the night, with the city towering around us in its calm, evening state. And yes, the view was incredible. That's all for San Francisco for now. Where will I end up next? Only time will tell.

Travel Itch: San Francisco Edition Part 1

Over the past week, I've produced photos and vlog videos about my trip to San Francisco, CA. So why write about it? Why "repeat" the same things already put forth? Well dear reader, let me tell you. It's creativity and memories. The creativity aspect of me refuses to let one form be enough. And secondly, as good as my memory may be, it isn't going to last like this forever. By putting my adventure into words, their power can paint invoking images of joyful times, share stories not told by the pictures and vlog, and give others a sense of being their through their own imagination. And here we go!

Last year around this time, I ventured to the west coast for the first time since flying to Australia in 2017, but I actually left the airport. The destination was Seattle. I always heard great things about Seattle. But I wasn't going to any city just because. I have a process. 1) I actually have to want to go see the city because plane tickets ain't cheap! 2) Check to see if someone I know is there so I can visit them and avoid hotel/air bnb (travel tip!). 3) There's an MLB team there and they are in town the days I want to go (bucket list item is to see a game in all 30 MLB stadiums). Seattle filled all three of those criteria. So I decided to stick to the same idea and go west coast again. So why San Francisco? California has a ton of cool cities right? Why not L.A.? San Diego? San Jose? Well, a friend I've known for approximately 15 years currently lives there. SF has a number of places I really wanted to see (Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Warf, Alcatraz, parks, etc). And one of the most beautiful baseball parks in the US is located there (Oracle Park, home of the Giants). My 3 criteria were met so off I went.

I arrived around 9pm PST on Thursday night. I met up with Josh (my friend) and we got some really good Indian food for dinner. Not much else happened Thursday because Josh had work the next morning and I needed shut-eye.

Friday morning I woke up around 7am PST and ventured out around 8am. My goal for the first half of the morning was to go on a geo-tour. What I mean by that is walk the streets of San Francisco, see less popular sites, and grab geocaches along the way. My first target of the morning was a cathedral called Grace Cathedral that contained a virtual geocache. This means there is no physical container here, but by visiting this place and answering a questions (or questions) about it, I can claim a find and see a cool location in the process. It's open to the public so I had no problem getting inside and getting the info I needed. Very cool place to get my first California cache.

After I left the cathedral, I went in search of someplace to buy deodorant and a pair of shades because this dummy left them 3,000 miles away. I came upon a corner Walgreen's and entered. There was hardly anyone else in there except on other customer, the cashier, and a store observer (wasn't a security guard). I found what I needed and made my way to the counter. I waited behind someone and another person came behind me. The guy behind me was a bit off his rocker. I paid for my stuff and heard the guy behind me tell the observer he didn't like the way he moved towards him. The observer politely said he was just adjusting to get comfortable. I paid for my items and left the store. As I was pulling the tag off my shades, I turned around to see the observer and the shady guy in a full blown fist fight. The cashier immediately got on the phone to call the police. The shady guy picked up a full case of bottled water, launched it at the observer, pulled down the magazine rack, and left the store in a heat. I had never seen anything like that live before in my life. It all happened so fast. Thankfully the guy didn't say anything to me on his way out.

I moved along, trying to shake off what I just witnessed and ended up at a significant sized tree at the corner of an intersection. What made it special? There was a cache 37ft up. So I did what I had to. I made the 37ft climb, got tree sap all over myself, and signed the log. No one paid me any mind.

A few trees later, I found myself at Alamo Square Park. There were a lot of tourists here. This was an interesting moment for me as this was the one thing odd that struck me about San Francisco. Out of all the other cities I've been to, this was the only one that wherever I went and whatever I saw, I never felt there were too many people. Sure the tourist locations had the most people, but my waits were never long and I never felt like I was being suffocated. Back to the park. This park offers an incredible view of the city. But what many visitors come to it for is what is stationed just across the street from it. Painted ladies. What are those? According to google: "a house from the late 19th or early 20th century with it's exterior decorated with three or more colors of paint." Now I can appreciate beautiful architecture, but these houses were more significant because they've appeared in movies and TV shows galore, including the end of the opening song for one of my favorite childhood TV shows...Full House. So surreal being there.

After walking for who knows how long, I decided to call an uber and relocate. Once my ride arrived, I headed north and ended up at Lombard Street. I'll let the pics tell the tale.

Yup I'm the dumb tourist blocking traffic

Next stop, Fisherman's Warf. It was incredible to walk by the shops, restaurants, and everything else going on down there. I stopped briefly because I saw some SF magnets and I bought two. When I travel to a new city, I like to get a magnet and add it to the fridge so whenever I open it, I can reminisce on my adventures. 

