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cycledelix · 17 days ago

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I’ve been a bike mechanic my whole life. Professionally I started at 17 years old but the reality is that it began at a much younger age bolting paperboy racks to my Schwinn Frontier to head out and deliver the news. Living in Michigan the bike shop became the perfect seasonal work while I was in school. Then I grew up, worked my way through college, and realized I was still a bike mechanic. It’s a good time! Drinking beer on the job, cracking jokes with the boys, rolling up a fatty as soon as the shop closes and heading out for a ride in the city. Summers flew by and then the winter would hit, and the silence would get to me and I’d go stir crazy and leave. Three winters in a row I tried to get away and didn’t land anywhere, rolling back into the bike shop for the next summer.

The last winter running away was the hardest. I chose to work building mountain bike trails on frozen dirt in December. What sounded like a good time in nature felt more like a construction site. As we gave all our energy to the labor, me and a friend sat there at the end of the days and dreamed of using our youthful energy for something better than making a buck.

I quit the trail building job and headed back to work at the bike shop in 2019 with a dream. Figure out how to ride the tour divide. My friends and I had engaged in a variety of shenanigans on loaded bikes, camping around Michigan. I had only dreamed of anything of the magnitude of the divide. Canada to Mexico, countless mountain passes, multiple desert crossings. No small feat on the bicycle, it was going to be the ride of a lifetime. I was willing to do it alone, but I wanted a friend to join and I started to put out the word in January that I wanted to ride it in late summer. I bought the hard copy of the maps from the adventure cycling association and started showing them to everyone who’d listen.

Tyler worked the repair stand next to me at the bike shop and was one of the first to hear my idea. He didn’t say much about it for a few days. After about a week he came in one day and told me while the boss wasn’t listening that he’d talked to his old lady and that he wanted to go too. He’d only been riding bikes a couple years but Tyler isn’t one to half ass anything and he immediately started making a plan to ride the trip singlespeed.

Benson and I had been riding together for years and the divide was something we had talked about before, but never with the intention of actually pulling it off. We were fixie boys, used to cutting traffic at high speed and sprinting against cars. Risking our lives for a <$100 pot at an alley cat, or making deliveries in the day. Our bikes weighed less than a bag of groceries and he certainly wasn’t set up to tour. I knew he wanted to go but he was broke and partying harder than ever. It was gonna be a piece of work to get him out there.

It was May, and Tyler and I were committing to a late July depart. Benson realizes it’s now or never and he quits partying and comes in to the bike shop with a rusty Surly Long Haul Trucker he bought off a friend and tells me he wants to do the big ride. He’s still broke so Tyler and I start raiding the collective parts bin of the shop to get him ready to go. We petitioned our friends at Velocity USA for a set of rims for him and they pulled through with some eyeleted touring rims that Tyler laced up to his XT hubs. We jammed the biggest front tire possible in there and I set him up with my Surly Moloko bars, a crazy but perfect choice to turn the road touring bike into something ready to crest a mountain pass. The rest of us had fancier setups, but Benson’s had so much character and the love of a whole community of hand me down bike parts that were used well and still ready to go the distance. Rim brakes and 9 speed can get you anywhere. New technology be damned.

Jack had only been back from his tour across New Zealand for a few months. He was damn near out of money and just getting back in the swing of his excavation job. Benson was committing though, and he called Jack and Jack said “Not a big deal” and agreed to get ready to go just one month before we were set to leave. He already had a bike and a tent anyways, who can stop him now?

Two weeks before our departure we four were all committed. We sat down on Jacks porch and bought Amtrak tickets for us and the bikes from Grand Rapids to East Glacier. Everything seemed to be in order. The bikes were good to go and a plan to ride up to Banff by way of Calgary to prep ourselves for all the off-road riding back south to Mexico. We had all been riding in our own ways but the four of us had yet to do an overnight together, so some pavement miles were going to be welcome at the start.

But Tyler and I had one more trick up our sleeve that evening.

Santiago and I had done more long rides together than any of the rest. He had wanted to go on the ride from the beginning of me pitching the idea but his immigration status in the USA depended on his job and he was afraid that there was no way he was going to be allowed to go. His famously authoritarian boss would never allow such a thing.

But Tyler and I were lighting the fire anyways. We lit him a joint at his kitchen table and asked “have you asked?”

It was two weeks before departure. The boss was out for medical reasons and the big trade show was freshly wrapped up. Santo asked, and the company graciously allowed him two months leave, unpaid. Keeping his immigration status meant the trip was possible, but now he had two weeks to get ready and he didn’t even own a tent.

To top it off, the sturdiest bike he had ready for the trip was a fat bike! A surly ice cream truck at that, probably one of the heaviest bikes anyone has attempted this route on. He got to packing and bought a flight to Calgary. Meeting us after our first three days of riding up from Glacier.

Those road miles as a foursome went well and we rolled into Calgary just in time to find out bike polo was happening. We went down to the courts, parked our loaded bikes on the walls and started making friends. We managed to play a few games, drink a few beers, and get offered a yard to put our tents up for the night. Bike polo remains one of the best crowds for making friends for the love of a game.

We had two days straight into the worst headwind of my life to get to Banff. We hike-a-biked up a closed road to camp at a place called Bear Hill our first night and landed in Banff the next day wide eyed and ready to take on the trip of a lifetime. Somehow all five of us were doing it together and we were determined to do it right. And by right I mean with smiles on our faces.

When people read these stories and watch the documentaries and see the photo reels they think of bike touring as something glamourous. The highlighted moments of the beauty of the self powered journey hold a romantic appeal that draws many people to the idea of taking on a bike tour.

The reality is often quite the opposite. Grinding up climbs day after day. Carrying everything you need with you, knowing every ounce slows you down. Living in dirt, never having a chair to sit on. Ending every day tired and hungry just to eat another Ramen with another pack of Sunkist Tuna. Waking up and doing it again, and again, and again. The views are captivating. The memories are legendary, but in my experience that’s largely based in the contrast of how hard you work to get there.

It’s a physical journey, but it’s also a mental journey. The difficulty starts with the deciding to go and cutting the ties with the parts of yourself that want to stay home and take it easy and do things how you always did. Then it continues in the choosing to persist in the chasing the dream, even when it gets difficult. Doing the ride with friends changes everything, and as we each went on our individual journeys of frustration and transformation, we had each other’s support keeping spirits up and the attitude light. Jack turned to us all on day one and said something to the effect of “well boys we’re leaving the comfort at home” and he was right.

It’s hard to talk about the ride without writing a whole chapter book, and maybe I’ll get there someday. Up and down and up and down and up and down. Each pass a new day and each day a new mountain pass. Canada was a good week. We got stronger, we got tougher, we got more saddle sores and more beautiful pictures on our cameras. Jack said “Not a big deal” about a bunch more things, one of the most notable was his expensive camera lens smashing on the ground in front of him. He also smashed his rim so hard the bead was folded flat into the rim. I had to pound it out with some of the same rocks that smashed it. No more tubeless after that, but that wheel made it the whole way. Not a big deal.

Side note, Tyler and I built all the wheels that the five of us rode, nobody broke a spoke the whole way. We’re real bike mechanics.

We were a motley looking bunch. Long hair, tattoos, bright colored bikes and clothes. Benson was wearing a swimsuit most days by week 3 and we all had a tan that bordered on a burn except Tyler, who was applying sunscreen dilligently to protect his ginger skin. He was also powering through on his single speed Karate monkey, getting in more miles walking but also somehow moving the fastest of all of us on a daily basis. He had the most minimal setup of all of us. After Santo realized he had too many shirts he gave one to Tyler and Tyler wore it every single day after that. He did the trip in one shirt and on one gear and in bedrock sandals. Benson was our other fastest guy and remember he’s doing it on a ten year old bike with rim brakes. Both were powered by sour patch kids and cheese. Bikes are a great equalizer, your gear is only as fast as you are.

I could bore you with a day by day breakdown of activities, I could give you a list of prime destinations, but what I think our ride offers is not a “how to” for other people to do gear or maps or planning. Other people are far better at that and a few youtube tutorials will give you a better plan than listening to our gear setups. My advice about all that would be don’t bring too much stuff and make sure it’s attached to your bike securely. Make sure to have space for extra snacks.

What I do believe we can bring you is a glimpse into the best side of bike touring - conquering distance with the homies. Everything about this ride felt so impossible, each individual step so massive, so many opportunities to give up and pack it all home. But at every turn between Banff and Albuquerque I had four friends looking at me and encouraging me and suffering alongside me and celebrating every high point and that made every day worth it. Every curse word muttered at a broken bike was balanced by a joke and a laugh and a half eaten snickers bar and a half smoked joint being passed over by a smiling friend. Sometimes the sun and the terrain do their best to break a man, but together we made the worst times into the best ones.

The ride went mostly like you’d expect, lots of time in the saddle. Most days looked a lot alike (wake up, pedal south). I’ll name just a handful that stood out

Pretty early on we started bathing in creeks and rivers. I think the very first time we all did together was pretty far out in the Canadian Rockies. It had rained overnight and some of our stuff needed to dry, so we parked by the stream and started getting ourselves cleaned up. We hadn’t seen anyone for hours but sure enough as soon as we were all ass naked standing in a creek a group of people on motorcycles pulled up and started asking us for directions. Santo and Tyler obliged and they went on their way. This sort of thing became a pattern on the trip, Santo even. Skinny dippped right upstream from a construction crew making a bridge one day.

We had crossed a few hundred miles of Canadian Rockies since Banff and made it past whitefish Montana where we scored an ounce of weed off a helpful waitress. There had been plenty of climbing and plenty of rocky descents at this point, we felt pretty prepared for anything that might come our way. But then came along one mountain that seemed near impassable, not on the way up but the way down! A couple of the guys were on gravel bikes and wearing clipless pedals down a “road” that hits a 38% grade in one part. We all made it down, jack with the most “roadie” setup came down last kinda pissed off and Tyler just looks at him and holds up a moon pie and starts ripping his clothes off and yells at jack that whoever makes it to a tree a quarter of the way back up the hill gets the moon pie. Jack just strips down to his underwear and starts chasing after Tyler yelling. I forget who got to the tree first but they came back laughing and smiling and shared the moon pie.

