To You

It's been 56 hours since you told me you love someone else. I've been thinking about it, despite not wanting to, and even while the emotion is still raw, here is my perspective.

You are a confused, emotionally lost woman who does not know the first thing about this kind of new love or a new relationship.

You just left an 18 year marriage. Or more accurately, he evicted you from that marriage. And now I understand why. It wasn't because he did not want to be married anymore. It wasn't because he was lost in life, like you told me he was. He left the military, spent every day with you, and realized it was not going to work.

Two weeks later, emotionally vulnerable, you walked into the bar where the Virginia Jets Fans, the club of which I am President. I hadn't dated in almost two years, and I wanted to. Over the next few weeks, we grew closer and closer, and I gave myself to you in a way I never had before with another woman. I was thinking of little ways to make you happy, places we could go, I wanted to learn you more and more. I could see our future lasting a long time. I was even willing to put up with your ugly tattoos and inexplicable admiration of Bernie Sanders.

Again, I acknowledge my mistake. I lost my temper in your presence and was too embarrassed to face you. It took me days. Finally, we talked on a Thursday afternoon. It scared me so much to have that conversation. You said you forgave me. Then the next day, you went to Vegas with the family, allegedly the family, for 9 days, I felt it best to give you your space and let you enjoy your trip. Then you came back and supposedly had COVID. So trying to be respectful, I messaged you on occasion, and we did talk once or twice. But a part of my mind knew your heart was gone. 

You weren't reaching out to me anymore, except to tell me that you were COVID positive. And what happened to your expressive side? When we started, our chats had energy and cleverness to them. All of a sudden, they became "Good," "Nice," and "Thank you." I've been through this shit enough time when a woman quits because a man isn't doing everything perfectly, and she doesn't address it, they just stew inside and plan to their quitting strategy.

So on Friday, you messaged me, and told me it was over, which was one thing. But that it was for some random dude you once knew and that it progressed quickly and that you love him...it's clear you don't think with your brain, you were thinking with your pierced vagina. If it had been you leaving me for David, to keep your marriage alive, I would have been less offended. 

Let me explain what is really going on. You love the idea of what he could've been back when you knew him, however long ago that was. You said you didn't want me caught in the middle, well you know what? There was not supposed to be a middle! It was you, and it was me. 

And then for you to message me two days later, and say you are bringing this dude with you to the chili kickoff; do you have a fucking idea what you were saying? You didn't ask me how I felt about it, you owed me that much at least. You figured it would be perfectly fine and never anticipated the potential fallout. Let me remind you of something, this is the football group of which I am the President. I have been there 4 plus years, you have not been there even 4 months. For you to say you still want to be friends, then two days later day you want to show off this person to the group, essentially rubbing my nose in a pile of dog shit, that's as callous as anything I could ever imagine.

I never knew when I met you that you would turn out to be so cold hearted, cruel, and most of all, selfish. While I hate what you have done, I don't hate you. I just pity you. And I thank you that you broke my heart now rather than later. I will mend in time and be a better and stronger man for being away from you. And guess what? With your restlessness and twisted way of thinking, you'll fail with this guy too.

I Knew It!

 I had a sick feeling for weeks she was going to do it. 

4:10 pm. 50 minutes from leaving work after a hard week. I got a message on Facebook. Yes...a Facebook message. Someone came back into her life. Things progressed. Quickly. And...she had the nerve to say this... she loves him. 

She never said it to me. Never. But within 2 or 3 weeks, she knows that she loves this asshole.

But at least there's truth in consolation. She LOVES our friendship and doesn't want to lose it. Well she was the only one I gave myself to completely and I saw this thing lasting for a long long time. And now I'm supposed to accept being friend zoned.

If she was here, I'd tell her right now that David was right to dump her stupid tatted ass two months ago. He knew.

The Most Helpless Feeling

Sometimes we can see something happening in the future and we're powerless to stop it. For instance, a weather disaster or the complete failure of the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reign. 

