2 0 8 4:M i s s i v e 3

Assuming the loophole in the Vitalnet that opened up a portal to the past via the status update feature of Facebook only available on the last day of the month remains open (as discovered on Leap Year Day 2084), I reach out to you again from the future.  I recognize that my monthly missives providing insight into what happened in the years between your present and my present some 68 years later may result in one of my connections taking action to affect the timeline, but I feel compelled to reach out all the same.  Admittedly, some events are out of the hands of anyone reading my communications.  For instance, I suspect there is nothing that you can do (except maybe reduce the amount of fracking) to prevent the 2023 New Madrid Quake that tore the continental United States in half -- which was the triggering event for what eventually became the split between East America and West America, as they were then and are now substantially separated by the expanded Bay of Mississippi.  That year was downright apocalyptic what with losing most of the populated California coast to the other earthquake -- the Big One on the San Andreas Faultline -- in the same fall.  Of course, the coastline is nothing like it was back then, especially with the Florida Isles (what was left of that once great state after the sea level rise) being sold to the Chapo-Escobar Cartel (who currently own all of the land once known as Central America after Mexico and Colombia fought their Guerra de Drogas and united the territory as one).  There is so much to explain and so little time.  I am noting my files to be sure to discuss what happened to what you know as Texas ... and New England ... and the Great Lakes ... and to explain their fates when we speak again ... loophole willing ... on the last day of May of your year 2016.   Until then ... I remain ... t1a7n72.lif.

Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/30/16

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...

... I am now convinced more than ever that we are raising a generation of pansies.

(And yes, my metamorphosis into a grumpy old man is nigh unto complete.)

Along comes the Arzum toaster, with its fancy sideways pull out drawer because this generation wants to avoid burning its little fingertips on the hot parts of the traditional toaster as it lays claim to it's bread post-Maillard-reaction.

I'm sorry.  I'm all for innovation and solving problems.  However, "getting little ouchies when picking toast out of a toaster" as a problem does not rise to the level of being worthy of whatever amount of time and money went into this re-design.  And, believe you me, the world is going to throw much harder things at a person than this predicament.  If you can't handle it ... maybe eat cold bread instead (you can still butter it and even add jelly if you'd like) until you can build up your coping skills to be able to address the risks associated with making toast.  Because ... spoiler alert ... if you want your bread to turn into toast, the machine that makes it is going to have to get hot.  You're going to have to take that into consideration when evaluating whether you are up for that challenge.

For those of you for whom this issue is so bothersome that you need to purchase this redesigned bread-heater machine ... do me a favor.  Turn on the toaster.  Be sure it is plugged in.  Pick up a fork.  Stick it in to the machine.  Repeat as unnecessary until YOU are the one that is "toast"*.  Because the rest of us don't want to have to carry the likes of you when it's time for whatever apocalyptic scenario lies in our collective immediate future.

[*Disclaimer:  My lawyers want me to say that the author bears no responsibility for any idiot who actually follows these instructions.  They are provided simply for dramatic effect.]

JUST ONE OF SIX INNOVATIONS NO ONE NEEDED:
http://ovens.reviewed.com/features/6-toasters-that-will-blow-your-mind

SCIENCE YO:
http://www.scienceofcooking.com/maillard_reaction.htm

YES INDEEDY ... KIDS TODAY ARE SOFT!:
https://olddognewtits.com/2012/07/10/kids-today-are-soft-and-here-are-some-of-the-reasons-why/

Random Flashback for Friday 4/29/16

Tonight's theme for the ninth set of photos out of the batch I inherited when my father passed a few years ago:  "Old Timey Puppies (and an aquarium)".

Again, unless there are some old timey *people* who remember these creatures -- and I'm not entirely convinced that any of them are the same dog -- these little guys were just part of the family back in the old timey days (the 30's?  the 40's?).

As you can see, they are (likely unnamed for the rest of history):

#41 - puppy behind big dog with barrels for homes
#42 - lonely puppy in a dirt field
#43 - big eared puppy in front of barrels
#44 - puppy on alert
#45a/b - what looks like an empty(?) aquarium about which someone was proud enough to take not one but two photos  
[CORRECTION:  in the bottom right corner, there IS a fish.]