It wasn't long before I ended up in a noisy place. Right in front of me was a long pier with barely any people on it, but to my right was another pier full of barking sea lions. I walked the long pier first because at the end was a sweet view of the Pacific. In the distance loomed the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, notable peaks, Oakland, CA, and much more. Once I had taken this all in, I went over to get a closer look at the sea lions. Even though most of them were just sunning themselves, the rest kept trying to knock each other of the piers, some even resorting to vicious biting attacks. They'd crawl all over each other until they got to the spot they wanted and then would duke it out until one fell off or gave up and jumped off.

I hadn't really eaten anything all day and got hit with a weird stomach ache. I became worried that this was going to be an issue, but after walking around for a bit, grabbing some water and clam chowder, it went away just like that. 

While I was debating what to do next, it dawned on me that there was a webcam geocache back by the sea lions. These are rare and not allowed anymore so finding one is a treat. But I needed help. I called a geofriend of mine who happened to be not at home and in New Jersey. I figured he couldn't help, but he said we could make it work on his phone. So I made my way back to the sea linos and through his guidance, found the webcam. Then for a little over 5 minutes, I kept him on the line while he tried to guide me in front of the cam so he could see me one his phone. There were still a ton of people around and I looked like a total idiot, but it was well worth it. He managed to screen shot me on the cam and I got to claim a find.

By this time, Josh had gotten off work and  was coming to meet me by Pier 33 where out boat to Alcatraz was scheduled to leave 5 min before 6pm. As I was headed that direction, a young woman holding a bunch of CDs stopped me. Before she explained what her purpose was, she asked me  questions about myself and gave out compliments. Then finally she explained that she was a musician trying to make it big and was distributing her music. She began to autograph the CD, and upon placing it in my hands, casually slipped in that she was asking for a donation and that anything helps. I told her I'd give her $2 (I wasn't giving her the $20 I had). But she asked for more and then again said anything helps. I repeated that $2 was all I'd be willing to give and she suggested digital pay apps. I told her no and finally she accepted the $2. Now pay very close attention. These people who do this are frauds. I ran into one in NYC in 2016. Exact same thing. Holding a bunch of CDs without cover labels on them, trying to talk you up, autograph it, and then ask for "donations" if you refuse, they become like annoying telemarketers and try to get you to part with your hard earned money. And guess what, even if you think they are legit and want to help them pursue their dreams, think again. Anyone legitimately trying to promote their art, will not badger you in every way possible to get you to buy their CD. If you really want to get your music out there, you spend your time showcasing it and giving away free tracks so people won't feel cheated out of something they may not possibly like. And lastly, beware of blank cover looking CDs. Why? Well that CD I paid the $2 for, I played it in 3 different players, including a laptop it was blank. No surprise. Also, if you are legitimate and I tell you I don't have any cash or am not willing at this time, one of the worst things you can do is tell me you take credit, venmo, apple pay, or any other form of electronic payment without me asking first. That's badgering and I hate it.

After that unpleasant experience, I met up with Josh and we had some time to kill. So we walked up what seemed like an eternity of stairs, through the classic San Francisco style neighborhoods, all the way to the landing area of Coit Tower. The views yet again failed to disappoint. 

Now it was time to make the return to the pier as our boat for Alcatraz was leaving soon. Pro travel tip. If you ever plan on visiting SF, make a point to see Alcatraz. But in order to do so, you must book your tickets months in advance. And make sure you do the night tour as it is a more exciting experience and you can see an amazing sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge. 

The ferry ride over was a blast. The boat was not overcrowded like it was when I saw the statue of liberty, the California sun setting across the pacific was grand, and the SF skyline slowly fading behind us made for a great view.

Stepping off the sea-rocked vessel and onto the island nicknamed The Rock was a bit of a surreal moment. One can see all these famous places from images on a screen, read about them in countless books, magazines, and articles, and after taking all that in, feel as if they lose some of their allure. Like the Statue of Liberty in New York, Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Space Needle in Seattle, the French Quarter of New Orleans, the Opera House/Harbor Bridge in Sydney, and many many more, their allure will be superseded by the experience you receive by being there in person and leave you with memories for a lifetime.  On the other side of the coin, the thought hit me that I had gone to great lengths to visit Alcatraz. I paid money for a plane ticket. I paid money for a boat ticket. I booked the trip months in advance. And I waited in long lines. All to get on that island. Yet, when Alcatraz was operational, most people coming off that boat would've done anything to be anywhere but there. And some even lost their lives trying to escape Alcatraz.

Upon setting foot on The Rock, a tour guide was there to give us a brief tour before we marched up the hill to the main prison itself. We passed by deteriorating buildings that once were fine establishments, buildings that contained graffiti pertaining to the Native American tribes that tried to take over the island, and an eerie looking morgue. Once inside the main building, they herded us around a large room in which the prisoners showered. At the end was a booth with tour guides providing the audio tour. Josh and I grabbed a headset and off we went. The nice thing was since we had the audio device, we could stop it and play it at anytime, setting our own pace.

The tour was long and detailed so I'll give you the highlights. 

