Mr. Smooth

Latest report is that as of 0600 Wednesday EDT, authorities will begin a recovery operation for what is presumed to be any missing bodies. With the lack of vision, the ebb and flow of the water via the tides, plus the broken structural parts of the bridge itself, this is going to represent a tremendous challenge for the divers and rescue operations to conduct. What an absolute tragic event and as was posted earlier, it would have been catastrophic had this happened in daylight hours, or especially during commute hours.

Booked earlier this week, SFO-BKK, on Eva. Depart June 17th at 0100 and arrive next morning on the 18th. So, as of now about 84 days and a wake up. But plenty of good times between now and then.

And as an additional factor in avoiding the bs that some people while traveling seem to generate, I also have the pre-check TSA to get through security without taking off the shoes, removing your belt, etc....and as of 2 days ago, just received my Global Entry approval so that when returning from an international trip, I can now glide through the passport control line with the pilots and flight crews in a couple minutes and not have to stand in those Gawd-awful long ass lines anymore. For both, I'm good for 5 years. Again, it's worth the cost to save time and avoid all the a-holes and idiots. Plus, it gives you more time at some terminal bar while waiting for your connection. A win-win!

After spending all winter at home, mostly recovering from a blood clot in my right leg, which is now behind me thank goodness, I'll be taking off for the Caribbean...Dominican Republic...next week for 3 weeks. As a younger guy, I was just willing to deal with whatever rude and obnoxious behavior that some people brought forth in airports and in the boarding process, while just concentrating on getting to my destination to help get me through the hassle. But no more. I took the liberty to separate myself from the unwashed masses by buying a 1st/business class ticket and removing as much as possible, the potential for rude, idiotic behavior that others here have described in their own travel experiences. Now, instead of having to wait in long lines I'll check in separately in the shorter, quicker first/business class line for my boarding pass, I'll be among the first to board (Group 1 baby!!!) and depart upon arrival, sit comfortably in my wider and infinitely more leg room seat, while the unwashed masses shuffle on past me down the aisle to their seats in cattle class. Once retired, one of the small allowances I was going to reward myself with was never having to book economy again, especially on a foreign trip, so I can experience just a bit more creature comforts and service while on my way to my destination and on the way back home. It's worth paying the extra freight.

As a die hard Raider fan, so do I. And they are playing in the Raiders house on their field! I live here in Vegas, the stadium is about 8 miles from my house and the tourists, celebrities and tv people are all over the place. I went to a few bars in the downtown Fremont Street area last Saturday and at one, a pint of Dos Equis draft was $14 USD! Needless to say, I don't go out much to drink in this particular Sin City. I much prefer Sin City Far East for such activities.

On American television, the 70's were a goldmine for classic comedies. A few of my favorites, still on tv today, were "All in the Family", "MASH", "Barney Miller", "The Jeffersons", "Happy Days" and the greatest comedy/variety show ever, "The Carol Burnett Show".

I was shocked to hear about Carl Weathers' passing away. Stallone posted a very heartfelt message on how much he meant to the "Rocky" franchise and what a great guy he was in real life. Though the "Apollo Creed" character was an invention of Stallone's when he wrote that original script for the movie, it was Weathers' acting ability, his personality, confidence, bigger than life aura and not too mention his physical size, that brought that character to life. As an audience, we went from cheering for Rocky to beat him to cheering for the both of them combined to defeat Clubber Lang in "Rocky III", to crying at him dying in the ring to Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV". A movie character that we could almost see as real. An amazing accomplishment for an actor. Carl Weathers in life most certainly went the distance.

Have you ever heard of ASMR? These are videos from people who role play and act as if they are speaking to you while looking directly into the camera, such as playing a doctor and you are the patient being checked for an ear exam for example, or a scalp exam. These ASMR "artists" speak in very calm, often whispering tones, the idea being that you will begin to have a feeling of relaxation come over you, which eventually will lead you to fall asleep. I've been using them for years and they work for me. Just click on You Tube on your phone and type in ASMR. A few of the people I've fallen asleep to while listening to their videos include, "Articulate Design", "Lloyd's ASMR", "Ting Ting ASMR"....a lovely Asian woman, "Massage ASMR", and "Dr. T ASMR". They might create a 40 minute cranial nerve exam video....those seem to be very popular.....and there is a good chance you'll fall asleep well before the video is finished. Type in any of those in the YT search bar and give it a try. You just might be out like a light in a matter of minutes, no medication necessary.