Random Thought for Thursday 4/28/16

My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the SIXTEENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Scarfone's Coal Fired Pizza
Location:  Wilton Manors (right on the Drive)
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  Coca-cola
Appetizer 1:  Naked Balls
Deep Fried meatballs with BBQ and Marinara Dipping Sauces
Appetizer 2:  Baked Portabello Mushroom
Topped with sauteed spinach, tomato & mozzarella
Appetizer 3:  Our Famous Scarfone's Pear and Ricotta Pasta "Purses"
Pear & ricotta filled purses with a hazelnut cream sauce
Main:  Grandma's Chicken
Boneless breast of chicken, roasted peppers, onions, sausage in a marinara sauce served over spaghetti
Side(s):  Fresh Garlic Ciabatta Bread
Dessert:  Zeppole
with powdered sugar and a drizzle of white chocolate
Server:  Michael A (according to the receipt)

Surprise ... it took sixteen entries in this series to get to the first Italian place (which is even more the surprise when one considers all of the eating establishments of that style in the tri county area).  And the surprise was on our party when we showed up at 7:30 ... and not a single soul was in the restaurant.  Somehow, we apparently found the sweet spot between seniors eating early and drunkies eating late.  Admittedly, it was odd at first, but that didn't stop us from ordering what the server called "a feast".  Here are the feast-y details:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (the coal fire is prominently featured in an open kitchen set up, and things still feel relatively new and certainly very clean with a beautiful outside sidewalk seating area ... and a great mix of music that at first sounded like Frank Sinatra was going to be every other song, but quickly turned into a variety of top tunes from just about every genre ... a point lost for starting the meal with no other customers present [happily, two other tables came in before the meal was over so it didn't feel so unusual the whole meal] and a second point for awkward forks that felt as heavy as nutcrackers such that I couldn't twirl my pasta unless I used both hands)
FOOD:            8/10 (the famous pasta purses are rightfully famous [as they are listed on the menu], the garlic bread was crunchy yet shiny and wet [courtesy of the olive oil], and the naked balls had a crispy coating from the deep fry ... a point lost for the main dish being a touch too oily and another for the disappointing portabellos that were double the tomato so that you had to go searching for the 'shrooms)
SERVICE:      7/10 (attentive, sure ... but the server came across that  he might be new and or unpolished ... a point lost for awkwardly asking us our mother's day plans in an attempt at small talk and a second point deducted for placing the plates down without much excitement as to what was being served and a third point subtracted for never introducing himself)
BACON:         4/10 (there's only a single reference to bacon on the menu [on the BLT wedge salad -- hence the B] and nary even a prosciutto as an ingredient in anything ... so maybe Sicilians aren't as fond of the pig as I am, but with that analysis of the menu, I can't award too many points in this category)
BONUS:         9/10 (+3 for the clever way to hand you the bill [see below], +3 for the scrumptious dessert and +3 for that nutella cream sauce with the pasta purses that they should bottle and sell on the way out the door)

TroyScore:  36 out of 50 -- aka 72, a low C

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 4/27/16

Man-spreading.

Used in a sentence:  "Oh how I sometimes miss the joys of public transport (after all, I was a Chicagoan for over a dozen years recently) -- including the latest controversy happening in subway cars in major urban locations apparently even worthy of a public shaming campaign:  the act of man-spreading."

Little did I know exactly how controversial the topic is.  Police have been accused of using man-spreading violations to unduly arrest two Latinos in NYC.  Feminists have stated that man-spreading is all about male privilege.  Anti-feminists have accused feminists of disrespecting the need for testicles to breathe, which can be a possible reason that one engages in man-spreading.  Scientists have even weighed in to defend man-spreading after studying the shoulder to hip ratios of both sexes.  The interwebs are now full of google images of random gentlemen (often very tall, and usually wearing short shorts for greater effect) who were caught man-spreading.  (As the accompanying image shows [not a crotch shot], man-spreading is just one of the issues currently being managed on the subway [me, personally, I like the notice that riders should refrain from practicing stripper routines on the poles]).

Be careful out there.  Be on the lookout for wanton man-spreading.  If you see something, unspread something ... because *this* is the world in which we live.

MAN-SPREADERS ARRESTED:
http://jezebel.com/at-least-two-subway-riders-have-been-arrested-for-man-s-1707543734

MAN-SPREADING, 'CAUSE SCIENCE, YO!:
http://mic.com/articles/125659/men-have-to-manspread-because-of-science-says-mansplaining-scientist#.TuffGEGJK

LET THE MAN-SPREADING SHAMING BEGIN:
http://mentakingup2muchspaceonthetrain.tumblr.com/

Random Tune for Tuesday 4/26/16

She just may be the most frequently mentioned female performer on this little blog of mine.