1) The corridors of the cells had classic street names such as Broadway and Michigan Ave 

2) 36 attempted to escape (two twice), 23 were caught, 6 were shot, two drowned, and five were missing but presumed drowned.

3) The Battle of Alcatraz occurred when 6 prisoners in a botched escape attempt decided to fight their way out. Three were killed including 2 guards. Two of the remaining three were sentenced to death.

4) Native American activists and Native Americans once occupied the island after the prison closed to protest broken treaties.

5) Al Capone was a prisoner here.

6) The prison was active from 1934-1963

There's so much more history here, but to really understand it all, I advise you to go see it for yourself. Tour aside, the views from the island at sunset were incredible. Just take a look.

By 9:25pm, we had to catch the last boat back to the mainland. Even though the Alcatraz tour was over, we were about to do something I love to do in cities by water. I wrote a poem once called City Lights and the Sea. In it I discuss the majestic beauty and awe of traveling across a body of water and seeing the city lit up at night and reflect upon the shores. You may think a skyline looks incredible by day, but by night its breathtaking views put the daytime views to shame. Don't believe me? The memories I have would say otherwise.

After the boat docked, we decided to end the night by getting a burger at Sam's. It was a tiny hole in the wall of a joint, but what did that matter when the food was incredible. So if you ever find yourself in SF, stop by Sam's. That'll do it for day 1.

Man That Hung the Moon

Man That Hung the Moon is a song that appeared in my recommended on Youtube by Brantley Gilbert. Seeing that title and knowing the artist, I figured I had an idea of what it was going to be like. So I listened to it with great anticipation. As I listened, I fell in love with the sound, but the lyrics caught me off guard. The song was talking about a dad and his love for his child. It was so great, that his little boy is going to think he was the one that hung the moon. The majority of the song is like this and definitely not what I thought...until the last two verses. I froze, my skin tingled, and my heart melted in joy. Here are those lyrics:

"And one day you'll realize

I've lost my cape, I can't fly,

And I'm only human

And you'll need more than me

But you'll know to hit your knees

If I've done my job right

You'll know where to find

The Man who really hung the moon

Who really made the sky

Yeah the sun rises

And sets inside of His eyes

And it won't be long

Until He calls us home

And we'll all be running to

The Man that hung the moon"

If you haven't heard of Brantley Gilbert, he's a country music artist who's got a rough side, both in personality and songs, but the man is a Christian. And it clearly shows in these two verses. Gilbert, takes us from a place to where he may be seen as the hero, invincible, untouchable, to just a humble man. A simple man who realizes that he knows he has raised his child right, if his child knows who truly hung the moon. Christ. In a world of negativity, lost hope, and at times chaos, it's refreshing to see when famous people aren't afraid to put their beliefs in their art. One day when I become a father, I want to be the man in that top verse. Give the song a listen. It's really good.

The Stars Shone Bright in Cleveland

I wrote a little bit ago about being a bit more bold, seizing opportunity when it arises, and just straight up saying yes. When I found out the the 2019 MLB All-Star Game was coming to Cleveland, I knew I was going to do everything I could to be there.

The All-Star game does not count towards the regular season. It's the showcasing of the finest players in baseball. All the stars in one place, for one game, and it all went down in my back yard. A couple months before the game, I received an email telling me I could put my name in a drawing to get early access to buy a strip package for the All-Star Break. This meant than not only would I have the opportunity to buy tickets to the big game, but the Home Run Derby and the Futures All-Star/Celebrity Softball games as well. So I registered my email. Then a week later, I got another email saying I had been selected. The excitement began to build and the hype was real.

When the day came to buy the tickets, I eagerly awaited for 10am to roll around as that's when the tickets went live. I knew they were going to be a bit pricey, but for the whole package...yikes! When I saw the number, I briefly second-guessed it. But then the voices that drive the way I live life perked up. "You have the means right?" they said. "You love the game of baseball right?" "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity right?" I answered yes to every one of those questions. "Then stop hesitating and DO IT!" Well you know the what happened. I listened.

Pause for a minute. Here's something about me. Everyone in life has a way they spend what they make. Excluding what is saved for retirement, a house, kid's college fund, emergencies, etc, the broad stroke is bills, debts, necessities, charitable contributions, and life enjoyment. Many people have may different ways of spending the life enjoyment portion. For me it's the experience, who I'm experiencing it with, and the lifelong memories, rather than the material possessions. I'd much rather spend that money hanging with friends, going to Cedar Point, traveling across the US and the world, and even witnessing the All-Star game, over a big TV, the best tech, or even an expensive car.

I'm not going to describe the three days in detail (I have a vlog for that). What I really wanted to highlight this post with are the moments in the major game that mattered to me. So here we go.

1) Michael Brantley, former All-Star outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, was voted to the game as a starter by the fans. Even though he plays with the Houston Astros now, he's still well loved here. The majority of his votes came from Indians fans. Then when they introduced the players for the game, he received are roaring ovation from the crowd. In the game, he got a double that scored the first run and again got a loud cheer. Cleveland showed their former player the love.