Well, in my opinion, when a man knows a woman has made up her mind to leave him, but she hasn't told him yet, that may be the most helpless feeling of all. It isn't what she says, it's that she isn't saying anything. 

Her answers become shorter,  but even more than that, they become repetitive. Chats have become "Nice" or "Thank you." And I say this so much, but in the least 3 weeks, I've been the only to initiate contact. There was one exception, she messaged me to inform she had tested positive for COVID. Other than that, she seems all but disengaged from a relationship. 

I have to borrow lyrics from Blackhawk. Every day I brace myself to hear the words I'm scared she's going to say. And every night I thank the Lord somehow I dodged the bullet one more day. 

I do a great job at wearing out my welcome, and once again, I couldn't get past 2 months. Actually this lasted 1. Hell, maybe I'm disengaging already, so when she says to me what she is ultimately going to, it won't hurt me as bad. 

I'll see her next Saturday at the chili cookoff. I'm sure we'll hug, it's been a month since we've seen each other. But it won't be the same. It never will. I lost my temper, I became embarrassed, I retreated, and I ruined it. 

Hello 2022

Well, this world hasn't had the sunniest of circumstances in the last couple of years. And as 2021 was drawing to a close, I saw a lot of people expressing a similar message on social media. 

"Goodbye 2021, let's start a new year."

As if changing the 4th number in a year is suddenly going to fix the problems of the world, and the attitudes of the people who live in it. The fact is the people had shouted the exact same message 12 months ago begging for 2020 to end and anxiously waiting to turn the page to 2021.

We are in a cycle of discontent, fear, and restlessness. COVID, the economy, the incapable buffoons of a president and vice-president that we will be suffering with for 3 more years. It's so easy to focus on everything that is going wrong. On the first day of January, I find myself asking what is there to be positive about? Where can I have some real hope?

I have less faith in people than I ever have. It terrifies me how many people buy into the lies and manipulation from the mainstream media and politicians, even as our country continues to collapse. But after seeing the Oval Office dweller's approval rating sink by over 20 percent in his first 12 months, well I have some optimism that these people realize how much they screwed up at the voting polls.

My job and career? Not a ton of positive thoughts there. We are down to two people left on campus, me and the new hire who doesn't know what he's doing yet. At this rate, based off my value to the company, I should be entitled to a pay increase.

Maybe I should look internally. That may sound self-centered, but perhaps I've put too much energy and emotion towards the forces of evil prospering while righteous continue to suffer. Maybe I can work on being better at certain aspects of my life and the outside world may not be as threatening. And then who knows, maybe I wouldn't be venting on here to the same eight people who read my posts.

I'd like to write an inspiring, positive conclusion, but I'm not there just yet. While that's just not meant to be written yet, it just might have its time in the coming weeks or months.

How did this happen?

To me, the idea of being a better person has been that one is constantly learning and growing from their past experiences. We all make mistakes, but through those mistakes, we should eventually be eliminating them and always be moving towards perfection.

The more that things happen to me, the more I'm scared that I cannot grow and I cannot get better. I fear I am stuck and will remain the same person I've been since I was a teenager. I am still so prone to abandonment, to rejection, to bullying, to fear, to mistakes.

At the Jets vs Dolphins game today, the club had its Christmas party. I was annoyed after the White Elephant when I came away with the worst prize out of anyone, basically it was the second straight night I spent about 30 bucks on a white elephant prize and came out with a pile of crap. This one was a Pop Joe Namath figurine and 20 bucks to Wendy's. For the love of God, I haven't eaten there in 25 years at least. So that already had me in a bad mood. I don't care if it was supposed to be fun, it felt like I had wasted money.

After Miami started to come back in the second half and eventually put the game away, from the bar, I hear this bitch squeal so loud and so high like she was taking it in the ass, which I'm sure she would pay men to do. And she kept on going and going to the point where I wanted to go over to the bar and say something. Instead, I glared at her for a good ten seconds...and I walked outside for about 5 minutes. I had to cool down.