I just read the article as well and learned a great deal about this fascinating, heroic man. What a life he lived in service to his country. The Greatest Generation encompassed great men and sacrifice from both sides of the Atlantic. RIP Major Sadler.

Looks like the dollar is making another push back up to 35. TBH, the price of a beer, hasn't really changed in 30 years in real terms. My first time in Patts back in '94, the exchange rate to the USD was 25/1 and a beer was commonly priced at a beer bar on Beach Rd, 2nd Rd or even WS at roughly 45 to 50 baht for a bottle, with a few bars inland, such as Micky's, selling beer at HH for as little as 35 baht. Now, plenty of places offering happy hour bottled beer at 55-60 baht, or 70 at night, so purchasing power for Yanks pretty much the same. For you other vets using the pound, euro, Aussie dollar, etc...who first came to Patts in the mid-90s or so, has the beer prices basically been the same for you guys as well? No need to talk about the inflation with the girls. That ship sailed away many years ago.

Yes, I agree with Ritchson, much more true to the book. While Cruise is a good actor, his physical size just wasn't right to play the character in the movie. Since each season is based upon one of the books (this current season just happens to be from one of the books I read), I'm guessing that there is enough material for this series to continue for several more years if Ritchson wants to keep playing the role. Since each season is only 8 episodes, it still gives him plenty of time to tackle other acting projects. I figure this guy will eventually supplant somebody like Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, as the next big time action star in movies.

I just signed up for Prime Video in December and the first series I decided to watch was "Reacher". About a decade ago, my stepmom, who was a voracious reader, got me hooked on the "Reacher" novels by Lee Child. I've read about 6 of them, and watched both "Reacher" movies with Tom Cruise. But this series, with Alan Ritchson, playing the title character, is exactly how the guy was described in Child's books. Imposing, no nonsense and sprinkled with a wonderful sarcastic sense of humor, it's a very entertaining series with an ensemble cast that is top notch. I watched the 1st season in a few days, only 8 episodes, I highly recommend it. So if you have the time, sit back and watch Reacher get after the bad guys and watch him teach them a lesson. Will leave you with a smile on your face.

I did ask her about that, as it wouldn't be much of a problem seeing as I take a Vit B, C and D each day plus a 50 mg Zinc. She said I could do that although the data was inconclusive, to use her words. I'll see how it goes. Is St. Joseph's Baby Aspirin even produced anymore? I'll have to check next time I'm in a Walgreens or CVS. She did say the major thing was diet and exercise as a precaution to preventing another clot from forming. Of course, those two factors seem to be the pathway to improving one's health for just about any concern or malady, so I'm taking vigorous walks about 6 days a week for 37-40 minutes and including more fruits, fish and chicken in my diet, although a good steak or cheeseburger will be on tap from time to time. My main thing was to be able to resume my travels. It was the biggest reason for my retiring when I did, and missing out during this time of the year is tough, but there will be future opportunities to scratch that travel itch soon enough.