And with her latest album being released on this Friday, it's only fitting that I "randomly" choose a Martina McBride song for tonight's tune.

There were three tracks released ahead of time on the youtube -- the title track 'Reckless', a ditty called 'That's the Thing About Love' AND the one at the link below.  (Note:  Late-breaking news:  it looks like two more tracks were dropped today:  a classic country song bemoaning the e-state of affairs in 'The Real Thing' plus a "hey-we-all-have-the-same-needs" opus of 'Everybody Wants to be Loved'.)

I've already called attention to it on my Facebook exclusive yin-yang series (if you're a "friend" of mine there, then you already know) just last week (what can I say -- I'm really excited for the new CD), but it's the uplifting message about "hanging in there for what's ahead" that I can't help but mention again:

Just around the corner
The sun's a little warmer
The storm is blowing over
It's finally over
The weight that you've been holding
The faith that's been broken
Ain't broken any longer
And you'll be stronger
Just around the corner, corner
Just around the corner
A break in the clouds
Can't see it now
But it's out there
Hold your head up
One foot in front
Of the other

JUST AROUND THE CORNER ... JUST AROUND THE CORNER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY9yfECxsgo

Random Memorial for Monday 4/25/16

Gone but not forgotten:  the m&m's of my youth.

To be clear, I doubt that the newest flavors will mean that the peanut ones (my favorite) will go away forever, but the counter space at any m&m store just got a lot smaller in order to make way for the CoffeeNut, HoneyNut and ChiliNut ones now in rotation.

I get it ... it's an election year and so voting is trending (here's hoping as many people vote for a president as do for the next nut [and here's hoping that those phrases remain mutually exclusive when *that* mess is all over]) ... but why do we have to ruin a good thing?

I blame the potato chip folks ... who have been offering up "chip elections" for a few years running -- despite the fact that most of the sample flavors taste like someone just came along and swept up all the leftover flavor powder on the floor at the chip processing plant and mixed it together and said "try this".  Actually, I blame the combos folks ... who experimented and failed miserably in the null's with a cheeseburger flavored bag (it had a pickle aftertaste that allowed it to also serve as an emetic).  Actually, I blame the Latinos most of all ... because this all started when the big companies decided to add lime to everything trying to get their pesos as their community grew into an increasingly bigger demographic.

Back in the day when it was sooo much easier to choose my m&m's (plain or peanut ... those used to be the only choices) ... you are missed.

VOTE FOR THE BEST NUT (PRESIDENTIAL *AND* M&M):
http://www.delish.com/food-news/a44283/mms-contest-new-peanut-flavor/

AN M&M RANKING:
http://www.ranker.com/list/best-flavors-of-m-and-m_s/chef-jen

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS ACTUALLY PAY BIG BUCKS:
http://www.fritolay.com/blog/blog-post/snack-chat/2015/10/22/lays-southern-biscuits-and-gravy-flavored-chips-is-2015-do-us-a-flavor-contest-winner.htm

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/24/16

What southern Florida is talking about this week:

... hopefully the same thing that the *nation* is talking about this *month*:  how it is national child abuse prevention month.

Florida is one of the states that does so via the proliferation of blue pinwheels (similar to the ribbons of various colors, it's a token to help increase awareness).

Of course, if you weren't AWARE that this was a thing (like I wasn't until today's post), the first step might just be starting to spread the word.

But more importantly than all the pinwheel gardens that may be sprouting up around the country, with the statistic that one report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds, it's important that each of us in the "village" knows the signs, knows how to take action, and knows how essential it is to commit to standing up and protecting the lives of the most innocent in this crazy crazy world in which we survive only by becoming a community.

FLORIDA AND ITS PINWHEELS:
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-welfare/capm

INVEST YOUR WEALTH, WISDOM AND/OR WORK:
http://voicesbroward.org/2016/03/23/april-is-national-child-abuse-prevention-month/

BE INFORMED SO AS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES:
http://www.childabuse.org/page.aspx?pid=229

Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/23/16

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...

... *this* may be the saddest thing I've ever seen.

Well, those Ethiopian kids with distended bellies that were all over the television when I was younger and the modern day counterpart to that advertisement of cats with too much eye crud and dogs with nothing to do but cower being serenaded by Sarah McLachlan probably rank above it.