I came back inside shortly thereafter, it was starting to get cold out. And then on the next possession, Zach Wilson fumbled the ball when the offensive line again failed to protect him, it was the recurring theme for the second half. Something inside of me snapped. I pounded the table where I was sitting. I shouted a pretty vile curse word that I'm not proud of. I could feel the entire restaurant staring at me in disbelief, with hatred and disgust. Unable to make eye contact with anyone, I walked out, this time for good. And I drove straight home, desperate to not have to talk to anyone. 

And now, here I sit in my dark living room, having downed 6 shots of whiskey. I don't want to look at my cell phone. I know SHE wants to talk to me. She has called me. She has messaged me. She has texted me. But damn it, I'm too ashamed. I can't talk to her about the darkest parts of my mind, about my eternal scars. I don't deserve her. No good woman could accept a man who is so tormented. I am just wanting to not feel anything and dying to shut this world off, that is so full of hate, and judgment, and contempt.

I'm 40 freaking years old. I'm not a boy, I'm not a teenager, I'm not even a young man now. I'm not supposed to be failing like this. Yet every time that good things happen, something will always come along that knocks me on my ass. And I'm the same lonesome abandoned kid again. I don't know why God made me. I don't know why he put me on earth now. But I'm terrified that whatever my purpose was, I've completely missed it. I have an ordinary, inconsequential life. And if I miss my reason for living, and live a failure of a life, am I going straight to hell? Will I suffer the most ultimate abandonment of all???

Baltimore and DC Getaway

3.5 hour drive to Baltimore with a stop in rainy Mechanicsville at a local coffee shop for some chai

Chap's Pit Beef

DDD sandwich with pit beef, corned beef, and hot Italian sausage.

Plus a beef and turkey to go

Baltimore Museum of Industry

So many exhibits about cars, canning, garments, printing, steel mills, etc.

Vaccaro's Pastry Shop in Little Italy

Almond cookie, biscotti, and sesame cookies...and two rainbow cookies for her

Checkerspot brewery

Industrial area under the highway

Diamondback brewery

Pizza oven

Element Hotel check in

Drove across the street to the Arundel Hills Mall

Slammed for Christmas

Didn't buy a thing

Dinner at Nando's

Burned drumstick

Ring of Honor Final Battle

Super emotional

The greatest wrestling organization of the last 20 years

Stopped in Exxon to get a drink

I couldn't believe that they had Joe's peach iced tea

Saw EC3 and Adam Scherr

Leftover margherita pizza in the hotel

Sunday morning

Gym

Grab and go breakfast

The Well Church

Couldn't find it for 15 minutes

I refused to wear a mask inside

Maybe 60 people in the rented Seventh Day Adventist Building

Pastor was nice enough to introduce himself

$30 to park my car

Ted's Bulletin

Homemade cinnamon brown sugar pop tart

Fag next to me at the bar tried to hit on me

Breakfast burrito

Irish Channel bar in Chinatown, home of the Capital Jets fans

1 Smithwick's and 4 Miller Lites

Jets get killed by the Saints

Complete waste of a season

Drove home the 3 hours

Her

What am I going to do about her? 

She shouldn't have walked into the restaurant that Sunday, November 14. It was just me and the guys, watching another Jets loss in another season that's been filled with them. The long dark hair, the white lacy cotton top, the confident walk, the dynamic smile, and the lack of jewelry on the fourth finger of the left hand. I had no idea what her story was, but I figured as club President, it was my duty to inquire.

We actually didn't talk much that first day. But I requested her on Facebook. That led to my first message on Wednesday. That night was a 2 hour phone conversation that flowed like water down a stone-free river. I never had to search for a conversation topic, she knew immediately how to engage me. We continued to talk and message every day, and by Sunday, we both knew we were ready to see each other again. By the next Sunday, we were seeing each other privately. The next night was our first kiss and a few other firsts, which later in the week became seconds and thirds.

Except she is recently separated from her husband of 18 years and cannot get legally divorced until at least May 1. So there is no declaring anything official until that's official. And even then, when that's over, will she be ready to date?

