Duck Beach Round Two: Go, then you will know.

[First of all, about the pirates... to the world all I have to say is: I told you so... (see post below, penned a couple days before the fiasco). And, a thank you to the apparent readership of my blog by some Americans in charge who didn't take any crap from the pirates this go round.]

Now, moving on, speaking of oceans filled with dirty men- Duck Beach. Last year, I had quite a lot to say--  click here for the low down   -- this year I will simply say this: You should go, then you will know. I have spent a year defending my comments to people who have not been. So I offer a suggestion, no...  a plea: go to duck beach. Find out what it is like. Be among those people. Come back and tell me about it. 

I will be here:

Staying here:

Visiting here:

Hanging out with: 

WTF, Matey?

If ever there was a moment to appropriately ask the "WTF" question, it is now. 

It is beyond me how we* can allow pirates to overrun international waters. How can a bunch of scoundrels be able to just take a ship over? It is just so ridiculous.

Ok, I get it. Pirates are not like days of old. This isn't a ride at Disneyland. But, I do know that if I had a big freaking ship in the middle of the seas, it would be hard to just to walk on board and take over. But, if for some reason it was taken over, I would expect at least one of the worlds superpowers to be able to figure a way to get it back. Its like we all are like "oh, they took your ship".   

*Here are the sanctioned current players: 

Royal Australian Navy
Canadian Forces Maritime Command (NATO)
People's Liberation Army Navy 
Royal Danish Navy (NATO)
French Navy (NATO)
German Navy (NATO)
Greek Navy (NATO)
Indian Navy 
Italian Navy (NATO)
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy 
Japan Maritime Defense Force 
Republic of Korea Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy (NATO)
Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal Saudi Navy
Russian Navy 
Republic of Singapore Navy
Spanish Navy (NATO)
Swedish Navy
Turkish Navy (NATO)
Royal Navy (NATO)
United States Navy (NATO)

The World Superpower Badass Armed Forces (nil) V. Dirty Somalian Pirates (for the win) WTF?

All of us versus a bunch of Somalians, who are apparently getting the financial support from get this, Canadian based cohorts. WTF? 

Furthermore it chaps my hide that these attacks continue. It's not like one crazy Somalian hijacked a ship. It keeps happening because they are succeeding. WTF? Seriously. And the boat isn't the victory. The loot really isn't either. They are getting paid millions of dollars in ransom. I mean, so much money that there are small port towns that have become overnight boomtowns with a large injection of overnight spending when these rouge pirates come into shore. WTF? 

So, what I am being told (or not being told- this is the dirty little secret that the UN and the Media is sweeping under the rug, because lets face it, not only is it embarrassing, but it is an outright threat to our safety)... so, what I understand here is that these dudes are parading around the open seas, taking what they want, killing people, demanding money and everyone EVERYONE involved is like "oh, here you go". 

WTF? 

TV & Boise

DVR/TiVo has changed my life. You can fairly accurately gauge how my life is going based on the amount of TV shows I have stored in the DVR. There are two ends of the spectrum. If I am all caught up on my TV shows, if I know how Jack can save America and I know that Lil Rounds is the only hope for America... then life is good. Also, when I am behind on my TV shows it is an indicator that my life has gotten so busy that I can't bother with it all. However, if you know me, you know this is also a good thing. If there are many or no TV shows ready for the watching, then life is good. The middle ground is the rocky area. 

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Last week a bunch of us Kappa Deltas met in Boise for one hell of a weekend:

Clearly, I had the time of my life. 

And to prove we did other stuff besides just party... 

See, here we are in front of some liberty-bell-esq thing. I am sure it is significant and has something to do with Boise history. But we were on our way to brunch after staying out all night long, so I really don't know :P

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Before Boise (a week ago) I was all caught up with my TV shows. I returned and before I knew it, I had 6 hours to waste. And I did. Life is good. 

I went to Hawaii and I even took pictures.

  

There, I gave you all what you wanted. 

When I began this web log, I didn't want to be the annoying blogger that simply posted pictures of all the cool things they did. I mean, that is what facebook is for. The goal was to shy away from the "hey look at how fun and bad ass my life is". This blog was to be a vehicle to enlighten my dear friends and fans to think the same as I do; to convince you that my opinions are clearly superior. People really do need to know about things like baby seal beatings, pie charts and stride right shoes, and my opinion on social progression. 

Turns out, I am a lazy blogger. I blog mostly when I am bored, and inevitably The People want The Pictures. I stalk blogs and I want the same thing: the juicy details. We take pictures of noteworthy things. Trips, life moments, etc. and those are the things we care about. 