2) Being the All-Star game, many fans of other teams showed up. But the Indians fans showed up in full force. The stadium was bathed in Tribe red and white. Unlike Game 7 of the world series where it was clear a good number of Indians fans had sold their tickets to Cubs fans, the fans team represented Cleveland well.

3) Every time Carlos Santana appeared, the fans showered him with love. When Santana left Cleveland for the Phillies a year ago, he never sold his house here, knowing he'd eventually be back. His love for the city is real and he deserved first team All-Star.

4) Fransisco Lindor. A once in a generation player. One of the best shortstops in major league baseball. He got his 4th All-Star nod. When he was at the plate, the crowd started chanting "Frankie! Frankie!" Yet another great fan/player moment.

5) After the 5th inning, a special event took place. Everyone inside the stadium (fans, players, broadcasters, everyone) was given a Stand Up 2 Cancer card where they either wrote someone's name(s) or displayed phrases like "Those we've lost", "those fighting", "Survivors", etc. Then, on national TV, everyone stood up and held those signs up. Even though I myself have never had the disease, I've still been affected by it. People I've love have fought it, lost to it, and beat it. That moment was moving. But even more so, if you haven't heard, Indians pitcher Carlos "Cookie" Carrasco, is battling leukemia. If you've ever seen him pitch, seen his interviews, read the things he's written, you know what an amazing person he is. And that night, all his Indians teammates, including Michael Brantley, had his name written on their signs. The cameras focused on him and the fans started chanting "Cookie! Cookie!" Such a touching moment. Get well soon Cookie.

6) Shane Bieber, a young Indians pitcher, got the All-Star nod as a replacement. The inning he pitched, he struck out all three batters he faced. The crowd erupted with "Let's go Bieber!" chants. It gave me the chills. And guess what. His performance awarded him with the MVP of the All-Star game. How about that. What a moment.

7) In the top of the ninth, with two outs, AL pitcher Aroldis Chapman was pitching. Suddenly the entire infield came in and someone came out of the dugout and entered the huddle. It was not the manager. It was Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. The AL manager planned the whole thing. Sabathia is retiring at the conclusion of this season. His first 7.5 years in the bigs were with the Tribe. He was crucial to the Indians 2007 playoff run. So, in honor to him, they sent him out so the fans could cheer for him one last time at Progressive Field. And even though he plays for the Yankees, the fans cheered in recognition of all that he'd done here.

Now there were many other moments deserving of recognition, but these were my favorite. This was a once in a lifetime experience. It was money well spent. These are the moments I'm going to remember.

See You in the Funny Papers (For Grandpa)

"See you in the funny papers" was one of my grandpa's favorite ways to say goodbye to me as a kid. Between us, the funny papers meant the comics that came in the local newspaper. It was a jesting goodbye, but I loved it.

My grandpa was in the navy around the time WWII ended. He was a post-war mine sweeper. His ship would take to the seas and seek out any leftover mines. Once they found them, they destroyed them so no ships would incur tragedy by running into them. As a kid he'd tell me some stories about his time on the seas. Now when he told stories, it would take him longer than normal to get through them because he'd crack him self up multiple times while telling the tale.

One of my favorites is when they were sailing to the next location, they came across a school of flying fish. They would "fly" out of the water along side the ship. One of the guys bet another guy that he couldn't hit them with the machine gun mounted on deck. The other guy took the bet. He loaded the gun, pulled the trigger, and let the bullets fly. At this point my grandpa would start laughing. In between breaths he managed to say "he couldn't hit a single one"!

He had a good number of caps that displayed the ship and read "Tin Can Sailor" on them. He gave me a few of those as a kid and I wore them proudly. He also had hats with the American Bald Eagle on them. That was his style. He's wearing one of them in the picture below.

He loved to write letters and notes. Whenever he'd come across a newspaper article or an old clipping from his collection that he thought I'd like, he'd write a letter, include the article, and mail them to me. I'm thankful my younger self didn't throw them away. I have an envelope crammed full of them.

There is a bicycle trail that runs alongside old railroad tracks. These tracks carried wounded civil war soldiers as well as Abraham Lincoln's coffin. Grandpa thought it would be a good experience to ride this trail. So him, myself, and sometimes my cousin Dave would ride our bikes along that trail. One time we road it from Seven Valleys, PA to the Mason-Dixon line at the Maryland border. As a young kid, I thought it was the coolest thing ever to be able to stand in 2 states at once. Sometimes we biked 20ish miles round trip. One of his favorite things was to reminisce on those times. He loved to remind my mother how I'd call him up and ask to ride the trail to get out of class. I was home schooled so my excuse was I could collect leaves to make it educational. I rode that trail so many times with him that I lost count.