But take a close look at this Coca-Cola fountain machine and note that, of all the choices, Coca-Cola is not a one.  Yes, I know that there are two spots for DIET coke and one for coke ZERO ... but those are NOT Coca-Cola.

Admittedly, this particular station was in the cafeteria at the hospital, and so there was probably a mission about being heart-healthy and waist-conscious or something similarly hospitalesque, but we live in a land of freedom, which includes the freedom to choose traditional real classic Coca-Cola (yes, I was alive for that year in bizarro land when New Coke was in the marketplace, so I use the word "classic" with full intention).  Do we need a lawsuit a la Bloomberg and his failed attempt to ban soda buckets in order to have our free will recognized?

Full disclosure:  for those who follow me on the Facebook, you may know that I'm in the midst of some long term plans to lose some pounds, so I wanted to explain myself lest I appear disingenuous.  As part of that plan, my Coca-Cola consumption has been limited to just one each day, but only on Tu, Th, Sa and Su (or when I'm shopping, or in a slurpee so long as I sit like a good boy when getting a haircut, or on long road trips, or if I find myself in stressful situations [like being in a darn hospital!!]

Lookit -- I'm even okay with a compromise.  If you're going to have a fountain machine without any Coca-Cola in it, then put a different giant picture on it to avoid getting a certain someone's hopes up, only to have them dashed after a cup is drawn and ice is gathered and a body is keyed up to have a particular craving satisfied.  Sheesh!

TO BE FAIR, SARAH CAN'T WATCH THOSE COMMERCIALS EITHER:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/12/sarah-mclachlan-cant-watch-her-aspca-commercial.html

PENANCE LINK ... CONSIDER DONATING TO UNICEF AFTER READING THIS LINK:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/09/bellies-starving-babies-swell/

INTERESTING ... VERY INTERESTING ...:
http://www.theawl.com/2013/09/how-to-install-a-soda-fountain-in-your-own-home

Random Flashback for Friday 4/22/16

Two weeks ago, the last time I flashed back two decades to the winter/spring of 1996, I commented on how, back then, I was trying to get the "jacket-with-one-shoulder-off" to be a thing.

Here's further proof that I was really *really* trying hard to make that happen ... and succeeding (at least for the amount of time it took for us to pose for this picture).

Me and the boys were in the middle of the northcentral PA woods at a Lutheran church camp (in March not April ... hence the snow) for one of my murder mystery weekends (having graduated from LVC, and with me being in law school at this time, they were finally starting to get fewer and far-er between -- although they existed in some form or fashion all the way up until the fall of '98).

For perspective, this would have been the second of four years we had this particular gig, and the first of two when I was joined by the Whitmans and Selman.  According to my archives, we performed "I Am the Least" ... but I have to admit that I'm not quite sure which Bible story that was that we converted into a murder mystery (as compared to the other three years, where my notes are more clear).

Ah the good old days ... before we all got so old ...

Random Thought for Thursday 4/21/16

My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FIFTEENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Top Hat Delicatessen
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale's Fat Village
Meal:  Late Lunch
Drink:  Eli's Root Beer (on tap)
Appetizer(s):  Matzo Ball Soup and Rueben Egg Rolls
Main:  Top Hat Burger (add RED COW bacon)
pastrami burger with swiss cheese
Side(s):  Deviled Eggs and a homemade pickle
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Lisa