On the other end of Montana there’s a lil bar called the Peat. We rolled in hungry and tired from a long day of pedaling and ordered ourselves some food and drink. The owner of the joint was there and we shortly found out it was his birthday and we ended up with some shots on the house and start partying with them. They showed us the building out back that was a crumbling abandoned brothel from a hundred yeas ago and Santo gave us a rendition of his famous “Condom times, good times” talk while Tyler and I climbed in the attic. They got us real drunk and gifted us one of their little hotel rooms that they usually rent out and we all got cleaned up the next morning while we were hungover.

Wyoming went pretty smooth. There hadn’t been a whole lot of other riders who had departed Banff around when we did, but there was this guy named Schwinn (I’m spelling that wrong but this is a bike ride story) we kept seeing and passing back and forth. We ran into him for the last time in the Tetons and he shined us all in the eyes with his headlamp when he said bye, so after that shining someone in the eyes with a headlamp has been called “schwinning.”

The only other riders of note right now were the group of old guys, one of whom was on a recumbent. What the fuck. They all apparently made it down to near the border and then one of them(not recumbent guy) got hit by a car on one of the last days and died. I’ve told people that and they say oh no so sad, but I don’t really think that way. This guy retired and he was doing what he loved when he went down. He got saved from years sitting on a couch reliving exactly what he was currently living. Died with his boots on. Hell yeah.

The big feature of this route in Wyoming is not the Tetons, it’s the great divide basin. 130 miles through the desert with no water or supplies. If it’s muddy it can take a long time, and there’s no protection from the sun or the wind. There’s a tiny little town on the north edge of it called Atlantic City. We were all disjointed rolling in but we made a plan to eat lunch at the bar there before we rode out into the desert. Santo and I were the last ones into the bar and Tyler (who’s a vegetarian), points at an unidentified fried object and tells me to eat it. I bit in and it was chewy and salty and exactly what i figured it was, a Rocky Mountain oyster !

As we were rolling out of town we met a Danish guy named Martin who was riding the divide twice (both directions) that summer and we made friends. We went down to the river on the edge of the desert then and filtered water. Tyler took a very small shit off the side of the bridge. A turd so small he named it Toby. As we were leaving the river we saw an old man walking off into the open desert. As we rode in the same direction he was nowhere to be seen, and then two young hikers seemed to appear from nowhere. Was it a shapeshifter?

When we woke up by the last water on the edge of the desert the next morning Martin was rolling through and Benson took off with him going pretty fast. The rest of us were following but we stuck with the map when they disappeared off the front and we never saw them. We fought headwinds the next few hours and saw more wild horses and antelope than clouds or trees. We got to a turn where the wind was on our side with about 45 miles left to go. Right about then we got a text from benson saying he was at McDonald’s in town on the other side of the desert. He said he got a little lost when he split from Martin but he never ran into a headwind. I’m still convinced he went through a warp in the space time continuum. 45 miles ahead of us!

As you cross the border into Colorado there’s a lovely little lodge called brush mountain and we took our first full day off there. Tyler didn’t want to get too comfortable and he’d seen this “ride bikes naked” sticker on the fridge so he takes off naked up the mountain pass. Little did he know that by doing that it started a chain reaction that ended up with the guy who made this sticker getting his friend who was present to share his acid water with us. The owner of the lodge knew we were taking a day off and she gave us directions to a waterfall that was up the way. As we were getting ready to head to the waterfall and drink the LSD a dude who was riding his bike from Alaska rolled in carrying a full size guitar on his rear rack and a half gallon of peanut butter in his panniers. He came to the waterfall with us and had some of the acid and we were friends immediately. It was a serene day, but with replacement Tyler.

We caught up with Tyler the next day in Steamboat. We had met this older couple named Bill and Debbie somewhere up the road and Bill was a cyclist and had offered us his garage in Steamboat to crash in that night if we needed. We had high hopes of going much further and turned him down. After going to the bike shop and the grocery store in town the sun was getting low and we were starting to regret that choice. We ate some dinner and started making plans to ride 20 miles to the closest dispersed camping when Jack looked up and said “isn’t that Bill and Debbie’s Car?” Sure enough they were just finishing dinner across the street and the first words out of Debbie’s mouth were “do you need a place to stay?”

We took them up on their offer and they brought us to their garage which had three beds and bill’s collection of titanium and carbon fiber bikes. Bill shared some beers with us and we got Debbie to hit the weed after which she got real funny and really into Tyler’s tattoos. She even took me upstairs to show me her jewelry making stuff and on the walk back downstairs she told me “sometimes I think I’m not from here.” Debbie was from Iowa she wasn’t talking about Steamboat, she was talking about earth. Alien Fam.

I was trying to make it down to Breckinridge quickly to meet up with my friend Matt, who was camping north of there. We had already had a big day out of steamboat and I wanted to make it a bunch more miles. Most of the guys were tired but santo agreed to join me in some night riding. We took off next to the colorado river and rode for hours, at one point we hit this downhill that was just a straight line as far as our lights could shine. It just sped up faster and faster with no end in sight, we were screaming laughing into the void speeding up an up and up. We missed some awesome views I guess but that was one of the most surreal experiences of the whole ride. We rode til 4 AM or so and woke up and got to Breck to eat Matt’s car camping dinner which was awesome compared to our bike dinners.

The very last day we all rode together we were making our own route in from Cuba New Mexico into Albuquerque. We didn’t want to ride the highway so we chose a route through the desert that looked like it would work on a map. We camped by a rock that looks like a boob with a nipple and started our last day off into the sand.

The goat heads hit hard and early. Flats were happening left and right and I was the only one who still had sealant in my tires. The tone of frustration was getting higher and rougher and then the fences in the road started showing up. We hopped a couple and then I rolled up on all four guys looking at a 20 foot tall fence with barbed wire at the top and the desert was driving them all mad and they wanted to find a way through it. We found a way around that and made it to a road but at this point Tyler has patched his tube like 12 times and he keeps getting more flats. Jack got another and after we get inside the city a little they tell us to go ahead to the single hotel room we have reserved for the five of us. We oblige and get all checked in and cleaned up before we hear anything from Jack and Tyler. We finally five them a call and it turns out they’re right around the corner sloppy drunk off peppermint schnapps sitting on a curb in the Denny’s parking lot. Both tires on both their bikes still flat, they had walked across Albuquerque getting wasted! We all ate at dennys and then went back to the hotel where Jack shaved a racing stripe down his chest. We spent the next day bombing around Albuquerque ignoring traffic laws and we all said goodbye at the train station the following morning.

They were all headed home by various means and I had a plan to finish the ride to mexico, though not by the official tour divide route. It was all desert and pavement now so I made the call to do long rides in the night to avoid the sun and the traffic. I stopped with some friends in Ruidoso and then took off on the last stretch into El Paso. Somewhere outside Alamogordo as the sun was going down I put a handful of mushrooms in my mouth and rode off into the desert. I pedaled all night long, at some point in my headlight an African Oryx popped up in front of me and I thought I was losing it! Turns out there’s a bunch of them out there. I continued, tripping, until I took a nap between the highway and the railroad tracks and then made it into El Paso for a breakfast burrito as the sun was rising. The Amtrak carried me off later that afternoon and that was that. (Sort of)

The ride contained so many more moments than these, bonding experiences both good and bad, rough days and great ones. Mountain Vistas and beautiful rocks and streams and trees, and Saddle sores and sore hands and sore legs and sore everything else. Afterwards we all made big life changes towards what we truly wanted out of life whether it was professional or romantic, or anything else important. When you have the time to think, it counts.

Is the divide for everybody? No. Was it for us? Yes. Can you smoke a joint at the top of every mountain pass? I’m not sure, but I did my best to and it worked. Bikepacking is only as fun as you make it. Get out there and enjoy yourself.

#cycling #tourdivide #bikepacking

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yaphankwines · 5 months ago

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cinimon01 · 6 months ago

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Another Mothers Day without a mother or children.

Sunday May 12th 2024

Mothers day is always hard now we are older. We miss our mums in heaven and miss our children in Australia. But thanks to the technology of Star link, we are able to all catch up via video link and have a family catch up face to face. All of our fruit cakes looked wonderful and I just want to hug them all. I wish I could have a link up to my mum as well. There is so much I would like to tell her.😢

In the morning as we still had the car we drove to Opua to do some washing and we went to brunch.

On this day we decided to get the things done to the boat that were bothering us most. Mainly the batteries. Our batteries are AGM and 4 years old. They do not provide enough energy for our boat any longer and some days if there is not much sun to power up with solar, we have to start the generator to get things going. So that was one thing, then we thought about the freezer situation and decided to replace the inefficient Engel freezer and get a larger, quieter draw freezer. So these things decided we felt better about staying on the boat in New Zealand for the next 10 months.

Sun rise on mothers day.

13th May 2024.

We were keeping the car for a few days as Neil our long time friend from Shell was coming to stay so we had to get to Whangarei airport to pick him up. So we drove the Opua and left the car there and walked, yes walked 2 hours back around the coast track to Paihia. It was beautiful, a bit challenging but a lovely walk. I tried out my new knee guard and it worked a treat. I made the distance up hill and down without as much pain.

14th May 2024.

This was always going to be a big day. First tidy and clean the boat as we were having a visitor. Then motor to Opua and dock in berth H10. Time for a quick shower and jump in the car and rive to Whangarei. Went to Pack and Save to provision for the week, as its the best and cheapest supermarket I have found in NZ, then off to collect Neil. We arrived back to the boat at 9.45pm, had a few welcome aboard Mai Tai's and chat before we went to sleep.

15th May 2024,

Today Neil and David fixed a few things and we sorted a few problems that needed a third opinion. Then in the evening we were invited to Olliy's boat. A 60meter cat he works on and is about to sail to Tonga. We went aboard as they were provisioning and I couldnt believe the amount of food for 5 people needed for a two week passage. But I was told that they were planning 4 weeks before actually going to a shop. So the amount of beer may last?

17th May 2024

Yoga in the morning with the lovely ladies in Opua, then out into the bay where we managed to get the sails up for an hour or so before the wind died completely. Motored back to Russell for Davids stitches to be removed and I needed an afternoon nap, or as Neil calls it a SCAN. (Senior Citizens Afternoon Nap).