His favorite hobby was carving. He carved mostly birds out of wood. He was amazing at it. The detail and craftsmanship was award winning. I spent many hours as a kid watching or helping him in his wood shop. Any whiff of sawdust brings me back to those days. The bookcase I have in my room, we built together on a rainy afternoon. Probably my most favorite thing he carved, I had a hand in helping with. Proudly displayed in his living room is a life-sized carousel horse. You read that right. He carved a full size carousel horse out of wood, painted it, and mounted it on a pole. It's one of the finest crafted works I've ever seen.

Being a grandparent, part of his joy was to spoil us a little. Throughout the years, he'd slip me a five or a ten and tell me it's soda and candy bar money or to get something nice. As I got older, I sometimes would politely decline and tell him he didn't have to do that. But he'd still give it to me anyway. Then, one day, he gave me some words of wisdom. He looked me straight in the eye and said "Here's a piece of advice. When someone hands you some money, you say "thank you" then put it in your pocket and don't say another word." I never refused him again.

My grandpa wasn't very tall, but ever since I knew him, he always drove a pick-up truck. Any time he got a new one, they were always bigger and better. Whenever he'd come to pick me up, I'd sit on my front steps and count the cars until I saw his familiar truck turn the corner. Speaking of driving, he used to be a bus driver. Many years ago, when the Washington Redskins held training camp in Pennsylvania, he had the privilege of driving them to and from training camp. How many people do you know that drove an NFL team to where they needed to go?

He was willing to do all kinds of things for us. He'd drive us to swimming lessons. He'd take us to the store and get a treat. He'd drive 40 min to take me and my cousin to a mountain lake and sat for hours as we swam and enjoyed ourselves. I still won't forget the look on my mom's face when I came home with a Lego airplane that I asked him to buy me. I can't remember the exact price, but it was more that $20 which was a lot for a kid in the 90s. That airplane is still proudly displayed in my room to this day.

One of my more recent and favorite memories of him was Christmas of 2017. I wasn't able to go with the family on the summer trip to see him and Grandma because I was in Australia. So I surprised them by showing up on their doorstep the day before Christmas Eve. That Sunday we went to church. The pastor had put personalized christmas cards for each attendee on their seats. My grandma, who's still sharp as a tack, found her card, but didn't see Grandpa's. She asked him if he got one. Now Grandpa was very hard of hearing. So he said "what?" She repeated herself. He didn't hear her again and just said "okay". She replied "No not okay!" and made him stand up. He stood up without hesitation and there was his card on his cushion. My grandma retrieved it, looked at me and said "He smashed it." I did everything I could to hold the laughter in. That was a great Christmas.

I could tell many more stories and wonderful things about my grandpa. But that would require a book as I knew him 28 years. Very early this morning, at 91 years old, he passed peacefully in his sleep. He is with the Lord now, which is the best place to be. Husband. Father of Two. Grandfather of Nine. Veteran. Bus Driver. Carver. Kind. Caring. Wonderful. My Grandpa. You will be greatly missed. See you in the funny papers.

Just Say Yes

I screwed up. The month of May ends tomorrow. In order to fulfill a commitment goal I made to myself upon starting this blog nearly 8 years ago, I needed to post something this month. All day my brain was running amok with ideas. I had finally settled on one. As I went to write it, my heart sank. There, next to the title of my April post, in orange lettering, was the word D-R-A-F-T. I went out of the editor and to my actual blog page. There was no April post. I panicked. I cursed the connectivity issues I remember having that night and the page assuring me my post had published. Then I remembered that I still did write the post, just no one else could see it. Now if I were a famous blogger that earned a living or even cashed in as a side job off blogging, you'd better believe I would've made sure the post was published before my eyes gave way to slumber. But the reality is I'm not. And only very few people read this anyway. If I disappear from here for a month, no one says anything. And that's okay. Because this is more of a personal record of my life for me to look back on, but the bonus is that it's public. So please forgive my tardiness and to make up for it, I posted that post that never posted and am going to post this month's post as I was supposed to post it.

Just say yes. No is so much easier to say, but a simple "yes" can open the door to many life experiences worth living. In his song "The River", Garth Brooks sings the lines "So don't you sit upon the shoreline, and say you're satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids, dare to dance the tide"
That's one of my favorite songs by him. And those lines are what I try to live by each day.

There are things in life that scare us, make us uneasy, cause us to avoid any chance of an encounter. While keeping one's distance may be good i certain circumstances, a good number of times, the fear we have keeps us prisoners. I know this we because my captor as a kid was anxiety. I let it rule me. And when I look back upon those days, how I wish my older self would've appeared and slapped some sense into me. So now I'm making up for lost time.

How? I travel when I can. To experience the world is to piece together part of life's puzzle. It's eye opening. And totally worth the money. But I don't stop there. When I was in Toronto many years ago, our youth conference decided to go into downtown and hold a gospel flash mob. It was winter time. It was -10 degrees F. I despise the cold. I could've easily stayed back and not participated. But I did. I froze on cue with 50ish other people holding up sign proclaiming the gospel amidst hundreds of passersby. It was an experience and a memory that'll last for a lifetime.