Tonight, we had dinner at Mellow Mushroom. The Cloud 9 garlic parmesan wings were great, the pizza with the aioli base was just weird. Good...but too dang creamy. Then I drove us through Newport News Park which had sets of Christmas lights set up, it was a pretty amazing display. Then I took her back to my apartment's parking lot, and for the first time, she didn't come inside, she drove home.

I've gone further than I have with anyone in my 40 years of living. And I could see myself with her for a long time. I know she likes me a lot. But is that enough for her? I have been messed over so many times that I can't help but wonder she'll do it to me too. I've opened up to her, but I can't bear to tell her that I don't want to picture me without her. Life is so much better with her in it.

And after 22 days, my head says it is too soon to feel this way. I don't want to get caught up in puppy love or infatuation. But at the same time, in 25 years since puberty, I have had enough unrequited crushes and failed relationships to know when something can work. And damn it, this can work.

The tough part is I don't know who I can really talk to about how to handle this. It's easy to go to Mom but for this part of my life, it just feels awkward. Dad, forget it. Has the want to, not the know how to. My friends, how many do I know that would both listen to me and have the wisdom I need to hear. Maybe that's why I'm on here now at 11:30 pm after downing half a bottle of Pinot Noir.

I've never considered myself to be a patient man. But if there's any shot of this becoming what I want it to become, I'm going to have to learn patience right now. And here's the scary part...what if she decides she doesn't want to date after the divorce is final? And then all of my waiting is for nothing?

God, why am I in a spot in such a time as this? What are you trying to teach me? Regardless of whether this becomes a relationship or not, I pray I will be a better man for it. Amen.

I'm Still Here

Wow I take so much time off sometimes between posts. 

I really don't even want to make an attempt to recap the last 8 weeks, because it would be a fruitless effort. But I'll point out these 5 things:

1) Rocklin Ranch makes the best Cabernet I've ever had

2) I'm scared our financial aid department will completely collapse for being so short staffed.

3) Max Scherzer is really a New York Met!!!!! Can I be greedy and beg for Kris Bryant?

4) I finally have my own Christmas tree and now this apartment really feels like Christmas.

5) I ran the Nauti Lite challenge in Norfolk the weekend before Thanksgiving. I also did this in 2019 a little faster, but the difference is I medaled in my division for both the 5k and 10k. I ran the 5k in 22:27, 61st of 1,223 runners and 3rd of 61 in my age bracket. For the 10k, I finished that one in 47:57, 22nd of 651 and 1st of 36 in my age bracket. The Asics shoes I had were not the best, I really felt some discomfort in my feet. So I will not be running in those for much longer. At this point, I don't know if I've run my personal bests. Can I go faster than I did these races? Yes I can, but would I be risking injury if I did? Maybe the greater victory is being able to do these races, maintain a great pace, and finish as I get older.

What else is on my mind tonight? An amazing girl. That I have to wait and wait for. But that will require its own post. 

NHL Predictions

 

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan

y-Carolina

x-NY Islanders

x-Washington

x-NY Rangers

x-Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Columbus

New Jersey

 

Atlantic

z-Tampa Bay

x-Toronto

x-Florida

Boston

Montreal

Ottawa

Detroit

Buffalo

 

Western Conference

Central

z-Colorado

x-Chicago

x-Winnipeg

x-St. Louis

x-Minnesota

Nashville

Dallas

Arizona

 

Pacific

y-Vegas

x-Edmonton

x-Vancouver

Calgary

Los Angeles

Seattle

San Jose

Anaheim

 

Eastern Conference Finals

Carolina over Tampa Bay

 

 Western Conference Finals

Colorado over Vegas

 

Stanley Cup Finals

Colorado over Carolina

Let's Try This Again

I wonder if I should just make this a travel blog. It seems like the only time I'm guaranteed to write is when I take vacations. But let's catch up on a few things.