18th May 2024

Off into the bay, we sailed for a while then found a great fishing spot. (Same spot I caught the snapper). I caught a king fish and Neil caught 2 snapper. Just legal length. Yummy dinner and stayed in Te Hue Bay overnight.

19th May 2024

Neil had to fly home from Whangarei on Thursday the 23rd, so we thought we would sail there and stay in the Marina for a few days and see what it was like. We were told it was a lovely friendly Marina and the shops were just across the road. The weather checked in Ok but not great and we thought it would be good experience for us. So we started out with a man over board drill and practiced a figure of 8 to pick up Wilson, our orange fender. We picked him up each time but I think he had hypothermia by the end of it. The we started towards the hole in the rock which is open to the sea and on the way to Whangarei. As soon as we turned the corner to round the rock we were hit with 2m waves and a huge swell. Neil said it wasn't that bad, but we were travelling against the wind and the boat was shaking and rolling all over the place. It was a messy ocean with waves and swell mashing together. Not a comfortable ride at all. After about 3 hours of wave bashing we pulled into Bland Bay for the night. I was not as protected from the southerly as we thought so we rocked all night. I cooked a quick spaghetti bolognaise for dinner and we were all exhausted.

20th May 2024.

A decision was made to go back to The Bay of Islands as the weather was worse than yesterday. So we again faced the huge seas up the coast toward the hole in the rock, but this time the wind was behind us and we surfed most of the way. There was a rouge wave that hit our starboard windows and shook the boat, toppling a few things, but other than that it was better than yesterday. We pulled into Opunga Cove and all was quiet and calm. So I cooked the lamb roast we planned for last night and it was delicious. There is a unique feeling of cooking and eating something so yummy and soothing after a rough day, in the middle of now where, surrounded by water and not a sole in sight that makes this a special moment. And then appeared a rainbow.

21st May 2024,

Went sailing again this morning. Neil imparting some knowledge on trimming sails and getting a feeling for the wind has been soooo valuable. Pulled into Motuarohia Island where I walked to the top of the hill, fantastic look out and then had a picnic on the beach. Finished the day with some fishing and met Colin the Cormorant. He stole my bait and then Neils bait. So we motored away from him to another sport, but he followed us for quite a distance. It was quite funny. Then back to Russell where we went ashore for a pub feed and then back to the boat for a sleep.

22nd May 2024,

Caught the ferry to Paihia then drove to Whangarei. After some house keeping, Bunnings, plumbing shop, Warehouse and ordering of some Mai Tai shirts, we had the best Thai meal and said farewell to Neil who stayed at the Grand Hotel for the night before his 6am flight. Then David and I drove back to Russell where I saw our first kiwi on the road between the car ferry and the town. He scooted across the road so fast. There are quite a few signs announcing that the live in the area and I'm always worried I would hit one.

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kentavewine · 7 months ago

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Top-Shelf Spirits: Looking for a specific spirit for a unique cocktail or a special occasion? Their knowledgeable staff can guide you through their extensive collection of premium liquors, ensuring you find the perfect ingredient for your next masterpiece.

Your Guide to Brooklyn's Beverage Bounty

Kent Wines and Liquors goes beyond just offering a great selection:

Knowledgeable Staff: Their friendly and passionate staff is well-versed in both local and international beverages. Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations on Brooklyn Wineries favorites or seek help navigating their extensive global selection.

Local Events and Tastings: Keep an eye out for special events hosted by Kent Wines and Liquors, featuring meet-and-greets with local Brooklyn brewers and winemakers. These are perfect opportunities to learn about the local scene and discover new hidden gems.

Supporting Local, Savoring Quality

Choosing Brooklyn-made beverages from Kent Wines and Liquors isn't just about enjoying a delicious drink; it's about supporting the heart and soul of Brooklyn's growing craft beverage industry. With their curated selection, focus on local producers, and commitment to fostering a welcoming atmosphere, Kent Wines and Liquors is your gateway to experiencing the best that Brooklyn – and the world – has to offer. So, raise a glass to local flavor and embark on a delightful journey through Brooklyn's craft beverage scene at Kent Wines and Liquors!

For More Details Kentavewines

☎️ Phone: (929) 337–6363 📬 Mail: [email protected] 💻 Website: kentavewines.com 📍 Address: 420 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249

0 notes

offthefieldsmau · 1 year ago

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⚽ 2.135

“It’s a bicycle kick,” Pete smirks as the camera zooms in on the players celebrating the goal, “and it’s a move championed by none other than—”

“Blackbeard scores again, with New Zealand taking the lead 2-1!” The announcer over the phone’s dingy speaker screams.

“Edward Teach.” Pete keeps his phone up to watch the replay. The self-satisfied feeling at the audible gasps around them was sweet enough, but the utter horror and shock on Stede’s face at the big reveal was sweet, priceless icing, “Which is the exact reason why you should let him coach Alma the way he was today because he was trying to set her up—”

“For a bicycle kick?” Stede finished the sentence quietly, taking another small gulp of beer.

If Pete were a weaker man, he’d have eased off the gas pedal and put on the kid gloves with Stede. But he knew, after many years of friendship, that sometimes Stede needed that firm push back into reality.

However, Pete got it to an extent — Stede was supposed to be Team Dad and he couldn’t even tell what was going on in the game half the time. Wanting to support your kids in all the things that excited them could be daunting, especially when their interests weren’t something you were familiar with.

This is why Lucius took Abby to see musicals and Pete took Benny rock collecting.

“For the bicycle kick.” Pete confirmed, he put his phone back into his pocket. Turning to Stede, his demeanor gentled to an energy not half as intense as before, “He is trying to get this team into shape. Did I expect to see Alma try a professional move in game one? No, but that just goes to show that Ed is—”

“Still putting them in danger? You saw the way he fell straight onto his back there, Pete, he could have—”

“Stede!” Pete’s tone was harsh, “If there was a threat to the kids’ safety, don’t you think we would have brought something up to you? We weren’t worried about their safety—”

“You—” Stede shook his head slightly, “you weren’t worried? Meaning…”

General murmurs to the tune of “oh fuck” surrounded the huddled up group.

“...you knew. That he was coaching like that. You knew the whole time?” Stede started to rev the engine of an outburst and Pete wanted to immediately run away, lest he be the target of such an attack.

Lucky for him, his husband was nearby, “Stede, honey, listen to me—” Lucius tried to placate him.

“You knew that he was coaching like that and yet you didn’t tell me?” Accused Stede. He looked like a flame catching, like the kindling could be any single word that would set him ablaze and everyone in the four walls of the pizza place would catch fire.

“It was only until we could explain!” Lucius moved closer, like he was approaching a wild animal, “We were going to tell you—”

“When?!” Stede’s voice, thankfully, lowered to an angry hiss, “When were you going to tell me!? After the season is over?!”

“During book club!” Pete exclaimed, exasperated, “We needed to buy some time!”

The only sound in their immediate vicinity was the jingle of the door and the sound of the arcade games. Their fellowship fell deadly silent.

Looking at the faces of each of his friends, Stede felt five individual pops of reality hit him one-by-one (the realization inflating and inflating, only to explode when it finally connected in his brain) as the expressions changed: from Lucius to Jim, all the way around the circle until his eyes landed back on Pete’s look of embarrassment. The worst possible conclusion dawned on him.

“You— you—” Stede stammered, “let me— let me get this straight,” he exhaled, “you planned a book club to keep me from watching my daughter's soccer practice because you thought I was, well— I was, what, going to lose my shit!?”

“Well, you did.” Jim mumbled behind Stede. “Well, whatever you planned to avoid that,” he spat, “didn’t work, now did it!?” He whirled back around to Lucius, standing in frustration, “You lied to me for weeks to protect someone you barely knew!? Instead of talking to me!?”

#off the field #off the field smau #otf smau #ofmd smau #chapter two #prose

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doomedandstoned · 2 years ago

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New Zealand Doom-Groove Crew INFINITY RITUAL Drop New Music Video

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Here's an act that'll really light your fire. Hailing from New Plymouth, New Zealand, this is INFINITY RITUAL, a band whose motto is "Doom, Groove, Volume." Dealing mean stoner riffs is the name of the game for their extended play debut -- four gritty, motoriffic tracks with an infectious charge full-steam ahead and take no prisoners along the way kind of vibe.

Today, we're revisiting the record, simply titled 'EP' (2022), with a fresh look at the third track, "Underneath." The band takes us to the damp, dark halls of prison for the music video, performing a song that's at least as dank as the concrete and steel bars that surround us.

"I see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's my father. He's smiling at me. I don't really understand....is this the end?" singer and guitarist Adam Colless wonders aloud. The band answers with a fury of complex rhythms and chunky slabs of riffage that had me thinking of Coal Chamber and Mudvayne at junctures. The song is one hell of a headbanger, releasing pent up angst and aggression within a framework of despair and metaphysical mystery.

Give ear...

WATCH & LISTEN: Infinity Ritual - "Underneath"

SOME BUZZ

Fans of heavy music have a new band to keep an eye on: Taranaki's Infinity Ritual. It's hard to pin down their sound exactly, but the band says they'd describe it as a groove metal wall of noise, with solid doses of rock, doom and stoner rock. And they already have their own beer.

Infinity Ritual released their debut self-titled EP in July, and – well-deserved, but much to their surprise – it reached No. 17 in the Top 40 Albums Chart and No. 5 in the NZ Albums Chart.

Drummer Mark Thomas told The Taranaki Daily News, “It was quite amazing to see us at number 5 on the New Zealand chart, but to be number 17 on the general top 40 was something I didn't expect.”

Mark Thomas may be familiar to music fans via his passion for vinyl He currently owns Vinyl Countdown in New Plymouth, and used to own Real Groovy Wellington. He has a long history with record stores, and calls record collecting "a really healthy addiction."

EP by Infinity Ritual

In other very cool news, Three Sisters Brewery has just released a beer named after the band, the Infinity Ritual Magic 8 West Coast IPA. They say, "To celebrate this collaboration with doom metal band Infinity Ritual we wanted to brew a beer that tasted like drinking a bitter pine tree. Mission accomplished, fuel for the mosh pit..."