More recently, in April in fact, I was presented with another opportunity to say yes. I was invited to go to a stranger's wedding, in new york city, and not with a significant other. I was planning on going back to New York sometime this year anyway, but much earlier and for a wedding where I knew no one wasn't a fast yes. But after some brief consideration, I said yes. Now the trip wasn't as smooth as it should've been. A 1.5 hour plane delay on the way in, a cancelled shuttle at the airport in the pouring rain, a missed opportunity to see an old friend, more rain, and a five hour plane delay on the return trip all could've been enough to say it wasn't worth it. But the reality is, the other experiences I had by far outweighed the one previously mentioned. They included, but were not limited to, geocaching in Central Park, meeting up with another childhood friend for a few hours, going to the top of the New World Trade Center at night, walking the entire length of the Brooklyn Bridge at 11:30PM in full wedding attire, meeting, having dinner with, and witnessing an amazing young couple say "I do", and I shared the entire experience with a great friend.

There was something else. Another moment I had the opportunity to say yes even though every ounce of my being screamed no. Right before the wedding ceremony, I was conversing in the lounge with my buddy when a young woman came over and sate not far from us. At a pause in our conversation, she introduced herself. We returned the favor. We spent the rest of the pre-wedding time conversing, laughing, swapping stories, it was great. After the ceremony, we were ushered into the wine cellar for the reception. The entire area was a dance floor, except for the standing tables on the side. I claimed one of those and stayed there, even after the DJ started the tunes.

You see, I had two left feet. And even though I wish I didn't it's enough to keep me off the floor. A song or two had passed, and the girl I had met earlier made her way over to me and my friend. She playfully badgered us to get on the floor. I wanted to say no so badly, but truth is, when a fine looking woman says you need to be on that dance floor, you get your butt on that floor. Yes I looked like a fool. Yes I was now starting to sweat through my hot wedding attire. But did she care...no. Was it worth it...yes. Later on that evening, at the after party in a big hotel room with the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop, I found myself in conversation with her yet again. We talked for a decent period of time. I enjoyed every minute of that conversation. And it never would've happened if I never said yes.

I may never see her again, but that whole New York experience left an imprint on my life. I have many other stories where simply saying yes turned out to be the best thing I had done. So I challenge you. Step out of your comfort zone. Take that leap of faith. And when presented with a choice where "no' is your jerk reaction, just say yes.

The Effect of People

Have you ever stopped to think about how your interactions with people you know have effects on you? How their personalities, likes, dislikes, thoughts, actions, basically the whole nine yards, may rub off on you? A simple example of what I'm saying is this. When you take interest in someone, you begin to care about the things they like and may even come to like them yourself. But how about those that you may be close to, but not in a romantic way? Say a friend for example. Could be one you see all the time or one you hardly ever see, but still care about.

I bring this up because it's been something that's on my mind recently. I've got a really good friend who's really into video games. I'm not a big gamer by any means. But the major one I do play was because of his influence. Or my love for cars. Some of the cars or styles I like are based off a friends knowledge of them.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying my likes and hobbies are not my own, but they wouldn't be the way they are without influence. Winter has recently come to an end, except for Game of Thrones fans in which case it has just begun. If you know me, you know for a bona fide fact that summer is my season. And that the cold and I don't get along well at all. After December that also includes snow. As a kid I loved the stuff. The way it calmed the noise around it. Falling silently in the night and blanketing the land in it's frosty, magical array. It meant snow days from school, countless hours of building a snowman army, snow forts, and taking sledding to the extreme. I grew up and have lived all my life where winter makes it's presence harshly known year in and year out. So I should have some affection for it right? Not quite. Why the cold shoulder? Well...

...as I got older, I lost the magic I saw in it as a kid. And being older is the major difference. Because now driving in it has come into play. Not being able to do many outdoor things I love as an adult is another reason. Not having snow days from work doesn't help either. I could go on, but I don't want to sound like I wish it didn't exist...because that's not true either.

You see I had a friend who was very dear to me as a child. And I found out a number of years ago how much she loved the winter. Mainly through social media. Whenever I saw a post from her about how she loved the fluffy flakes, my perspective would change a little. Here was something that wasn't on my hot list, but she adored it. And because she adored it, every once in a while when I was in the elements, I'd begin to grumble, but remember her love for it, and my disdain would fade. And this was while she was still here.

I've written about her before. A few times a matter of fact. If you haven't read those posts, she was a childhood friend who had a great impact on my life that tragically passed in 2014. I'm not going to rehash that story, but if you're truly curious, go back to my posts from June of 2014.