Shipt business is really decreasing. There are so few open orders to grab, the bonuses are trying up, and since people are shopping at the stores again, there's less need for us shoppers. I still enjoy doing it, but I don't know if my $1,000 monthly goal is realistic. 

I ran the Crawlin' Crab 5k in just under 23 minutes last weekend. I felt pretty good about the time. Feet did not feel good for most of the race. I'd like for my shoes to last longer than 9 months!

Mom was so nice to ship me two Lou Malnatis pizzas!

I finally bit the bullet and bought a new vacuum cleaner. It's light, easy to maintain, and I like that the hand vacuum pops off and can be used to reach high places. And for 200 bucks at Costco, not too bad of a buy.

Another thing I'm especially excited about is that I'm doing stats and info for a Jets podcast. Green Bean is a great guy and a passionate Jets fan. I've only been listening to his podcast since maybe late winter of this year. But he's such an approachable, down to earth guy that it's easy to see why people are drawn to him. 

And I tied that back to me. I realize that I have an outgoing energy about me. I have a weakness for not doing a great job of ignoring dumb opinions. And that turns some people off. I know I have friends. But I'm worried that if I were to disappear, it wouldn't really affect anyone outside of my parents. 

I feel my prime is behind me in terms of dating. The prospects are basically nonexistent. Im 40, so I'm not perceived as young anymore. Deep down, I don't want to have hope anymore. Because the higher the hope, the more devastating the disappointment. And every damn day, I swear I see a social media post about a new relationship, a date, an engagement, a baby, etc. And it sickens me. I can't help but wonder what I did wrong that I don't get to have that. Am I destined to work myself to death and ultimately die alone?

NFL Predictions

 

AFC East

y-Buffalo

x-New England

Miami

NY Jets

 

AFC North

y-Baltimore

x-Cleveland

Pittsburgh

Cincinnati

 

AFC South

y-Tennessee

x-Indianapolis

Jacksonville

Houston

 

AFC West

z-Kansas City

San Diego

Las Vegas

Denver

 

NFC East

y-Dallas

NY Giants

Washington

Philadelphia

 

NFC North

y-Green Bay

x-Minnesota

Chicago

Detroit

 

NFC South

z-Tampa Bay

New Orleans

Atlanta

Carolina

 

NFC West

y-Los Angeles

x-Seattle

x-San Francisco

Arizona

AFC Championship

Kansas City over Buffalo

 

NFC Championship

Green Bay over Los Angeles

 

Super Bowl

Kansas City over Green Bay

Chapter 5-Juneau

The excursions began on Tuesday, the first being in Juneau. I woke up to terrible news, slid under the door, dog sledding had been canceled because the ship was arriving late. This was the excursion we were most excited for and to have it taken away was really upsetting. We slept in till 8:30 and I ran 4 miles, or the closest I could get to it in kilometers. Thankfully the World Marketplace is right downstairs from the fitness center and on the same floor as my room. It's kind of like the big buffet. I went straight to the market place around 10:30. One plate of breakfast food seemed good, but then out came the carving stations for lunch. Chipotle pork, Chicago round, poached salmon, Peking duck, I mean, come on. Two more plates and I was good. We tried to play Skip Bo, but all the games were suddenly gone. All four, vanished. The library had plenty of checkers... chess.. . Clue... backgammon... bridge... pictionary. No Skip Bo.

We got off the boat around 2 pm and started exploring downtown Juneau. It felt like the old west met New England, combining a lot of small stores that had a classic feeling with the sea and seafood. Lots of jewelry, loads of native American and nature artifacts. I brought a curved chopping knife and board, called an Ulu, they were available in a lot of stores, but I think I can use this for herbs, garlic, shallots, etc. 

The smell of crab was pungent in the air and we went to Tracy's for crab legs, right near the dock. The crab was just amazing, so light and fresh, but they had the most amazing crab bisque. Pieces of crab, perfect spice. Just amazing. But along with the crab, they had the most amazing crab bisque. Good sized pieces of crab, perfect spice level. Just an amazing. The rolls reminded me of brioche, super rich and buttery. The coconut crab cakes were also a nice addition, crispy on the outside, not too much filler inside.

