​Weathering the Storm with the WP#106

Before I get into my thoughts for this week and any updates, of which there are not many, I want to say just WOW!!! Why, last night’s Super Bowl which I watched a local sports bar near me. It was a nice crowd of people, and the food and service were very good. Even had a heated discourse about what to put on my buffalo wings, blue cheese or ranch dressing. Not really, just an interesting dialogue. For me, as a purist, I am blue cheese all the way and I have to say, they were some of the best wings I have ever had, bar none, and good size. Of course, I have had the originals from the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY. It did not hurt that they had a Super Bowl special on them, but you had to wait until the bewitching hour, so once 6:30 pm hit, I ordered. Other than that, it was nice to get out and socialize a bit with the locals. I had never been to this place and, well, what can I say, the game was really good in my opinion. No dog in the fight. However, it seemed that the locals were mostly for the Eagles and not sure why, as this is New Hampshire, but in any case, secretly, I wanted to see Andy Reid win his second Super Bowl, and well it happened and Patrick Mahomes was, well, Patrick Mahomes, even if he was not spectacular. Even listened to the halftime show with Rhianna which I never do, but since I don’t have regular tv in my place, I had to go out to see the game, and with it the half time show. While I was not a captive audience, I did listen. The commercials were pretty good, as well, especially the Breaking Bad spinoff. What did you think of the game, the half time show and the commercials? What was your favorite?

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I had never heard Rhianna sing, until Rosa asked me who the star was at halftime and at first, I was not sure what she was talking about, and of course, she did not care about the game itself. I told her it was Rhianna. When she heard that, she sent me YouTube videos of 4 singers, one which was Rhianna. The other three were Shakira, Samara Joy and Giorgia, the last two being Italian singers. She said she wanted me to listen to all 4 and, yes, I did, even though these are not of the genres I normally tune into, but I did and all the way through each one. I could not tell you the songs now, but she also asked to rank them and why, so I did. I have learned to try to open my mind to other music and certainly music she enjoys, so we can connect on other levels, as well. In the end, Rhianna gained a tie for second place with Giorgia, Samara Joy, I enjoyed the best and Shakira, brought up the rear. It could have been the specific songs she asked me to listen to, in how I ordered them and honestly, I am not running out to buy their latest records. Call me old fashioned with my classic rock!!!

When I started writing this week’s blog, I really had no idea where I would go with this so the Super Bowl seemed a good start. However, I do know where I am going and this is the week I am leaving for Europe, first for one week, back for a few days and then back for 6 weeks, which you have all heard by now. Really it is the start of spending the better part of the rest of the year on the road, mostly in Europe, but places in the states and a quick jaunt to Canada. Why, Canada, you say? Well, I have been invited to do a ship inspection there in May, and this will give me a chance to spend some time in Toronto, and yes, take another Hard Rock, two or three off the chart, the one in Niagara Falls, Ontario, but there is one on the New York side, as well and one in Northern Indiana that need my attention. In the end, I will be trying to make my drive back to Minnesota a bit more interesting rather than simply hopping on the Mass Pike to the Penn Pike, with a clip in New York State to the Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Toll Road etc. Boring, so I will make that trek in May and as I did when I came out to New Hampshire, taking a circuitous route, I will do one back to Minnesota to close shop up. Whether I return to New Hampshire, go elsewhere in the States, or not is dependent on the visa of which I have started the application process.

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In the end, the nomadic life will continue for me and the goal is to be across the pond full time where I can also welcome many of my clients who will travel to Italy and beyond with many more adventures to come and always excited to share. I also realized that yesterday, one year ago, Rosa and I were flying from Birmingham, AL via Houston, to San Francisco to visit Kenn, so we missed the Super Bowl in flight and when we arrived at the hotel late, the game had just wrapped up. In the end, it was a very special week where I proposed at the Top of the Mark, one year ago, so you know what is coming up and perhaps that open proposal will turn into a closed proposal this year, stay tuned…..
Stay safe, stay healthy and as always, thank you for your support of my crazy little world and of my small business. It is truly appreciated, and as always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook or wherever you read this!!!