An update from this.... It's now just passed the 2 month period since I was diagnosed with a blood clot. Have been following the doctor's recommendations as well as taking the blood thinning pills as directed. Since I last wrote, I did extend my daily walks to 2 laps and from the week of Thanksgiving, I've been doing 3 laps, about 2.2 miles or I guess about 3.5 km, each day. I completed the vial with the 20 mg pills on Dec 15th, and continued with a second vial 30 day amount that will take me to mid-January. I had a video consultation with a blood specialist at the VA Medical Center HQ up in Redwood City, Calif, between SF and San Jose, and we had a nice 45 minute chat. According to her, with looking at my health records and answering her questions, I was happy to hear that she thinks I'll be pretty much recovered and as close to 100% as I'm able to be. To be on the safe side, she said she'll recommend to my primary doctor to extend my medication for a final 30 days, through Feb 15th, and I'll be done. I've continued with the near daily walks, have changed my diet somewhat as I'm not drinking as much alcohol, generally eat my big meal, usually dinner, a bit earlier in the day, and maybe a light snack in the evening, which is often a sliced apple or those seedless red grapes which I love. As far as travel goes, which was one of the questions I had for her, she said that from basically February onward, it will be up to me to decide where and when, depending on how I feel. I did ask her if it would be ok to have a small prescription of low dosage blood thinning pills, maybe 10 mg, to take for travel, and she agreed. She said to take one the day before, and one the day of, travel, and be sure to get up every couple of hours to stretch and do a few light leg exercises, as a preventable measure. Today, the 23rd, I would have been on the road to visit family on the Central California coast, about a 700 km distance, for the Christmas holiday and then on Dec 28th, fly from San Francisco to Bangkok, and spend a couple weeks in Pattaya, followed by 3 more weeks in Kenya. Alas, all canceled. But, about as nice of a present I could receive for Christmas, was the optimistic prognosis on my leg, and a hopeful and healthy 2024 filled with more traveling adventures and memories to be made. Thanks to all of you who had responded to my initial post detailing this a couple months back for your positive sentiments and best wishes for a quick recovery. I was told it would be a 3-6 month recovery process and am fortunate that in my case, it will be in the 3 month range. In this season of gift giving with family and friends, regaining your health and the freedom that comes along with it, is without a doubt, the best gift a guy can get. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, guys.

As did I, I think it was around August or so. Yeah, can't figure that out either, just a sick joke on some A-holes part. His vocal on "I Can't Tell You Why", is sublime.

Was a #1 hit in 1974 for the group, Paper Lace. When I saw the photo of the bar closed, that song title popped into my head right away.

The Night Chicago died.

Mike Alstott played tailback, or running back, in the 1 back formation with Tampa Bay. But yeah, he was also a blocking fullback for Warwick Dunn when they were both playing for the Buccaneers. Maybe you were too young to remember, but John Riggins was the featured back when he played for both the NY Jets in the 70's and the Washington Redskins in the 80's. Dude was fast too. As a Kansas high schooler, he could run a 100 yard dash in about 10 seconds. My thing is, there hasn't been a starting white cornerback in the NFL since Jason Sehorn, 20 years ago. There have been starting safeties but to the best of my knowledge, no starting corners who were white. I "demand" the NFL end this clearly racist practice of not keeping any white cornerbacks on the active 53 man roster. I'm shocked I tell you, just shocked!

About halfway through the race, I walked outside to see if I could hear any of the cars, as they are quite loud, and wondered if the breeze might carry the sound out in my direction, being fairly close, but didn't hear anything above the normal traffic din in my immediate area. But I did see overhead clouds slowly passing by the Strip area and were all lit up in a ghostly white like I'd never seen before, all from the very powerful illumination of the track that was reflected upwards. Made for a fascinating sight. Wound up watching the entire race, not a fan and don't follow who's who, but was surprised in how quick it was all over, about 95 minutes and done! Tons of celebrities milling about prior to the race, the obvious VIP types, actors, singers, athletes from other sports, an Oscar red carpet event for the sporting class. Heard just after the winner received his victory spoils, that next year's race is a done deal. I just hope that the difficulties in making this race come off will be minimal for next year.

The next F1 race is tonight, 10 pm Saturday, here in Las Vegas. And in the months leading up to this race, it has been a total mess for locals. Traffic conditions with roads either closed off totally or detours in place that make it nearly impossible for some casino employees on the Strip to get to work, the hundreds of millions spent to hold this thing, the gouging of customers for rooms, tickets, parking ($100 USD to self park at a couple of the casino parking lots like The Bellagio, or $150 for valet.....JUST TO PARK YOUR FREAKING CAR!!!! Locals here are fed up with this disruption to their lives and hope that the 3 year contract F1 has with the city is over and done after this race. I know this sport is a much bigger deal in the rest of the world, and having the race not start until 10 pm local time was due to getting the visual of the neon lights of the Strip on tv, but 10 pm in Vegas is 1 am, Sunday morning in Brazil and 6-7 am Sunday morning in the population centers of Western Europe, as well as West Africa, and only an hour or two later in East Africa and the Middle East. I think most folks will still be in bed after a night out at the pub on Saturday and the largest audience to watch will most likely be in the Middle East and Asia-Australia. I'll probably tune in as the race will be taking place only about 5-6 miles from where I live, but for many having to put up with the inconvenience this race has placed upon the people who live here, I think the overwhelming opinion is that they hope it's a one and done deal.