I do have important things to blog about; like the slow decline of the use of the wink as a social tool and the slow rise of socialism in America (although, mutually exclusive).  But it is daylight savings and now I am tired, so you get that lazy entry.

Chocolate Covered Birthday

It's been a while since this event, but it's still blog-worthy. 

I turned 28 on Jan. 19th.... In keeping with the Destination Birthday concept, we decided to escape they frenzied DC area (it was inauguration weekend) for a little getaway.  Hershey, PA (aka Chocolate Town, USA) had reason to fear. 

The Peeps:

Myself

Trandy (Mandy & Trent)

Peter

Kim

Louise

Wayne

The Method:

Road Trip

Desperate Times in car, calls for desperate measure: Freezing Temp - Socks = Mitten Feet

The Madness:

Hershey, PA- The air even smells of chocolate.

Chocolate World- singing cows, need I say more?

Chocolate at every meal- and just whenever we felt like it. This might be the best damn Hot Chocolate I have ever drank. Actually, I will go ahead and proclaim it: it was. 

Hershey Spa- world class day spa. Chocolate Massage, Chocolate Milk Soak, Rain Shower, Dry Sauna, Steam Room, Aromatherapy Room. 

Harrisburg- Maybe the most impressive State Capitol building I have encountered. 

And good times with friends is what it was all about. 

After our fun-filled excursion, I was able to return home to celebrate with all my friends at a party that Joe threw... and topped off the weekend with a chocolate cake he made. It was great to share my birthday with everyone! 

   

   

   

Mr. President

I claim to be republican because currently, it is the party that aligns with most of my core values of government. My friend Rob and I often speak of starting the Moderate Reform Party, but history is not ready for that day yet.

Thoughts on President Obama:

I respect the man. I really respect Jon Favreau. And I definitely respect the Office of President. I was at the swearing in ceremony of the first bi-racial President of the United States. I use the term "bi-racial" because he is not all black, he is not all white, he is not hawaiian of decent, though was raised there. You get the point. But, that isn't really even the point. The point is I don't care what race he is or isn't. My hope is that Americans don't either. My hope is that people voted for who they thought would serve American the best; no matter the color of their skin, no matter the culture they were raised, no matter the age or sex or creed. Barak Obama is a symbol of Americans progressing past the blinders of race. 

Turns out, I disagree with most of his political ideas for America yet, I agree with his ideals for America. Turns out, he also seems to agree with G.W. Bush as well: (the really good part starts at 1:40)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

Not only was he inspiring, but it was inspiring to be on the grounds where greatness has lead and directed our Nation for years and it was inspiring to be among the people on this historic day:

Please note the bus in the midst of the crowds: it had no hope.

Washington Monument & the People

Jumbo-trons were set up all along the National Mall.

My friends and I. This picture is a miracle, because there were literally MILLIONS of people around us, and this picture makes it appears were were the only ones there. 

And here is a little video of my own for posterity:

NY Still Hearts Me

~scroll down to bottom of post for a couple pictures~ 

We welcomed 2009 by driving up for New Years Day. Now, driving in New York City (especially Manhattan) is something of a concern... Parking in NYC is something to be feared (for most, not me).  We conquered both. 

Proof NY Hearts Me:

Noon-ish: Rolled into the City

12:12 p.m.- Parked on the Upper West. Free street parking. Walked three blocks to brunch.

12:15- Feasted at Sarah Beth's (I had the Goldie Loxs, which I recommend highly).

1:30- Central Park Stroll. 

2:45- Drove to the Village from the Upper West Side.

3:00- Arrived/Parked in Greenwich. Again, found (free) street parking a mere couple blocks from our destination. 

3:15- Joe's life changed forever

3:30- Run in with the paparazzi

3:31- Discussion as to rather we should walk the two miles to Soho or drive. Considered that we had been lucky with parking today, do we dare push our luck more so? Wait, clearly this was fate. 

3:32- Drove from Greenwich to Soho

3:45- Again, free street parking. Slipped right into an open spot. No circling for a spot yet!

4:00- Have a couple hours to kill, decide drive across the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn

5:00- Want pizza. Park literally in FRONT of the pizza joint. Free parking again! Enjoyed a slice

5:30- Drove back to DC

Photos:

Some from Central Park

Greenwich Village:

Look even celebrities do normal things!

(if you can't tell, someone scrolled "Poop 2009" onto this dirty car)