So to clear something up ... I don't *always* order a burger when I go out to eat ... but as someone who started a Burger Quest (!) a few years ago (visiting the 25 best burgers as per Zagat as announced in 2013 ... which is exclusive content only found on the Facebook and which is subject to my travels), if I peruse a menu and see a burger I've not had before, you can bet that that's what I'll be eating that day.  Or, in other news, I just recently ate a burger that was comprised of a meat patty made up of a 50/50 blend of beef and pastrami on challah bread PLUS swiss cheese and homemade cole slaw.  Here are all the details:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (in a "up and coming" part of town, it reads like an upscale diner, and the black and white theme is super snazzy ... the front section includes giant garage doors that I imagine get opened in the right temperatures ... and it's a nice touch using dish towels as the napkins ... plus the dessert case calls out to you while you enter and again while you're paying ... all in all, it still feels brand new despite being open for a bit)
FOOD:            9/10 (as the pictures show, the food looks amazing when delivered ... every last detail attended to ... and, with one exception, it tastes just as amazing [I could eat buckets of the soup, and a meal of the deviled eggs]  ... only a single point deducted for the sauerkraut getting lost in the rueben rolls)
SERVICE:      7/10 (the server herself did well, especially in describing each item in detail after it was ordered, however a point lost for no one greeting our party as we arrived, leading to confusion over whether we were to seat ourselves, a second point lost for having a different server try to take our order after our server was getting the drinks and a third point lost for having the main entrees delivered before we were only halfway done with the appetizers)
BACON:         10/10 (thank you deli for NOT being kosher ... and for having RED COW bacon as a side, bacon that could be also be added to my burger [note:  RED COW is the name of the bbq joint also owned by the proprietors, and is not some kind of colored beef bacon] ... so yes, there will be no points lost in this category)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for an owner who cut his teeth in the Lettuce Entertain You franchise [well known to this Chicago transplant], +3 for a motto that serves as a worldview to which we all should aspire [Be Nice!], and with breakfast options all very intriguing yet all to date unsampled, this is a place to which we will be returning [+1])

TroyScore:  43 out of 50 -- aka 86, a solid B

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 4/20/16

ZipOdes!

Used in a sentence:  "In honor of National Poetry Month, a local station is encouraging that each person 'write an ode to your ZIP code', using the five digits to dictate the number of words in each line -- also known as a bunch of ZipOdes!"

In lieu of my usual companion links in triplicate, here are three poems for three important zip codes from *my* life:

17042

Lebanon
Where everyone was so full of bologna

Bomberger's, Fox's, Seltzer's, Weaver's
circa 1987

60613

I want to be on LSD again

Hugging the city, kissing the lake
Chicago
Lakeshore Drive memories 

33311

Land of sun
Kissed, Burned, Stroked
All exposures welcomed!
Re
Florida

Random Tune for Tuesday 4/19/16

This will be the last shot of a cassette discarded in my trash can.

Oops ... missed a word.

This will be the last shot of an *Aerosmith* cassette discarded in my trash can.

Meaning that I still have a whole box of cassettes that are duplicates of CDs also in my collection that I'll be discarding every other week for another few months ... or years ... or until the internet breaks.

Meaning also that I am finally out of doubles of Aerosmith releases (seeing as how this was the last one they put out in the nineties, that kind of makes sense, looking at the overall timeline as to when CDs became more popular as a music format).

[Disclaimer:  all that said, I do reserve the right to buy more Aerosmith CDs in the future which may or may not result in a return visit of these guys to my trash.]

In the 2600+ posts since I started this blog, I know for sure I've already featured so many songs from this album ... but I don't think I've ever featured tonight's tune:  'Kiss Your Past Goodbye' and these words of advice:

I've been so lost I must confess
I've had my share of loneliness
But yeah it's hard to keep a good man down
The loves you lost were all in vain
The past lives on inside your brain
I don't think you need those memories
Hangin' 'round, yeah

SO KISS YOUR PAST ... OR KISS YOUR ASS GOODBYE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRuvu5xeA8s

Random Memorial for Monday 4/18/16

Gone but not forgotten:  this former home away from home of mine, in the Century in Chicago.

Now that the last class session has been held, and what with the final steps being taken to close the doors by the end of the month, I can now officially mourn the office space that gave us so much during its heyday in the second half of the nulls.

Mind you, it's just the physical space that is closing -- the company for which I still work continues with its presence.  It's just that the customers nowadays are mostly online (those crazy kids), so old fashioned spaces with classrooms with chairs and tables and whiteboards aren't as necessary.

When the other center I once ran in the Chicago area closed, we had a party that included a reading of a special version of 'The Raven' modified for the occasion ... but this one will close with a little less fanfare.  Truth be told, I've been working from home since late 2010, and I've been living far away from Chicago since early 2014 ... but that doesn't mean that I don't have tons of memories of this location (double negative alert -- I DO have tons of memories).

Scene of so many stories to be told in upcoming flashback Fridays once we get to the late 2020's (because I always work two decades after the fact) ... you will be missed (by many).

TIME TO TAKE DOWN THE SIGNS:
http://www.thecenturychicago.com/

HERE COMES THE FUTURE:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/future-classroom-technologies/

IN OTHER KAPLAN NEWS:
http://www.kaptest.com/act/pages/actpartnership

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/17/16

What southern Florida is talking about this week:

Tax Day (moved to Monday this year [tomorrow] because of the DC holiday this past Friday)!