Infinity Ritual has just completed a tour of the North Island, impressing people at each show. Muzic.net.nz's Kev Rowland caught their Auckland show at Ding Dong Lounge (17 December 2022) , saying, "This is a band I definitely want to see again, and anyone into this style of metal needs to seek them out."

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

#D&S Debuts #Infinity Ritual #New Plymouth #Taranaki #New Zealand #doom metal #groove metal #stoner metal #music video #D&S Reviews #Doomed and Stoned

0 notes

brookston · 2 years ago

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Holidays 4.11

Holidays

Aliyah Day (Israel)

Barbershop Quartet Day

Battle of Rivas Anniversary Day (Costa Rica)

Buchenwald Liberation Day

Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day

Dina Ali Day

Dog Therapy Appreciation Day

Donkey Kong Day

8-Track Tape Day [also 9.15]

Ex-Muslim Day of Visibility

Festival of Unmediated Play

411 Day

Ghodejatra (Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

Global Youth Service Day begins (until 13th)

Good Deeds Day

International Day for Maternal Health & Rights

International Day of Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps

International Louie Louie Day

Juan Santamaria Day (Costa Rica)

Laotian New Year

Liberation Day (Uganda)

Love My School Day

M&M Crisis in Space Day

Milk Day

Most Boring Day

National Board Game Day

National Clean Up Your Pantry Day

National Day of the Sea (Italy)

National James Day

National Marketing Operations Appreciation Day

National Pet Day

National Portfolio Day

Safe Motherhood Day (India)

Submarine Day [also 3.17]

Teach Your Children To Save Day

World Breathing Day

World Parkinson's Disease Day

Write Your Memoirs Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cheese Fondue Day

King Gambrinus Day

National Poutine Day (Canada)

National Ranch Water Day

2nd Tuesday in April

Be Kind to Lawyers Day [2nd Tuesday]

Identity Management Day [2nd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Quixotica (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Slitronia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Southland Province Day (New Zealand)

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Vernum XI (Pagan)

Aid, Abbot in Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Annual $30 Donation Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Antipas of Pergamum (Greek Orthodox Church)

Aristarchus (Positivist; Saint)

Cashier Anal Sex Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Cheese Fondue Day (Pastafarian)

Easter Tuesday (Australia, Cyprus, Nauru) [Tuesday after Easter]

Gambrinus (Christian; Saint) [beer, brewers] *

Gemma Galgani (Christian; Saint)

Godeberta (Christian; Saint)

Guthlac of Crowland (or Croyland; Christian; Saint)

George Selwyn (Anglicanism)

James-Baptiste Isabey (Artology)

Leo the Great, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Maccai (Christian; Saint)

Phoebe Furchester-Fuzz (Muppetism)

Stanislaus of Szczepanów (Christian; Saint)

Terribly Sensible Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [8 of 24]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [15 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 101 [26 of 72]

Premieres

Anger Management (Film; 2003)

Be-Bop-a-Lula, recorded by Gene Vincent (Song; 1956)

Don’t Trust the B—— in Apartment 23 (TV Series; 2012)

Follow That Dream (Film; 1962)

For Your Eyes Only, by Ian Fleming (Short Story Collection; 1959) [James Bond #8]

Grosse Point Blank (Film; 1997)

Jailbird, by Kurt Vonnegut (Novel; 1980)

Josie and the Pussycats (Film; 2001)

Joey Street, by Frances Parkinson Keyes (Novel; 1951)

Marty (Film; 1955)

My Friend Irma (Radio Series; 1947)

Nick Carter, Master Detective (Radio Series; 1943)

Off Beat (Film; 1986)

Oops!… I Did It Again, by Britney Spears (Song; 2000)

The Pink Panther (Film; 1964)

Rio 2 (Animated Film; 2014)

Riscio (a.k.a. The Double Take), by Ian Fleming (James Bond Short Story; 1960)

The Salzburg Connection, by Helen MacInnes (Novel; 1969)

Singin’ in the Rain (Film; 1952)

St. Matthew Passion, by Johann Sebastian Bach (Oratorio; 1727)

Strangers in the Night, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1966)

Supersonic, by Oasis (Song; 1994)

This Note’s For You, by Neil Young (Album; 1988)

Tokyo Revengers (Anime TV Series; 2021)

Today’s Name Days

Hildebrand, Stanislaus (Austria)

Filip, Izak, Stana, Stanislav (Croatia)

Izabela (Czech Republic)

Leo (Denmark)

Hurme, Hurmi, Urmi (Estonia)

Minea, Minka, Verna (Finland)

Stanislas (France)

Hildebrand, Reiner, Stanislaus (Germany)

Antipas (Greece)

Leó, Szaniszló (Hungary)

Gemma, Isacco, Stanislao (Italy)

Hermanis, Ira, Irida, Vilmars (Latvia)

Daugailė, Leonas, Vykintas (Lithuania)

Ulf, Ylva (Norway)

Filip, Herman, Jaromir, Leon, Marek (Poland)

Antipa, Calinic, Farmutie (Romania)

Július (Slovakia)

Estanislao, Gema, Gemma, Isaac (Spain)

Ulf, Ylva (Sweden)

Yaromyr (Ukraine)

Alger, Algernon, Ari, Ariel, Arielle, Arion, Leo, Leon, Leonel, Leona, Leontine, Lionel (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 101 of 2024; 264 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 15 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 24 of 28]

Chinese: Second Month 2 (Gui-Mao), Day 21 (Ji-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Nisan 5783

Islamic: 20 Ramadan 1444

J Cal: 10 Aqua; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 29 March 2023

Moon: 69%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 17 Archimedes (4th Month) [Aristarchus]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 23 of 90)

Zodiac: Aries (Day 22 of 30)

#calendar #Holidays

0 notes

brookstonalmanac · 2 years ago

Text

Holidays 4.11

Holidays

Aliyah Day (Israel)

Barbershop Quartet Day

Battle of Rivas Anniversary Day (Costa Rica)

Buchenwald Liberation Day

Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day

Dina Ali Day

Dog Therapy Appreciation Day

Donkey Kong Day

8-Track Tape Day [also 9.15]

Ex-Muslim Day of Visibility

Festival of Unmediated Play

411 Day

Ghodejatra (Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

Global Youth Service Day begins (until 13th)

Good Deeds Day

International Day for Maternal Health & Rights

International Day of Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps

International Louie Louie Day

Juan Santamaria Day (Costa Rica)

Laotian New Year

Liberation Day (Uganda)

Love My School Day

M&M Crisis in Space Day

Milk Day

Most Boring Day

National Board Game Day

National Clean Up Your Pantry Day

National Day of the Sea (Italy)

National James Day

National Marketing Operations Appreciation Day

National Pet Day

National Portfolio Day

Safe Motherhood Day (India)

Submarine Day [also 3.17]

Teach Your Children To Save Day

World Breathing Day

World Parkinson's Disease Day

Write Your Memoirs Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cheese Fondue Day

King Gambrinus Day

National Poutine Day (Canada)

National Ranch Water Day

2nd Tuesday in April

Be Kind to Lawyers Day [2nd Tuesday]

Identity Management Day [2nd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Quixotica (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Slitronia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Southland Province Day (New Zealand)

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Vernum XI (Pagan)

Aid, Abbot in Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Annual $30 Donation Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Antipas of Pergamum (Greek Orthodox Church)

Aristarchus (Positivist; Saint)

Cashier Anal Sex Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Cheese Fondue Day (Pastafarian)

Easter Tuesday (Australia, Cyprus, Nauru) [Tuesday after Easter]

Gambrinus (Christian; Saint) [beer, brewers] *

Gemma Galgani (Christian; Saint)

Godeberta (Christian; Saint)

Guthlac of Crowland (or Croyland; Christian; Saint)

George Selwyn (Anglicanism)

James-Baptiste Isabey (Artology)

Leo the Great, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Maccai (Christian; Saint)

Phoebe Furchester-Fuzz (Muppetism)

Stanislaus of Szczepanów (Christian; Saint)

Terribly Sensible Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [8 of 24]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [15 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 101 [26 of 72]

Premieres

Anger Management (Film; 2003)

Be-Bop-a-Lula, recorded by Gene Vincent (Song; 1956)

Don’t Trust the B—— in Apartment 23 (TV Series; 2012)

Follow That Dream (Film; 1962)

For Your Eyes Only, by Ian Fleming (Short Story Collection; 1959) [James Bond #8]

Grosse Point Blank (Film; 1997)

Jailbird, by Kurt Vonnegut (Novel; 1980)

Josie and the Pussycats (Film; 2001)

Joey Street, by Frances Parkinson Keyes (Novel; 1951)

Marty (Film; 1955)

My Friend Irma (Radio Series; 1947)

Nick Carter, Master Detective (Radio Series; 1943)

Off Beat (Film; 1986)

Oops!… I Did It Again, by Britney Spears (Song; 2000)

The Pink Panther (Film; 1964)

Rio 2 (Animated Film; 2014)

Riscio (a.k.a. The Double Take), by Ian Fleming (James Bond Short Story; 1960)

The Salzburg Connection, by Helen MacInnes (Novel; 1969)

Singin’ in the Rain (Film; 1952)

St. Matthew Passion, by Johann Sebastian Bach (Oratorio; 1727)

Strangers in the Night, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1966)

Supersonic, by Oasis (Song; 1994)

This Note’s For You, by Neil Young (Album; 1988)

Tokyo Revengers (Anime TV Series; 2021)

Today’s Name Days

Hildebrand, Stanislaus (Austria)

Filip, Izak, Stana, Stanislav (Croatia)

Izabela (Czech Republic)

Leo (Denmark)

Hurme, Hurmi, Urmi (Estonia)

Minea, Minka, Verna (Finland)

Stanislas (France)

Hildebrand, Reiner, Stanislaus (Germany)

Antipas (Greece)

Leó, Szaniszló (Hungary)

Gemma, Isacco, Stanislao (Italy)

Hermanis, Ira, Irida, Vilmars (Latvia)

Daugailė, Leonas, Vykintas (Lithuania)

Ulf, Ylva (Norway)

Filip, Herman, Jaromir, Leon, Marek (Poland)