Her birthday was in January. A Winter month. Makes perfect sense. So it's hard not to have her and her love for the winter on my mind around that time each year. But when Spring rolled around, I was overjoyed that it was here, but because it marked the end of winter. Even though I was joyous, I was struck with the thought I'm writing about now. And I was once again reminded that winter isn't all that bad. I honestly don't believe I'd find the few things I appreciate about winter if it wasn't for her. So each year, in the blackness of night, I'll stand in the midst of a silent snowfall. Staring. Not saying a word as the fragile crystals kiss the earth. It's bitterly cold. But I don't notice. I think of her and am thankful for the passion she had for the season. I take in the moment, then eventually return to the warmth of my house. Peaceful. Restful. All for a small amount of appreciation for something that I usually don't find any appreciation for.

There are other examples I could use, but this one is the strongest with me right now. Maybe take a minute to think about your hobbies, passions, interests, loves. And see how much they were influenced by those around you. Then see how your state of being changes.

New Orleans: The Last Day

Dec 23rd: Our last full day here. Tim Chai took a morning flight back the The Land so now we were back down to 10 bros. This was also the only day we didn't have anything planned.

We slept in to recover from the previous three days of fun. Even though we didn't have anything planned, today was still a big day. It was Week 16 in the NFL season and that meant it was Fantasy Football championship week. This was the first time that the majority of our fantasy football league was together for the championship match. The two who duked it out? Seth and I. The hype was in the air. All the other players who got knocked out were rooting one way or the other. Talking trash and taking names.

By lunchtime, we headed out to the French Quarter. The atmosphere was chaotic as the Saints were in town facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, both vying for a playoff spot. Saints fans were everywhere acting like it was mardi gras. But there was also a plethora of Steelers fans everywhere we went as well. We finally found a table in a crowded sports bar and grill. TV's lined the walls, showing every game so we could get our fantasy fix. We ended up being there for maybe 4-5 hours.

There were still games left to be played, but we needed some fresh air and had to walk off all food we just devoured. We ended up walking through the market to do some final souvenir shopping. We probably spent another few hours here before the sun began to set.

To cap off our final night, we wandered down by the Mississippi River to watch the sunset before heading back to the airbnb to prepare for our early morning flights back home.

It was an amazing trip with some pretty fantastic people and I cannot wait until the next adventure.

New Orleans 2018: Part 3

December 22: Today was the day. We were leaving the comfort of our airbnb and headed out to the Bayou for a swamp tour. We all piled into a couple of Uber rides and made the 30 minute drive out into the swamps. Upon arrival, we checked in and then piled onto a boat with 20 other people. Our boat captain's name was Captain Dan. He had a pretty good sense of humor. The weather was perfect. But since it was winter, most of the wild life was in hibernation mode. Captain Dan said that in the summer, you can see around 60 alligators at one time all throughout the bayou. Here's a bit of what we saw.

Even though we didn't see much wildlife, it was still pretty cool to see live gators in the wild. As we continued down the river, Captain Dan passed around a bunch of animal hides and fish that had been taxidermy. Then there was a gasp of surprise from so of the passengers. Captain Dan had reached into the cooler beside him and pulled out of it a live baby alligator. This baby alligator was abandoned, and they had rescued it. Once it's old enough, they'll release it back into the wild. But for now, he served as a treat for tourists who had the privilege of holding him.

The tour was great, the wildlife was cool, and the weather was amazing.

PC: Sam Chen

After being in the swamp all morning, and not having eaten much all day, it was time for a late lunch. We were headed to a popular place called Clesi's. They are well known for their boiled seafood, mainly crab and crawfish. We arrived around 3PM and since it was that time of day, the place was nearly empty. We had made a reservation just in case, and when we had, they told us they currently didn't have the crab or crawfish ready because that all came out during their big dinner rush...bummer. Well, at least we were going to try the shrimp.

Once we were seated and the waiter was taking our order and explaining how they normally do things, the manager came out. When he realized there were 12 hungry dudes who had come all the way from Cleveland to try their food, he told us that if we were willing to wait 30 min, he'd throw the live seafood in the pots and get us some. Our answer...heck yeah! Thirty sluggish minutes later, platters of freshly boiled seafood appeared. Crab, prawns, crawfish, so good. And then another platter filled with fried oysters appeared! "This one's on the house," the manager told us as he placed it in front of our hungry eyes. We tore into the meat and pretty soon, there was nothing but piles of carcasses on the table. If you ever find yourself in New Orleans, go eat at Clesi's. You won't regret it (unless you're allergic to shellfish).

At this point, we had to say goodbye to Dan. We tried to convince him to miss his flight and stay another day, but no dice. We parted ways and the 11 of us split up. Some went back to the airbnb while some went for some Pho (we gained a bit of a food addiction while we were here). Once full, the rest of us headed back to the airbnb for some rest and Avalon.

It wasn't long before we became restless and so we decided to try exploring bourbon street at night again. First we needed some body fuel. We found this hole-in-the-wall pizza joint and man was that pizza sooooo good. If you've ever had a really good pizza that you don't get often, think of that. We explored more of Bourbon St for a bit and then our group split in half. Sam, Seth, Stephen, and I went over to Frenchmen street and hit up Jazz clubs to experience the music that makes New Orleans famous. And it did not disappoint.