AND ... the convenience of being able to PAY those taxes at your local 7-11!

Yes indeedy, the place to find a slurpee and assorted Venezuelan pastries (at least that's what MY local ones have) is ALSO the place where you can pay Uncle Sam what you owe him.  Of course, since Japan owns 70% of the company, it's unclear whether any portion of your payment is actually going overseas.  But hey, a good bit of what you pay leaves the country anyway, so what does it matter, right?

[NOTE:  Wrong.  The percentage for foreign aid (with military included) was about 1.4%  Many people assume that number to be a much higher percentage.]

As an additional public service ... here are a few other 2016 tax day freebies and specials to make the pain of paying tax more manageable ...

PAY UP (AT THE HOME OF THE SLURPEE)!:
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2016/04/take-a-big-gulp-and-pay-your-taxes-in-cash-at-7-eleven.html

TAX DAY FUN:
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/123814471-story

CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MAY THINK ... IT'S A PENNY ON THE DOLLAR:
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2014/08/12/penny-dollar-us-foreign-aid-about-one-percent-spending/

Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/16/16

I don't mean to go off on a rave here, but ...

I will for this.

And, in an extremely rare move for me, I'll devote the majority of my post to the words of another.  In this case, the "another" is Wentworth Miller, who was e-bullied recently but used that as an opportunity to turn the tables on the haters ... and to inspire others on all sides of the equation -- those who dare make light of the pain of others in hopes they would see the totality of the situation, those who hurt -- so often in silence, and the rest of us who are called to be "on call" to be there to care ... and to aid in the healing.

In full, these are the words he used, deserved of being repeated as many times as it takes because, in the words of another "another" (Martina McBride), "love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world".

Wentworth, thanks for sharing your pain ... may we all take your message to heart:

Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time. 

This one, however, stands out from the rest.

In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low-profile for a number of reasons. 

First and foremost, I was suicidal. 

This is a subject I've since written about, spoken about, shared about. 

But at the time I suffered in silence. As so many do. The extent of my struggle known to very, very few. 

Ashamed and in pain, I considered myself damaged goods. And the voices in my head urged me down the path to self-destruction. Not for the first time.

I've struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost me time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights.

In 2010, at the lowest point in my adult life, I was looking everywhere for relief/comfort/distraction. And I turned to food. It could have been anything. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. But eating became the one thing I could look forward to. Count on to get me through. There were stretches when the highlight of my week was a favorite meal and a new episode of TOP CHEF. Sometimes that was enough. Had to be.

And I put on weight. Big f--king deal.

One day, out for a hike in Los Angeles with a friend, we crossed paths with a film crew shooting a reality show. Unbeknownst to me, paparazzi were circling. They took my picture, and the photos were published alongside images of me from another time in my career. "Hunk To Chunk." "Fit To Flab." Etc.

My mother has one of those "friends" who's always the first to bring you bad news. They clipped one of these articles from a popular national magazine and mailed it to her. She called me, concerned.

In 2010, fighting for my mental health, it was the last thing I needed.

Long story short, I survived.

So do those pictures.

I'm glad.

Now, when I see that image of me in my red t-shirt, a rare smile on my face, I am reminded of my struggle. My endurance and my perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some within. Some without. 

Like a dandelion up through the pavement, I persist. 

Anyway. Still. Despite.

The first time I saw this meme pop up in my social media feed, I have to admit, it hurt to breathe. But as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning. And the meaning I assign to this/my image is Strength. Healing. Forgiveness. 

Of myself and others.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Reach out. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Someone cares. They're waiting to hear from you. Much love. - W.M. #koalas #inneractivist #prisonbroken

www.afsp.org
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
www.activeminds.org
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Random Flashback for Friday 4/15/16

Tonight's theme for the set of photos I inherited when my father passed a few years ago:  "... PLUS dog".

Turns out that we've always been dog people -- at least, according to these photos!  Of them all, I know FOR SURE that the first one is my father (that's his grown up face on that teen's body) ... but the rest are unmarked and unknowns.  I can't even say with certainty whether any of the dogs are the same.

And you car fans are gonna like the second one ...