Antipa, Calinic, Farmutie (Romania)

Július (Slovakia)

Estanislao, Gema, Gemma, Isaac (Spain)

Ulf, Ylva (Sweden)

Yaromyr (Ukraine)

Alger, Algernon, Ari, Ariel, Arielle, Arion, Leo, Leon, Leonel, Leona, Leontine, Lionel (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 101 of 2024; 264 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 15 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 24 of 28]

Chinese: Second Month 2 (Gui-Mao), Day 21 (Ji-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Nisan 5783

Islamic: 20 Ramadan 1444

J Cal: 10 Aqua; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 29 March 2023

Moon: 69%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 17 Archimedes (4th Month) [Aristarchus]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 23 of 90)

Zodiac: Aries (Day 22 of 30)

#Holidays

1 note · View note

menuandprice · 2 years ago

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Gannon’s Restaurant – Wailea, Maui, HI

Happy Hour at Gannon’s Restaurant – Wailea, Maui HI

Updated 2/17/2023 by the Maui Happy Hours team

Happy Hour at The Red Bar at Gannon’s 3pm-5pm Tuesday-Saturday

Happy Hour Makai Food $16 - BEV’S CRAB DIP – House-Made Island and Corn Chip Mix - SHRIMP COCKTAIL (GF) – Sambal Cocktail Sauce - MAUI-STYLE AHI POKE BOWL (GF) – Rice, Avocado, Cucumber, Sweet Onion, Tobiko, Sweet Soy - KUNG PAO CALAMARI – Bell Peppers, Celery, Onions, Ginger-Garlic Hoisin Sauce, Scallions, Cashews Happy Hour Mauka Food $14 - CRISPY BRUSSELS (V) – White Balsamic Vinaigrette, Pepitas, Dried Cranberries, Shaved Pecorino - GATHER BURGER – Wagyu Beef, Shaved Cabbage, Roasted Mushrooms, Roasted Red Onions, Smoked Gouda, Chile de Arbol Aioli & Salsa Verde (Spicy), French Fries - GOLFER’S DOG – Onions, Pickled Vegetables, Sesame Seed Bun, French Fries - BBQ PORK RIBS – Asian Slaw, Pineapple Salsa, Bacon Crumble Happy Hour Salads $8 - CAPRESE (GF) – Pistachio Pesto, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Arugula, Balsamic Reduction - GREEN SALAD – Mixed Greens, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber, Onion, Feta, Fried Onion Strings, White Vinaigrette Happy Hour Sides $8 - LOADED TATER TOTS – Melted Cheddar-Jack Cheese, Harissa Aioli, Bacon, Scallions - CRISPY MAUI ONION RINGS (V) – Herb Buttermilk Dressing Happy Hour Gannon’s Signature Cocktails $10 - CALIENTE WEY – Taneo Jalapeno Tequila, House-Made Blackberry Limeade - PIÑA ON THE ROCKS – Rum Haven Coconut Rum, Coconut Cream, Pineapple and Lime Juice, and a Dash of Angostura Bitters - HAPA MAI TAI – Kula Light and Dark Rums a Perfect Blend of Orgeat, Lime, Pineapple Juice, and Orange Curacao, Pernod Rinse, Topped with a Delicious Honey Lilikoi Foam Happy Hour Classic Cocktails $8 - MARGARITAS – Espolon Reposado Tequila, Triple Sec, Fresh Lime Juice. Flavors: Classic, Strawberry, Lilikoi, or Mango - DAIQUIRIS – Kula Light Rum, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup. Flavors: Classic, Strawberry, Lilikoi or Mango - BLOODY MARY – New Amsterdam Vodka, House Bloody Mary Mix Happy Hour Wine List $8 - La Marca Prosecco, Veneto, Italy - La Vielle Ferme Rose, Orange, France - Cambria Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California - Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand - Gascón Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina - Sterling Vineyards ‘Vintners Collection’ Cabernet Sauvignon, California Happy Hour Draft Beers $5 - Coors Light - Maui Brew Co Bikini Blonde - Maui Brew Co Big Swell IPA - Kohola Brewery Lokahi Pilsner - Lahaina Haze Hazy IPA - Big Wave Golden Ale - Mango Cart Wheat Ale —————————— Address: 100 Wailea Golf Club Dr, Wailea, HI 96753 Phone: (808) 875-8080 Website

About Gannon’s Restaurant

Voted one of the Top 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in America, Gannon’s Restaurant in Wailea is a celebration of the classic dishes for which Chef Beverly Gannon is best known from her award-winning Maui restaurants (Hali’imaile General Store and the former Joe’s Bar & Grill) and contemporary dishes inspired by the fresh local ingredients of Hawaii. The outdoor lanai features panoramic ocean views and spectacular sunsets and The Red Bar is always a lively gathering spot featuring an extended Happy Hour and live music on the weekends. Popular items at Gannon’s Restaurant include their Prawn Stuffed Crab Cakes, Cashew Crusted Mahi Mahi, Short Ribs, Loco Moco, and more.

According to these Gannon’s Maui patrons

“Happy Hour is great!! Food is delicious, had Brussel Sprouts, crab dip and Wagyu burger. Outside atmosphere and view is unbeatable.” Brad H., February 2023 “Gannon’s was recommended to us. And I’d say it was the best dining experience on our trip, hands down. Fantastic food, great drinks, attentive and friendly staff. And of course the beautiful setting. Definitely coming back.” Chris G., February 2023 “We had a large group that took some time to coordinate and Gannons was not only accommodating but flexible with us as the group increased in size. Everyone was kind and helpful from the first phone call to our last sip of wine as we departed, and you toss in great tasting food, generous portion sizes, a beautiful sunset and a place that welcomed kids, and you have achieved five stars! Thanks especially to Sidney and Cara for all of your help!” Bree L., February 2023 “Excellent sunset dinner with beautiful views of the ocean. This restaurant is located within Wailea Golf Club, which is a beautiful property overall. Friendly and attentive service from our server Cody throughout the evening along with the delicious food made for a nice memorable evening. Food quality and taste were good, as expected for a restaurant of this caliber – bbq pork ribs with slaw & pineapple salsa, Korean marinated strip loin with fried rice and cucumber pineapple salad, classic iceberg wedge salad. Nice Asian flavors fused into the steak and ribs. We enjoyed the dinner! Their famous coconut roulade dessert was ok- nice crumb on the cake and cream filling was good, but toasted coconut didn’t come through only plain coconut flavor. Great cocktail menu, very creative selections. Cocktails were excellent, strong, especially Mr.Tuttle and Strawberry Fizz.” Chris D., January 2023 “Gannons is an absolutely beautiful restaurant with incredible views! Perfect place to watch the sunset while you sip on Mai Tais and dine on Ahi Poke. Happy Hour options are awesome and a great price!” Amelia S., January 2023 “The concierge at our villas recommended Gannon’s for a family member’s special birthday dinner. We had delicious appetizers, main dishes, and special drinks to celebrate and enjoyed a fabulous sunset, too. Highly recommend Gannon’s.” Julie C., June 2021 Open daily, Gannon’s Restaurant is the perfect spot in Wailea for those looking for something unique and off-the-beaten-tourist-path. Happy hour at Gannon’s in Wailea takes place from 3pm-5pm Tuesday through Saturday in The Red Bar and features discounted beer, wine, cocktails, and appetizers.

Want to make a comment or ask a question? Are you a fan of Gannons’s Restaurant? Tell us in the comments below.

Download the Maui Happy Hours App (Free)

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The post Gannon’s Restaurant – Wailea, Maui, HI appeared first on Maui Happy Hours. Read the full article

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kenovele · 2 years ago

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Bogs Blog 8

Sunday 1st January 2023

The week between Christmas and New years always seems to be a bit of a blur, days mix into each other, all part of the endless summer period in New Zealand. Every day the weather has been good, we have been blessed with sunshine, blue skies, flat water and a good rotation of friends stopping in to say hi. The beer fridge is constantly restocked, the supply dwindling almost as fast as it can be refilled. The dishwasher is constantly on due to the varying number of people that we have at our lunches and dinners.

Our days are simple. We wake up, check the water to see if it is flat enough to have a ski, if not we have a walk or run with Sparrow, then a big breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade treats. Our mornings are full of simple pleasures, lounging on the deck, bird watching, reading our books, drawing, baking carrot cakes, just taking life at an easier pace. We then break for lunch, another big affair, with plenty of people, the big Christmas ham which is slowly being carved down to the bone. Generally, we make do with what we have, and share it between how ever many mouths seem to be milling around our bach for the day. The biggest number we have had is 14 people, but it is generally 8 or 10 of us, so still a decent amount for our small family. After lunch, the dishwasher gets restacked, and turned on again before we go back to our afternoon’s activities, either water sports, or reading. Then dinner, a game of some sort (much to my chagrin), then bed with our books, repeat. Benoit and I have tried to stay active as much as we can, we go for swims out to the 200m buoy, as well as swimming out there, we take Jamie’s surfboard out to train our shoulders for when we eventually get to the beach and go surfing. We have been foraging for native trees as we slowly build up our collection of seedlings, and although I am not sure if they will grow or not, we are both enjoying the process of finding trees that we like and planting the seedlings/cuttings. We have even taken the kitesurf out once, although the wind wasn’t really good enough, we were both super keen to give it a try. Benoit had enough wind to go down wind, but not enough to go upwind. After I sat on the jetty with the binoculars trying to find him, my neighbour kindly offered to take me out on the boat for a rescue mission. Eventually we scouted him out walking home, apparently he managed to land in a near by bay, fold up the kite and decided to walk back, we picked him up and headed home. Much to my relief.