Before we knew it, 2am had rolled around, so the four of us decided to walk all the way back to Cafe du Mon for some more of those addicting Beignets.

PC: Sam Chen

Finally, our tiredness got the better of us and we all headed back to the airbnb and hit the sack. 

Day 3 in the books, be on the look out for the conclusion!

New Orleans 2018: Part 2

I totally forgot to mention what we did for dinner in part one. Why is it important? I'll tell you why. The New Orleans culinary experience was a major part of the trip. So many different, delicious, southern dishes that just catching a whiff of any one of them now and I could tell you when, what restaurant, and what had happened that day. It's all part of the experience.

The first dinner we had there was at a quaint little place on Frenchmen St called Adolfo's. It's where seafood, pasta, and creole collide. Outside, the place doesn't look like much. Inside can almost be said the same due to the fact that it fits in an apartment sized space above the bar below it. We had to wait downstairs for our table because there wasn't enough room for us to wait up there. But don't let any of that fool you, the food was amazing. We first ordered 3 plates of mussels for the table. I think this is the second time in my life I've had them because I generally don't like eating boiled, slimy, organs. Since I was in New Orleans, I pulled a page out of Yes Theory's playbook and said screw it. I'm going to have some. Pretty soon I was popping one after another, until there were three plates of nothing but shells. About this time, our dishes were served. I had ordered a shrimp scampi with marinara sauce. I didn't expect to have any pasta while down here, but the opportunity arose to combine it with southern seafood and boy was it worth it. In fact, there was so much of it that I wasn't able to finish. Our waitress was super awesome as well. Serving 10 hungry guys crammed in a small space, remembering all our orders by heart, and her social game was so on point that I didn't mind when she frequently stopped by to check on us. A funny moment happened when we told her something not true about a few of us and she thought we were dead serious until we were leaving and broke the news of our false ploy. The look on her face and the reaction we got out of her was priceless.

Friday December 21st.  We got a few extra zzz's from the long day before, and as we were waking, Sam Chen had arrived. That makes 11 out of 12. The first thing on the agenda was to try a New Orleans culinary masterpiece. The ever so sweet, taste bud tantalizing, super addicting, warm, doughy, powdery goodness, known as a beignet. You can get three of them for less than $3. And the place that sells these scrumptious delights is Cafe Du Monde. Right next to the Mississippi River. And they're open 24/7. So if you ever needed to feed that french doughnut craving at 3am, that's where you'd go. Don't leave New Orleans without trying some.

Needing some physical activity to walk off the beignets, we decided to wander through the nearby market area. The section we wandered through was outdoors. From the direction we came, we ended up walking past all the food stalls first. Cajun, creole, and seafood as far as the eye can see. So many new things to try, but that would have to wait as the beignets had not yet been digested.

Once past the food area, we hit the section of the market where all the non-edible goods were being sold. Tables were lined back to back with goods laid out everywhere. Hats, hand-crafted jewelry, carved stones, magnets, key chains, harmonicas, voodoo dolls, and so much more. Like any popular outdoor market, people were everywhere. In some places I felt like a sardine in a can. I didn't end up buying anything this time, but I would return.


It wasn't long before the savory aromas from the other end of the market came calling. Now I'm always open to trying new foods and today was going to be the day that I was going to try alligator. So I ponied up the $10 for an Alligator Po'boy.

Yes this was delicious. The taste? Well...it tasted pretty close to what chicken tastes like, except the meat was a lot tougher. But totally worth the experience.

Walking was a big part of our adventure today, so we left the market and walked all the way to Jackson Square. It's a big, beautiful park with a big, beautiful cathedral behind it. We hung out here a bit taking pics, watching street performers, and even stepping inside the cathedral.

PC: John Chen

This weather was so amazing. 55 degrees and blue skies as far as the eye could see. We soaked in the sun and the view as we walked along the Mississippi River. By this time, we found ourselves in front of the aquarium. Some of our group was tired and decided to head back while the other half decided to explore the aquatic life.

There was a cool opportunity here. For two bucks, we could feed stingrays. You better believe I was doing that! Tim, John, and I were the brave souls who held slimy, dead fish, in our palms and plunged them into stingray infested waters. Stingrays don't fool around when it's feeding time. I thought I placed my hand low enough, but apparently not as the stingray ran into it and splashed furiously trying to grab the tasty morsel. In the process it managed to give John and Tim and unwanted shower (sorry guys).

After the aquarium, we headed back towards the airbnb, but stopped at a hybrid food store/convenience mart. It was time to try some New Orleans gumbo. There was almost no one in there, but it seems they had limited supplies at the time. It was a long wait, but once that large container filled with steamy goodness was placed before me, the nuisance of the wait went away. It had only been 2 days, but I had already eaten a diverse array of Nawlins' cuisine.

Jesse arrived late in the evening and now we had all 12 of us who planned on going together. We ended the day by exploring a bit more of the city night life. That's all for day 2. Be on the lookout for day 3!