Here's the rundown for them all:

#36 - Ralph and someone in the yard .. PLUS dog
#37 - old fashioned deSoto with a modern looking kid ... PLUS dog (to which he's barely holding on)
#38 - old man and younger woman on a porch ... PLUS dog (who is meeting a second little puppy)
#39 - older man ... PLUS dog (a chihuahua being balanced on a box?)
#40 - tiny boy near porch ... PLUS dog (who is a tiny puppy)

Random Thought for Thursday 4/14/16

My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FOURTEENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar
Location:  Pompano Beach
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  TALL Guinness
Appetizer:  Conch Chowder
Sweet conch with fresh vegetables and tomatoes in a spicy broth
Appetizer 2:  Stuffed Mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms baked with our own seafood stuffing
Appetizer 3:  Smoked Fish Dip
House smoked dolphin dip, served with fresh jalapenos and flat bread crackers
Appetizer 4:  House Salad with House Jamaican Ginger dressing
A small salad with fresh greens, tomato, cucumber and shredded carrots.
Main:  Stuffed Shrimp
6 Large shrimp stuffed with our seafood vegetable stuffing, topped with bacon then baked
Side(s):  Baked Potato (with butter and bacon) and fresh Corn on the Cob
Dessert:  (homemade) Reese's Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Server:  Julio

Since vacationing here a few years ago before the big move to become a local, we always thought that the southern Florida culinary experience was barbecue ... somehow totally missing the fact that it's a about finding a place that buys fish just pulled out of the ocean every morning to put on your plate for lunch or dinner.  And this is one of those places.  This is also one of only two places since starting this series that has earned the highest score issued so far.  Here's how:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (in a strip mall [which is a thing down here in Florida], it had plenty of parking [although the parking lot seemed a bit potentially dangerous with lots of traffic, some of it speeding through] ...and the inside was cozy, with two dining sections and a tiki bar along the wall ... the island decorations were a hoot [see photo below for what joined us at our table] ... just one point lost for a sunset that blinded one side of the table in our party every time the door opened)
FOOD:            9/10 (with as much food as was on the table at once, the overall consensus was that everything was delicious ... from the just-the-right-amount-of-spicy conch chowder, to the kick of the house salad dressing, to the firm and flavorful smoky fish/dolphin dip [emphasis on the smoke], to the freshest of fresh seafood ... just one point lost for a feeling at the end of the meal that everything was fresh and tasty, but that it seemed like each dish was missing that extra something something to kick things up a notch)
SERVICE:      10/10 (the server made a point to go through all of the specials, and gave us time to completely review a packed menu ... and each round of food came right on time, served hot ... plus the gentleman I assume to be the owner made the rounds and checked in just often enough to make us all feel very welcome)
BACON:         10/10 (okay, I'll admit it ... I chose this seafood meal specifically for the bacon it featured, and I was not disappointed ... plus the server and the kitchen made it possible for me to get bacon added to my baked potato despite that not being a published option on the menu)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for having so much bacon that I was picking it out of my teeth on the way home, +3 for getting there at 7pm, which apparently was just a few minutes before the line out the door started, +3 for a menu that had so many items that ... this is a place to which we definitely have to return [+1])

TroyScore:  48 out of 50 -- aka 96, a high A (only the second time this high score has been issued so far)

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 4/13/16

Florida baptism.

Used in a sentence:  "Now that I've passed the two year mark as a Floridian, it's time for me to get more familiar with the Florida specific lingo -- so the recent article highlighting Florida-related terms in the urban dictionary arrived at just the right time ... especially seeing as how I want to be ready in case I ever get to be a surprise witness of a Florida baptism whilst shopping."

Note ... this is an urban dictionary reference.  And it's one of the "clean" ones.  But "clean" doesn't mean that it is free of judgment, prejudice and a little bit of classism.  So if humorless is your default setting, you might want to look away.

Also note:  no babies were harmed in the creation of today's post.  That being said, I do suspect that *many* babies were harmed in the real world that led to someone creating this entry in the urban dictionary in the first place.  But that's not my fault.  I haven't yet seen a Florida baptism in person.  Yet.

Also also note:  this kind of thing NEVER happens at a Target.  Just sayin'.

SO SAYETH THE URBAN DICTIONARY:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=florida+baptism

AND THERE ARE MANY MANY MORE:
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/the-weirdest-florida-related-terms-defined-in-urban-dictionary-8325436

PROOF ... WAL-MART IS HATED BUT TARGET IS LOVED:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703960004575427143390869962