I know that New Years is generally a time for reflection, and resolutions, but honestly, after last night, my brain can only really cope with recounting what we did and I am doing my best to not repeat myself and use a few different words out of my vocabulary. So last night. Ouch, it hurts my head just thinking about it to be honest, but at the same time it was wonderful. Mum and Dad headed over to their good friend’s house for dinner and left Gran and Deeda, Jo and Nico (my aunt and uncle), Jamie and Holly and myself and Benoit at home for the evening. The eight of us headed over to our neighbour’s house for dinner. Each year one of our neighbours puts on a big pig on the spit for the New Year’s Eve dinner, all we have to do is confirm our attendance, and they put on the food. It is a nice way to be a bit social with the Tarawera community as well as have a good dinner before the night of drinking commences. Dinner was lovely, the roasted pig was delicious, and they made enough to feed an army. Afterwards we headed back to our lawn for the New Year count down. We all set ourselves up on the lawn to enjoy the last of the sunshine before we headed back up onto the deck as the winds picked up and it was significantly colder than normal. It was a chilly night so before long we were all covered in blankets and waiting for the New Year to hurry up and arrive. The fireworks, thankfully, were early this year, because there are so many grandchildren, it was decided that the fireworks this year would go off at 9.15pm. Amazingly, as the fireworks were about to go off, the wind died off and we were mesmerised by the beautiful display. Honestly it is a sight to behold. For 30 minutes we had our eyes to the sky as it erupted above us. It is a pretty incredibly display and I am so pleased that I finally got to share it with Benoit. The display is a commercial one, so very impressive, you feel that reverberations right into your soul of the big fireworks shake the deck as they shoot up into the air, it really is a full body experience. The vibrations you feel in your chest as they explode. The smell of explosives. The explosion of colour in the eyes. There is something significant of the New Year fireworks at the lake and it was nice to be able to see them again. This way of bringing in the New Year has been a tradition for me ever since I was young and it was good to do it again and even better, to be able to share it with Benoit. After the early fireworks, Gran and Deeda went to bed. Mum and Dad came home from their friend’s house and we all stayed up together. We got the music going and all danced on the deck. After counting down into the New Year, we all hugged and had bubbles before going for a midnight swim. A good way to refresh and hopefully wash off a bit of the hangover awaiting us in a few hours’ time.

It has been a big year for us, full of adventures, changes, and projects, and 2023 is bound to be more of the same. Not surprisingly for those who know me, but we have a list, full of exciting goals that we have for our year ahead, and although we won’t be able to share them in person with you, I do hope to be able to share our progress with you through our blogs. All our love, Kate and Bog xxx

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cheapflightspicks · 2 years ago

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How to get Cheap Flights from New York to Chicago

New York to Chicago

Despite having approximately 200 flights booked daily, New York to Chicago is still the 12th most popular destination for travellers leaving New York. Chicago is another city with a significant hub airport, in this instance O'Hare, that gets a lot of transportation traffic, similar to Atlanta.

Nearly five times as many passengers fly into O'Hare from New York as fly into Midway, with 43% of passengers arriving via LaGuardia. However, if Chicago is your final goal, you might want to look into airfares to Midway, as they can be considerably less expensive and the airport is located closer to The Loop.

Any number of things may happen on a trip to Chicago. You might stay at the W Chicago Lakeshore and spend your time touring the adjacent Art Institute of Chicago's enormous art collection. Alternately, you might be uncultured and eat yourself some deep-dish pizza, watch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and drink some beer in Wrigleyville's sports bars.

How to reach Chicago from New York

The direct flight between New York and Chicago is one of the most popular flights in the United States. Over 636 flights depart every day, or 4,452 flights per week.

This route is served by:

United Carriers (77 daily flights)

American Airlines (70 daily flights),

Air New Zealand (68 daily flights)

Delta Airlines (55 daily flights)

Southwest Airlines (48 daily flights)

How long is the flight from Chicago to New York City?

Flying the 700 miles from New York City to Chicago will take you just under two hours.You should also factor in the time it takes to get to and from your gate, which will depend on the airport you select.

How frequently are flights between New York and Chicago?

There are an average of 636 (direct) flights every day between New York and Chicago, or 4,286 flights per week.

The cheapest way to fly to Chicago from New York

Users have discovered that departing on a Monday might be a financially advantageous choice. When compared to booking on days when demand is higher, you may save up to 19% on your travel.

It's essential to be prepared for future price changes while looking for a good offer. We advise booking at least 28 days in advance because doing so can result in savings of up to 23% on flights from New York to Chicago.

We offer alternatives for flights within the next two weeks, with the lowest ticket starting at $265, because waiting 28 days in advance may not be an option for everyone.

Expect to spend extra when making reservations in June due to a number of reasons.

Chicago travel in January may be a fantastic deal because of inexpensive airfares. January flight prices from New York to Chicago average around $242, but they may go as low as $117.

The early flight from New York to Chicago is usually the best option. By doing so, you could be able to travel for 6% less than you would normally pay if you flew in the afternoon.

Why visit Chicago?

In many respects, Chicago is the epitome of what makes a great international city: stunning architecture, delectable cuisine, world-class entertainment, and a long history of advancing technology, culture, and the arts. What more do you need when you consider its lovely lakeside setting and welcoming populace from a variety of backgrounds? Here are a few justifications for doing the trip:

Popular foods

Chicago is worth visiting not only to sample authentic loaded deep-dish pizza, but there is also a tonne of other delicious cuisine available. Other regional delicacies include Chicago-style hot dogs, caramel and cheese popcorn, dripping Italian beef sandwiches stuffed with sweet peppers and giardiniera, and numerous excellent restaurants and pubs.

Iconic sporting teams and events

The Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Fire, and Chicago Blackhawks are all based in this city. Any team representing this city may be found in any team sport. Chicago is a heaven for sports aficionados. Visitors may see any of the thrilling sports played every day in the city's numerous venues.

Renowned Museums

The only challenge with visiting Chicago for some of the top museums in the world is deciding which ones to go to. There is no incorrect decision, whether you want to visit the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex in the world at The Field Museum, the largest scientific museum in the Western Hemisphere at the Museum of Science and Industry, or the Chicago History Museum to learn more about the city itself.

Michigan Lake

Chicago is the city by the lake, as the neighbourhood band the Smashing Pumpkins once sang. Chicago seems to have a shoreline because of its location adjacent to one of the biggest lakes in the world, and in many respects, it does. In the summer, picnicking families of all ages, volleyball players of all ages, and boaters of all ages fill the parks, paths, and sandy beaches around lakes with bustle.

Musical tradition

Chicago has a rich musical past, having given birth to several prominent musical genres. Both "Chicago-style" Dixieland jazz and the Chicago blues of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon continue to enjoy enormous popularity. The Chicago Jazz Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival are annual events that take place at the city's jazz and blues clubs. In the 1980s, house music also began to take off in Chicago, where it was named after a nightclub called The Warehouse.

The tourism business is expanding very quickly as more and more attempts are made by the city to have Chicago pull several million additional tourists each year. More employment was created as a result of the tourist boom in the hospitality, dining, and even transportation sectors.

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omg-im-such-a-masochist · 2 years ago

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Jay White and ELP remind me of mean but playful frat brothers so could I request something with the both of them and the reader playing dirty truth or dare, ending in them sharing the reader? Love your writing, thank youuu😁

Let’s consider this a “Warm up to Halloweek” Part 2 😏. Thank you so much for the compliment and you’re welcome, love 😘💋

Tag: @theworldofotps , @writtingrose , @aerynscrichton , @daddyhausen , @damnnhausen , @starwithaheart, @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin , @sophiewolfheart-blog , @sultryfandoms , @new-zealand-chic , @crowleysqueenofhell , @thealliasylum , @legit9thlunaticwarrior , @baysexuality , @josiewrites , @seeingstarks , @sldghmmr , @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch , @whenimakeitshine1234 , @blaquekittycat

Sigma Kappa Lambda was the biggest and most popular fraternity of your university. Every guy wished to be a “brother” and every girl desired to date one of its members.

They were known for their good looks, amazing parties and enormous collection of trophies and medals. They won everything, from sports competition to the biggest fundraiser in the history of the university.

Their chaotic Halloween party always hosted hundreds of people and sometimes even a few professors could be seen sneaking inside the party every year.

You were sure you were the only one who never stepped a foot inside Sigma Kappa to enjoy a party until today.

To be honest you always preferred the company of books over people, but the earlier events pushed you to stand where you are right now, which is playing truth or dare with the two most desired athletes of Sigma: Jay and Riley.

You don't remember how you ended up in this position, you just know that they were the first ones to greet you when you came in and they haven’t left your side since then.

“C’mon geeky, it’s your turn” Riley pointed to the empty beer bottle on Jay’s bedroom floor.

You twisted the bottle and it stopped on Jay who smirked “Dare”

You thought for a while and came up with the first dumb idea that crossed your mind “I dare you to… lick the sole of my shoe”

“Really?” Jay chuckled “How old are we? Twelve?”

“What? Is a good dare”

“Of course it is! What will you dare us to do next? Drink toilet water?” Riley teased before taking a sip of his beer.

“So what do you want me to do? Make an 18+ kind of dare?” You teased back, already waiting for them to laugh along with you.

When they only stared at you with knowing smirks, the laugh died on your throat “I was joking, you know”

“But that’s a wonderful idea, nerdy” Jay crawled towards you until his face was mere inches apart from yours “I was kind of expecting that Riley would make such an offer not you, but you know what? Something tells me you’ll be a wonderful little surprise”

You gulped hard and instantly darted your tongue out to lick your dry lips. Jay’s gray eyes followed your tongue as it wetted the supple meat of your bottom lip before he asked in a whisper “Give me my dare, honeybee”

“I…I dare you to kiss me”

“That will be by far the easiest dare I’ve ever had” Was the last thing Jay said before his lips tasted yours in a deep, slow, sensual kiss that seemed to last forever until Riley spoke:

“Alright, it’s my turn now” His voice was an octave lower, with a hint of lust and envy in its timbre.

He didn’t even mind to twist the bottle, he simply smirked “I dare you to kiss me”

An unfamiliar courage took over you and you suddenly saw yourself kneeling in front of him. Since Riley was still sitting on the floor, that gave you a few inches of advantage and you decided to use that to straddle his hips.

Your hands cupped his bearded cheeks, feeling the soft beard caress your skin. Riley’s hands came to rest on your ass, kneading and stroking your clothed flesh.

Looking into the sky blue eyes, you darted your tongue out to give soft kitten licks on his bottom and upper lips.

Riley groaned and pulled you closer to his body “Stop teasing me, bunny”

“You look like the kind that enjoys some teasing” You smirked confidently

“Not when my cock is rock hard though”

Your lips immediately covered his in a burning kiss that made you lose control over yourself. A light tug on your scalp made you break the kiss to soon have your back pressed against Jay’s torso.