We got back to the pier at 4:15, only to find out our glacier rafting trip has been delayed an hour. So we started at 5:30. The dressing up was rather interesting. Baggy rubber orange pants, purple raincoat, red life vest, oversized rain boots, I looked like a reject from an 80s theme party. There were not too many crazy rapids, but we saw five bald eagles. We were told it rains extensively on Mendenhall Lake, but for us it only rained about five minutes. In our raft, we were paid with a family of five, including two teen siblings, Dan and Callie from Charlotte. They were sitting right behind mom and I so we chatted with them a lot, I'd see them a few more times during the trip. We didn't get back to the boat till 9pm, but at least we grabbed a little food in the market place before bed. 

Mom wasn't feeling well, so she went back to the room. I went down to hear some music and Tony was on guitar in the Crown Lounge, this would become a frequent night spot for me. A few glasses of red wine and I was good for the night. 

Chapter 10-Epilogue

We paid $75 for a freaking Uber back to the airport. But it was needed because mom got the last seat on her plane with ten minutes to spare. I had a 4 hour wait in Sea-Tac, but I didn't mind. 

By the way, the Seattle Tacoma Airport is a lot like downtown Seattle. Too small, little room to walk, overcrowded, but they make a big deal about their air. I have no desire to ever come back to this city. 

I went to a place in the airport called Sam Choys where I had a great hazy IPA from Silver City, an amazing bowl of clam chowder, and a huge Asian fried chicken hoagie. Somehow I think that'll suffice me for the night, as the five hour plane ride, trip 1 of 2, is coming to a close. Bac to the East Coast, back to real life. 

Chapter 9-One Last Day

My birthday. 40 years old. I woke up at 830 and hit the gym at 10. I did an hour cardio. Which was supposed to be all running... it turned into 25 minutes of running, 15 minutes of walking, and 20 minutes of the elliptical. My lower legs just needed rest I guess. The reason I went at 10 is because at 11, there was a seminar called Secret to a Flatter Stomach. It had my attention and by 11, I had a seat. And I was the only one attending, at least for the first ten minutes, but eventually three others joined us. 

I was hoping for workout and nutrition tips. But the Indian guy who was running the seminar started talking about detox. It interested me since I've never done it. He talked a lot about the lymphatic system, the liver, how the human body uses energy, he even touched on pH, the acid vs alkaline thing. But about halfway through, he mentioned eating seaweed and algae, and all of a sudden I had a feeling what was about to happen. A minute later, he said to clean the liver, which is what removes toxins from the body, it takes 3 months minimum, but 6 is more typical. At that point, I started to get suspicious that this wasn't just a seminar. And I was right: it turned into a timeshare presentation where he was going to test us and get us started on a program. It wasn't what I signed up for so I left. Now I would certainly consider doing a detox program, but I would want to research it on my own first. 

For lunch, I ate at the marketplace, so I was still in my workout clothes. The felt carved feta crusted lamb was excellent. I stopped by the hot tub, since it wasn't on my way back to the room. The old singles group was there, I had run into a few of them over the course of the week. One woman from Iran, she was really a go getter, spoke her mind, almost to the point where I would want to tell her to shut up. There was also a cute girl in the tub, but of course, she came with her boyfriend. 

I went back to the room and cleaned up, put on my new Alaska t-shirt, and went down to the Cafe where I had just an amazing cup of chai. I don't know what they use but Starbucks could learn from the ship's coffee baristas.

I watched a second presentation from Mike, who's now an Alaskan resident by way of Cleveland. I'd heard his first presentation about living in Alaska, the people, the nature, etc, but missed 2 and 3. The final one was titled native people. Well in the last 15 minutes, we were reminded how great animals are and how badly people treat them. In other words,  people are arrogant. Sorry but only humans are made in God's image. We should take care of animals, I love animals, but let's not act like they are identical to humans. 

