I would go see my brother, and bring one of my boys. Obviously.
But you have to remember, as expensive as that might be, money isn’t my greatest barrier. My greatest barrier has been, and remains to be, TIME.
Precious and I deserve a quality vacation. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that. The only reason I picked Europe first is because one, I miss my bro, and two I think that a trip over the pond would serve as a very good experience for a young mind.
I talked about my traveling priorities in a previous post. What it would come down to, is the hope that the trip would serve more then one purpose. I think.
Once upon a time I was a steel worker. More specifically a press and die operator, with a touch of forklift driving. Most of the people I worked with there didn’t know my real name.
The entire time that I worked at that job i was known as RED. Or BIG RED, or BIG BAD RED. Depending on how much time you had while saying the name. I was not bad, or big, but I did wear bright red coveralls.
I had the coveralls because of Domo. You might remember Domo. “We jump to the pump for you.” With the kangaroo mascot. And….. the bright red coveralls. Domo was the job I held immediately previous to my steel worker gig.
I stood out like a sore thumb. And, considering the amount of abuse i sustained while working there I’m surprised i didn’t get a worse nickname….. It was given to me by a kind man, named Al. He was famous for peeing off the loading docks. So much so that they put up a sign saying that “Al_ Employee_ should refrain from urinating off the dock”. I wish i had a picture.
He was a former convict. Living the “fast” life, or so he said. He was patient, he stood up for me, and he had the filthiest vocabulary you could possibly imagine. He got that job because his brother ran one of the departments. Alvin and Calvin…. Damn, truth is stranger than fiction sometimes isn’t it?
For SIX years my professional name was “Red”. Thats a long time. By that time my coveralls were long gone and some people didn’t even know that Red was a nickname. They thought that was my given name.
Eventually that name along with my steel working career faded into the past, and I moved on.
Firstly, I try my best to keep a positive outlook. Cynicism can only get you so far, once you’ve checked all the boxes, you should start expecting the best. I spent many years expecting the worst, and that didn’t help me one bit. Once you’re safe. Mind body and soul, then you roll the dice, take the leap, ask the girl, make the move. Other wise you are waiting to die.
I am not a healthy man. Physically. But, I’m working on it. I’ve been experimenting with my diet. Trying to build a new normal. SUSTAINABLY !!! That’s the key. If I can’t keep being healthy, and enjoy it, then it’s all for not. Wish me luck!! Throw me some advice. Just don’t expect anything from me. This is going to have to be my journey.
The sad thing I think is that I haven’t figured this shit out before my little people came along. I would like to have all this stuff on lock, so i can model it for my boys. That is not the case.
I’ve been waiting to go to Disney World for a while now. Since 2020 to be exact, and I’m still waiting. Florida is sounding more and more crazy. Well, The whole of the states really, but Florida especially. Still, i want to go to Disney World.
I downloaded an app for my phone called Expedia, and I was experimenting with the trip planner. Apparently i could fly to Amsterdam, stay in a hostel for a week and fly home, all for $1500. Why Amsterdam? I don’t know, I was just playing around. It is one of a few places i would like to visit. New Zealand being another. Australia. Germany. South Korea. Maybe Japan….
Precious is dying to go on an African safari, and I have to say that would be pretty cool.
And then there is Family. I haven’t been to Gibraltar in over a decade, and I have a FREE couch to crash on!!!! FREE.. free. I’m pretty sure i could weasel my way into a free place to stay in Britain as well. And Barbados…. My god the advantages i haven’t seized.
Why have I not taken full advantage of this? Idunno…
I should really say that my palate has expanded considerably over the last… especially five years. I think my relationship with food has/is evolving. I haven’t forgotten my heart attack. When I had a heart attack at age 36…. before it was cool. Food was one of the major changes that needed my attention.
Food can be really really tricky. It’s tied into my identity. It’s how I see myself. Pizza and beer. Nachos and Pepsi. Huge helpings of spaghetti, with big slices of garlic bread. I’m a man of insatiable appetites, and delightful excess. Like Santa Claus…. But let’s be honest, St. Nick is gunning for a coronary. And, if he was me… a second coronary.
Food is a journey, never stop looking for a better relationship with food. But, what do you think?
-Steve
This is a HotWheels remake of a 1964 Lincoln Continental. The kind used in the movie “The Matrix”.
Table Top Role Playing Games seem to hold a special place in my heart. I spent a lot of my childhood agonizing over Dungeons and Dragons, Shadowrun, Rifts, and Star Wars.
There is one weird thing that happens when I play those kinds of games. There is an unusual level of expectation. I have made this mistake many many times, and it really shouldn’t be like that. It almost feels like a barrier to entry. Game Masters, and players should just be able to start gaming whenever and wherever they want. It should be like a dinner party I think… maybe.
As for video games,. I like Halo: Infinite, and Sea of Thieves. I’m looking forward to a game called Starfield that’s supposed to drop this September.
There is a boardgame “Sequence” that I really like, and I play it with the family once in a while. and I like playing hearts with the family. I hope that becomes a thing.
Precious and I play cribbage more then you might think.
Exploding Kittens is a fun one, and Magic: the Gathering can be a hoot.
I have a go too list of food that i make. Spaghetti and meat sauce. Kraft dinner. Shake and bake. Meat loaf. Stuff like that.
I would like a different list. A healthier list. I want to understand food better so that i can make better choices.
The idea of counting calories, or measuring proteins, or portioning, sounds like complete garbage. I just want to know what’s heathy, make it the best way i can, and then stuff my face. It can’t be that difficult.
I say this as I eat a Pizza Pop.
I have had great salads. But I don’t know how to make them, or even what to ask for. I’ve had great sushi. I think they are healthy…. Maybe.
If it wasn’t for my Precious, I don’t think I would have any animals. As for the boys…. I think the eldest likes the cats. And I think the youngest likes the dog….
Dogs or Cats….. Does anyone else get the impression that these writing prompts are getting lazy?
I’ve started a campaign. I want to find the perfect locker/change room at work. I thought this was going to be easy. I would simply bribe the people in charge of the lockers. But those sneaky buggers have removed themselves from the map. They don’t even have a phone number. Can you believe it? They could be located on the other side of the planet. Locker rooms, and locker room etiquette must be the subject of so much turmoil, that they could no longer be approached in person.
All I have an E-mail…. And the option to go to my boss.
I don’t want to go to my boss!!! Oh sure, I could if I simply wanted a locker. Yes. But not if I’m making a game of it. “The Perfect Locker” Where everything smells like skittles, and nobody has dirty shoes.
Wish me luck. I will stake my claim and horse whip any cow poke that infringes upon my land. Ya’darn tooten.