“You’re something else, aren’t you, little bee?” His hand tugged harder on your hair, making a soft moan escape your lips

“Looking so innocent and naïve but that’s just a façade, isn’t it? Because deep down, there’s not even an ounce of innocence in you” One of Riley’s hands cupped your breast as the other closed around your throat “Because if you were, you wouldn’t be offering yourself like a cheap slut for us”

“What’s the matter? I thought you two liked a cheap slut. Isn’t that what you’re used to after all?” You teased, which earned you a hard hair tug from Jay and a slap on the ass from Riley.

“And I thought that pretty little mouth was only good to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. I see that I was wrong” Jay whispered in your ear making you cackle “You have no idea of what this mouth can do”

“Oh really?” Riley smirked, “Why don’t you show us then, bunny?” His fingers caressed your bottom lip “Show us what that mouth and pussy can do”

The loud laugh that left your lips was wicked and didn’t resemble you at all as you dared both men “Make me”

#jay white fanfiction #jay white imagine #jay white x reader #switchblade jay white #jay white #el phantasmo x reader #elp fanfiction #elp imagine #elp x reader #el phantasmo imagine #masochist writes #masochist headcanons #njpw wrestling #njpw smut #njpw imagine

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patrickian · 3 years ago

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I got tagged for this so...

Nickname: Patch. It’s short for Patrick and I simply cannot stand anyone calling me Pat, so I forced this one on my friends.

Zodiac: Virgo. My mom is super into this stuff and could give you a full run down but it’s not my bag so this is all I remember.

Height: 5’3” Not short… compact.

Last movie I saw: Gunpowder Milkshake. I thought it was a fairly basic shoot ‘em up with the only twist being that it starred a bunch of women rather than a bunch of men. Nice visuals and threadbare plot.

Last thing I googled: not counting work related stuff (something about limitation periods & COVID) was something related to NHL contracts because I was trying to argue that a certain player was over paid.

Favourite Musician: Don’t have one. Not really at least.

Song stuck in my head: Deutschland by Rammstein. It’s the part thats kinda like call and response. Anyways… stuck like fucking glue for a few days now.

Other blogs: Nope. I do have a twitter… which I try to keep more professional.

Blogs following: Many. Surprising, not all Terror related.

Amount of sleep: 6 hrs give or take. Climb into bed around 9pm, go to sleep around 11, wake up around 5. Get out of bed around 7.

Lucky number: doesn’t matter

What am I wearing: today is work from home day so: grey t-shirt, khaki shorts. No socks. Yesterday I wore my navy suit, white shirt with grey check pattern and decided to skip the tie since I wasn’t meeting any clients.

Dream job: I wish my current job paid more. I work for a legal clinic that handles civil matters for low income people. For me that stuff like landlord/tenant issues, debt collectors, wills & estates, etc. I’m leaving it for a “regular firm” where I’ll handle divorces where people will argue over who gets the four fucking snowmobiles. It will pay the bills and more but at what price to my soul?

Dream trip: New Zealand. Because I want to be one of those (annoying) LOTR tourists.

Favourite food: Pretty much anything salmon.

Play an instrument: I tried to learn how to play the drums when I was like… 10 or something. I sucked at it and gave up.

Languages: English. I have a reading knowledge of German, which means I can muddle through with a good dictionary. I know a handful of Cree words & phrases. I try to read/speak French with a terrible American accent just to annoy my husband who is functionally bilingual like the good Canadian he is.

Favourite Songs: None. Sometimes I relive my ill-spent youth and put on some sort of “top Alt-Rock Hits of the 2000s”. Does that count?

Random fact: You can sue a manufacturer because some lady found a snail in her ginger beer.

Describe yourself as aesthetic things: Ikea catalogue with it’s casual yet carefully curated put together look. It looks very middle-class if a bit rundown. Then you open the drawers & cupboards to find all sorts of weird shit just stuffed in there randomly. Faded pictures of university aged kids in budget shopping LARP costumes and bad pencil drawings of some beefy welsh guy who needs a better agent. A peek into the armoire reveals a collection that would make DI Felix Kane really excited. Under the bed are boxes of random papers and books on everything from knot tying to how to make pivot tables in Excel to goat farming.

Tags: (just going to do a few since many mutuals have already been tagged) just in case you want to :)

@astro-gnome, @keybladeofsteel, @gullbones, @corpyburd, @tsvete, @kittydesade, @seacollectsrivers, @houseocats, @orchiddingme

#slow work day #probably tmi #who cares

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hesloaded · 3 years ago

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roleplay/fake. krp oc. n/sfw. tw: dark and mature themes. all profile information remains undisclosed unless plotted otherwise. faceclaim: ㅋㅏㅇㅣ written by rae.

code name: BULLET. birth name: 김 지 원 / kim jiwon. birthdate: 1994.12.21. birth place: seoul, south korea. korean age: 28. zodiac: sagittarius sun.

occupation: independent hitman, sniper. skillset: tactical shooting & combat (experienced with carbines, shot/handguns, sniper/rifles, machines under extreme circumstances. & hand-to-hand), boxing, krav maga, filipino stick/knife fighting. first aid.

weight: 76kg. height: 182cm. physique: fit. lean overall. languages: fluent korean, english. conversational japanese, mandarin, russian. religion: none. hails from a christian background. tattoos: example > arm sleeves, chest, back, and on his left hip to thigh. description of some pieces below;

nunc illas promite vires (now put forth that strength, in latin), in thick font, a vertical line on the left of his side, stops above the hipbone.

Buddha on the inner bicep of his left arm sleeve.

a gun on his right hip.

a large dagger on his left upper-wrist, the tip of it’s blade reaching for his middle finger.

‘i deeply belong to myself’, horizontally arcing down his left hipbone.

other mods: pierced ears, all basic holes and hooped silver rings. main earring holes are both gauged at 3mm, though he doesn’t wear them often anymore as he currently prefers earrings. sexual orientation: n/a.

Jiwon had been born with a well polished silver spoon in his mouth, which had remained wedged there until the day he’d personally witnessed his father’s murder. Their wealth had been abundant, but abundance did not always equal lawful, and Jiwon so happened to learn that the hard way. His father had been dabbling with the underworld for many years, and thus put him and his family’s life on the line since the very first contract he’d ever signed with the dons, the chiefs and the clans. After crossing certain boundaries of such dangerous people, as consequence, the father’s life had been taken away from him right in front of his only son, and the son had since been left in abandon while growing up with that gruesome memory, which never seemed to leave room for other nightmares in the night.

Quickly, the silver spoon grew rusted. Their family name had plummeted below the surface of the social class, and Jiwon had been forced into the other end of the spectrum without much time to grieve, or to adjust to his reality. They were suddenly dirt poor, as everything they once had was taken away from them upon the findings of his father’s illegal dwellings, and there was nothing they could say, or do about it. Jiwon, 15, and his younger sister, 7, getting by alongside their sickly mother on scraps and pity. Before they knew it, the hospital bills began to pile up in the drawers, court debt left behind by the father too much to handle, as well as basic expenses like food, education and rent.

At 17, Jiwon had voluntarily dropped out of school and decided he’d simply leave home, never to return again until he’d found a job that allowed him stable income. Enough cash to at least sustain his mother, and his younger sister. But there was also something else carried in the back of his mind, something poisonous that lead him astray along the way. He’d started with simple jobs in convenience stores, food delivery, the odd job here and there that could add at least an extra won for the month. But the greedier he got, the odder did the jobs as well. As if this was a sort of calling in his blood, he'd ended up at the edge of an industry where his late father had once been before. Maybe out of grief, and surely for revenge.

He knew he could never go back to the day after he had come across a certain individual he knows nothing of in present, who’d introduced him to a variety of "temp" jobs; mostly hands off at first, to prove he were trusty enough, before he’d graduated into the hands on part of the lifestyle where he’d learn how to fight, throw a knife, and shoot a gun. Professionally groomed by a veteran towards serious temporary positions and better money, by sparring until he were caked in bruises and blood, and shooting empty beer cans by the beach waves (trained in Jeju). And sooner than he'd thought, beer cans became human beings.

His initial aim was never to fall too deeply into dangerous affairs that had gotten his father killed in the first place, but there was something about it that was much too seductive to ignore, much too thrilling to escape- and so by the age of 19, Jiwon was engrossed. And he was really good.

He began working with the man who’d basically recruited him after seeing the talent and hunger for something dark in his eyes, and through him discovered some parts to the puzzle of what had lead his father to such a cruel fate some years ago. Then after reaching a certain point in his investigation and a number of paychecks (which he often sent home to his family rather than keeping all to himself), and with the (forced) help of a mysterious woman he’d met named Kim Yuna, Jiwon had disappeared. Gone to lay low (and train more/hone other skills) in Auckland, New Zealand, and had come back shortly after turning 22, to put his research and skillset into practice.

This is when he had come to surpass his father’s footsteps; solidified his place in the underworld, established as an independent hitman after finally reaching and murdering his father’s killer. Spilling the rage and thirst for blood that had slowly welled up inside him over the years. Known as Bullet, and despite his young age, wanted and feared simultaneously.

location: established in seoul, south korea; works worldwide. direct address: undisclosed. license: LvL 1, general korean license. drives a harley davidson motorcycle, his car a revamped vintage ford mustang. pets: none. takes care of stray cats in his neighborhood. relationship status: n/a. family: mother (alive), younger sister (alive), father (deceased). had severed ties with them and doesn’t talk about them.

hobbies: cooking. reading. sports (lifting, boxing). watching movies. gaming. optimist or pessimist?: neutral. introvert or extrovert?: introverted extrovert. "describe yourself": well-rounded. intelligent. versatile. worthy. surprising. creative. best-shot. "describe jiwon": precise. observant. intimidating. unpredictable. humorous. aggressive. cross. dreams/goals: learn how to properly wield a japanese sword, going drifting with his car in tokyo, sandboarding in the desert dunes, visiting the stray cats in italy.