I then went upstairs for carpet ball, which was supposed to be in the greens. But it was two floors down by the elevator. Anyway it's like bocce with these balls that roll all over the place, it is a stupid game, I was out in the first round. I went right to Good Spirits for a Vanilla sky, a great cocktail with vanilla vodka, pineapple, and lime juice, with a few other odds and ends. Alan and Lou, the bartenders, would show videos of the history of each region and mike up as they narrated the composition of each cocktail. I did get a happy birthday serenade. 

After trivia with Rachel, it was dinner time at Crown. We were booked at 7:30, but thankfully, we were able to get in at 6:15. The highlight was the black and blue soup, which was a spin on French onion soup with Jack Daniels, Roquefort cheese, and fresh thyme. Great flavor, nice and rich. My porterhouse steak was cooked nicely to a medium rare, but lacked seasoning. Considering the menu listed the three unique salts, I was wondering why they were never even mentioned. And with dessert, I did get my second happy birthday serenade. Of course they gave me a chocolate tuxedo cake, so I went for the Key lime pie bar, which was decent, but nothing special. The cover charge was $29 per person, which was fine, because at a regular steakhouse, we would've spent $200 for sure, factoring in wine, tax, and tip. 

Off to Hollywood Hiccups. The staff reenacted classic movie scenes with their own twists, we saw everything from Nightmare on Elm Street to Titanic to  Baywatch to the Full Monty. Nothing short of hysterical. 

Two last Jack Daniels smashes at Crown Bar, more music from Tony, and it was over. Last minute packing for my 45 pound suitcase and then time to say goodbye. 

Chapter 8-Ketchikan

Friday. My last day in my 30s. Fittingly, I started with 30 minutes of lifting in the gym, my lower legs were not feeling too great for a run. Then I went to a small theater for a Speed Sudoku challenge. That didn't go too well, the puzzle stumped me, the event was over in 15 minutes.

We arrived early in Ketchikan on an unseasonably warm day. This town is kind of like the gateway to Alaska. There's a lot of hunting and fishing, with a lot of salmon. I was able to find a black Alaska Under Armour shirt and while it wasn't cheap, I think it looks great, feels light, and will work really well.

 

We took a boat ride into a bay where we caught crabs. I thought it was stupid that we had to wear masks on a boat, but whatever. Then it was back to the George Inlet Lodge cut the dungeness crab fest, which was supposed to be all you can eat. I ate 1.5 crabs, or 3 plates, and it's only because we had to return to the boat, I could have easily had another 2 or 3 crab plates. Really good crab, maybe not quite as good as Tracy's, but close. Maybe I just like a little more seasoning besides melted butter, but I guess the idea is to let the bean be the star of the show. Now there was salad, blueberry cheesecake, one red potato, and an alcoholic beverage included as well. I drank an Alaskan amber, I drank maybe half a dozen of those over the week. 

After we got back, the weather had warmed dramatically and I laid in the sun for about 45 minutes, but gosh. I felt so self-conscious. I look so overweight despite my intensified running schedule. I don't think my diet went off the rails this week. But gosh, I didn't even want to take my shirt off. And this is on a cruise that didn't exactly have the fittest crowd ever. 

I went back to the room and watched two episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, there were about 20 episodes available on demand. 

It was our final dinner in Concerto, we went for the Curtis Stone inspired pork belly with homemade chunky applesauce, sauteed spinach, and roasted potatoes. Really good, but of course, not the leanest cut of pork. I did enjoy the sugar free coconut cake for dessert. 

Onto the games, and it was Liars Club. Basically a random word was selected and three staff members says what they thought the word meant and then we had to figure out who was telling the truth and which two were lying. There were words like bumfiddler, assapanick, sexangle, and nodgecock. I came out of this cruise so much smarter...

I decided against Pyramid; instead, I went over to the theater see a stand up comedian named Carlos, but actually it was a sitting on the stool comedian. Pretty good stuff.  

A few more JD smashes and acoustic guitar, and off to bed. Still no sign of Skip Bo.