— being an independent assassin would mean that his business exists sans any form of contract to whatever company or illegal organization at all. a lot of these do exist both in South Korea and overseas, but Jiwon is strict about steering very clear from all attempts of recruitment made his way. signing his life away with blood is something he never plans to do, unlike his father had.

— the underworld's presence also lingers within certain hotels, bars, offices and theatres; as well as underground establishments like boxing ranges and clubs of all natures. simply because people like him are everywhere, though only few of them could ever compete.

— his associates range broadly from Triad bosses to ballerinas, and everything else in between. police chiefs, escorts, seasoned veterans, boxers, racers, butchers, hotel managers. all associates of his, and the below surface's, of course.

— he values taking care of himself very highly, as it contributes to his work at times it matters. when he'd first gotten into working within the industry as a rookie, he could be often found doing small missions like escorting, as he'd been recognized to be visually appealing, and taught to wield it as though he were holding a sharp blade.

— he'd lived and trained in a secluded countryside farm in Jeju island for nearly four years, before packings his bags and disappearing to Auckland in the midst of night.

— owns too many pairs of sneakers, belts, button ups and turtlenecks. he's an expressive dresser; usually loves wearing pieces that stand out or glitter. his closets consist mainly of blacks, reds and whites, some greys, blues, purples, and plaid. when it comes to accessories, he will try it all but prefers simple rings and thick necklaces. finally, his cologne selection ranges broadly of fresh, pine and woody scents.

— surprisingly loves babies and kids. might or might not suffer from perpetual baby fever.

— believes in consequential punishment, global warming, ghosts or spirits, and aliens. the usual.

— not very keen on haircuts. enjoys dyeing his hair. sometimes find his many tattoos burdensome as he regularly has to cover up for the casual public (though he doesn’t try much anymore, really).

— he absolutely despises being lied to, have his skills doubted, being suspected, accused unjustly and seeing entitled pride in other people. it might sound obvious, but it’s all particular triggers for anger and hostility in him.

— can’t keep promises. a bit lackluster when it comes to romance. prefers relationships without titles, and sometimes emotions. but when he does fall, he falls hard enough to break bones.

— he wants to look into going to live in japan for a while in the future, to study kenjutsu, and acquiring a japanese katana of his own.

— he has a habit of getting new tattoos whenever he’s out of the country. or when he’s stressed—he refuses to destress with smoking.

— despite his job and the occasional requirement to travel overseas to rigorous tasks and obscure locations, or stay in Seoul apartments; living off scrap for months in both predicaments, he’s still a homebody. Appreciates when he can return home and sleep with a corn-chip in his mouth.

— his home is prepared for any kind of assault at any hour of the day, carrying hidden weapons hiding in plain sight.

— collects silencers/suppressors simply because he enjoys using them on his firearms.

#ㄱㅈㅇ

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nicholas-salzano · 3 years ago

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Nicholas Salzano - Best Beaches in the World

Nicholas Salzano is a well-known travel blogger. Nicholas Salzano writes regularly on travel tips and his travel experiences. Get Nicholas Salzano's latest content.

What makes a great beach is up to the travelers. Some people like wide sandy beaches with lots of activities and crowds to watch, while others like deserted shores and calm waters.

US News has determined this and other factors such as unique landscapes, beach quality, and general accessibility to determine the best beaches in the world. (Note: Some of the destinations below may be affected by the corona virus outbreak. Please consult CDC and the U.S. State Department before traveling.)

Nicholas Salzano - Fiji

Fiji has turquoise waters, sparkling beaches and luxurious resorts, similar to many other tropical resorts. Similarly, an island composed of 333 islands is suitable for all kinds of love birds. In addition, explorers such as surfers and divers appreciate the quality of the waves and the coral reefs of the archipelago. But Fiji has different supernatural characteristics from other island destinations. Fiji is more than 1,300 miles from the North Island of New Zealand in the South Pacific, providing you with a pleasant feeling of isolation.

When you drink Fijian sour beer and watch the sun set on the horizon, you will be as far away from reality as possible. Fijian style will also make you feel a million miles away too: have you tried the dazzling cava? Or have seen people braving fire and walking on hot stones without burning their feet? If not, it is time to do it.

Nicholas Salzano - Bora Bora

Bora Bora (about 6 miles long and just over 2 miles wide) is full of beauty. A dormant volcano rises at its center and expands into the dense jungle before overflowing into the Aquamarine Lagoon. In fact, the author James Michener who wrote "The Story of the South Pacific" called Bora Bora "the most beautiful island in the world." In the 18th century, British explorer James Cook even hailed it as the "Pearl of the Pacific." As the definition of a tropical resort, the wonderful Bora Bora has luxury resorts, clear skies, warm waters and friendly people.

In short, go to Bora Bora to enjoy the natural beauty, to relax completely, if you have the money, go.

Salzano - Maldives

You've seen photos of the Maldives before: the perfect private villa suspended in the stunning blue waters, alabaster white sand beaches and a spectacular sunset jumping into the horizon. The beauty of the Maldives is worth seeing and can only be understood by visiting the scene.

The island nation of Maldives is extremely popular with honeymooners seeking hermitage and adventurers looking to explore the depths of the ocean through snorkeling and diving. Tourists who want to relax can relax in the spa on the island, and all tourists should spend a day exploring Male’, the capital of the Maldives. The hotels in the area are breathtaking, from underwater hotels to private overwater bungalows to stunningly beautiful resorts.

However, getting to and staying in this tropical paradise requires patience (there are no direct flights from the US) and enough cash. The Maldives is located between the Arabian Sea and the Cardiff Sea, about 500 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, as isolated from the world as possible; this is just another of its many charms.

Nicholas - Tahiti

Miles of coastline, dozens of resorts, mouth-watering French cuisine-Tahiti has all the conditions for a honeymoon destination. But beach bums often cross the sands of Tahiti and head to the Ivory Coast of Bora Bora. Despite its idyllic reputation and convenient transportation, Tahiti is not so much a romantic holiday destination as a place off the beaten track. However, this does not mean that Tahiti should be ignored.

The wooded forest is next to the beach, and the French crepes are served with Tahitian poisson cru (raw fish). If there is one place that can embody the beautiful duality of French Polynesia, it is Tahiti. Here, the quirky and often chaotic atmosphere of Papeete, the island’s capital, complements the unspoiled natural beauty.

In fact, Tahiti, the largest of the 118 islands in French Polynesia, is often referred to as two separate islands, although they are connected by a small land bridge.

Tahiti Nui is the largest northern area where Papeete is located. Tahiti Iti (the smaller half) is not easily accessible, although many tourists hike here to experience the isolation. Keep in mind that spending a week anywhere in Tahiti will cost you a hefty price. But travelers agree that the warm waters, dense jungles, and luxurious resorts are worth it.

Nicholas Salzano - Maui

Maui isn't as big as the Big Island, it's not as small as Lanai, as vibrant as Oahu, and not as quiet as Kauai. For many visitors vacationing in Hawaii, Maui is the perfect place, from its majestic wildlife to fascinating history and culture; it offers all the flavors that Aloha has to offer. Visit here to swing with a professional hula dancer,play golf on the coastal streets, zip around, snorkel with five different types of turtles, or just go on some of the most famous beaches in Hawaii rest.

Maui, one of the archipelago's most popular tourist attractions, lies between the Big Island and the small Molokai (you can explore it by signing up for one of the best tours on Maui). Maui is divided into five different regions. Many visitors settle on the sandy beaches of South Maui (where the famous Wailea Beach is located) or the coast of West Maui, the sandy beach of Kaanapali Beach and the music home of the old Lahaina Augrand. But the rest of the island cannot be overlooked.

Travel along the Road to Hana, experience the scenic east coast of Maui, explore Haleakala, the largest dormant volcano in the inland world, and explore the ancient tribal battlefields of Iao Valley State Park in central Maui. If you want a panoramic view of all of this, book one of the best helicopter tours in Maui.

Nicholas Salzano - Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are located off the northeast coast of Australia and it feels like a whole different world. The archipelago is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and has an extremely unique but fragile ecosystem. Some of the best beaches in this collection of 74 islands include Betty Beach, Whitehaven Beach, and Chalkis Beach, but there are plenty of amazing attractions to choose from as well. When you're not sunbathing on pearl-white beaches or snorkeling in turquoise waters, you can relax in luxurious or eco-friendly bungalows on Hamilton Island or Long Island.

Nicholas Salzano - Mauritius

Located in the east of Madagascar, this picturesque African island has a number of beaches that deserve priority. According to visitor reviews, the west coast of the island has some of the best, such as Flic En Flac and Le Morne, There are beautiful white sand beaches and the perfect viewpoint to watch the sunset. Beachgoers near amenities prefer the northern coastal beaches like Granbe, while those looking for a more remote beach experience prefer to visit the eastern and southern coastal beaches like Tu Island and Blue Bay.

Nicholas Salzano - St. Lucia

Lush and unspoiled Saint Lucia has a growing fan base. Some of its vacationers are music lovers, chilling out at the St. Lucia Art and Jazz Festival in the spring, or adrenaline junkies, climbing The Pitons or zip-lining in the Chasin area rainforest to test their limits. Others are honeymooners relaxing on the island's chalky beach or hiding out in a secluded resort.

But what if any of these categories are not suitable for you? Do not worry: Saint Lucia refuses to be classified like any "kind" of Caribbean vacation. In addition, you don’t have to spend a lot of money (its reputation as a luxury hideaway is reasonable to some extent). To discover some of the indescribable charms of the island, you must visit it yourself. Wake up in the morning and admire the orange sunrise over Soufrière, and then "jump" (or dance) along the Gros Islet in the evening to end the afternoon.

Nicholas Salzano - Railay Beach

Railay Beach (also known as Rai Leh) is located in Krabi, Thailand, next to the Andaman Sea. The area is made up of four main beaches, with soft sands, clear waters, stunning but climbable (for experienced climbers) cliffs and dense tropical rain forests. For a truly breathtaking beach experience, head to Phra Nang Beach, where you can explore caves, islands and coral reefs. Another Railay Beach coastline that you must visit is the beautiful West Coast of Railay, just steps from a plethora of shops, restaurants, bars, and resorts.

Also check this video of Nicholas Salzano on topic: I traveled Syria Before War, and It was Heaven

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