An acquaintance of mine I've known for over 20 years, is an owner of one of the new Myth beer bars. She was previously at TT, in maybe the worst location in that entire complex for a bar. When I was last there in June/July, she told me she was going to get one of the new bars in Myth, told me what she was going to pay, while wanting to sell her current bar in TT. Since the opening, she's sent me several pics of her bar with a decent group of customers and so far, she has no regrets about leaving TT and establishing her new spot in Myth. For sure, with all the walking around traffic in close proximity to her bar, and the music, it makes for a much more lively beer bar than her old one. Had no idea about the ladies there all being FL'ers, but as I can't imagine them being of the top shelf variety (looks or age wise anyway) to the GG or GC, I would think if they were interested in going with you if making a reasonable offer of 1500 for an ST, they would go for it. I wish her, and all those bar owners well and hope the high season is a profitable one for them.

The reason I bought a Dodge Ram as a retirement present to myself was in order to take long, cross country drives. I'd like to take one in April to the Southeast....Florida, the Carolinas, Gulf Coast, etc. Once I'm cleared, that will be my first order of business. I've got a couple friends up in the New England area....Connecticut, Maine, Upstate New York. Any road trip to the Northeast will involve stopping by to see them. One guy I served with in the military lives way the hell up in Perry, Maine, looks like within an hour of the Canadian border. Though we keep in touch a couple times a year, we haven't seen each other in 37 years. Of course, if I'm in that part of America, I gotta hit up Vermont to buy some genuine maple syrup to bring back home for my pancakes! If I make plans to head up that way, I'll be sure to let you know ahead of time. But it will take me at least 10-12 days to make it up there as I'll have friends along the way to stop by for a night or so to give 'em a big bear hug hello too.

Some very sobering, though much appreciated, posts here from BM's telling of their own concerns and experiences with blood clots. I most certainly will be changing up my routine, especially before, during and after a long haul flight. I think for most of us who travel to Thailand, as an example, we have to fly at least 10-12 hrs. A few Aussie friends have said even from Sydney or Brisbane, it's 8-9 hrs to BKK. When I next have my own consultation with a blood specialist, or further along, a follow up with my own doctor, if my clot has broken up and there isn't anymore evidence of it's presence, and it's no longer required to be prescribed blood thinning medication, then as others have done, and are doing, I'll be sure to take a heavy dose of aspirin prior to flying, another about midway through the flight, or during the layover in Korea, Taipei, etc...and another after arriving, or the following morning, along with the usual vitamins...B-12, C, D and Zinc that I normally take. Then a standard daily dosage of 50 or 100mg from then on. I would imagine that the average age for members of this forum is somewhere in the 50's or so, and info like this that is being shared by members who have had their own experiences regarding blood clots, or some other ailment, can prove priceless in assisting others to watch out for their own situations. I most grateful for all who have contributed and will update my status in this thread in due course.

Was prescribed Rivaroxaban, might be the same deal as your Apixaban, currently taking a 15 mg pill twice a day, and when they are finished, I continue on with a single 20 mg pill per day, which was has already been renewed beyond the 30 day supply I have. My primary care doctor also wrote up a consultation, which will happen in December, with a blood specialist, I assume to set up a plan for prevention in the future. I'm not opposed to taking a low dosage blood thinning tablet on a daily basis if it will help to prevent clotting in the future. I'd be lying if I said the thought didn't go through my mind about the possibility of the Pfizer shot having something to do with the clot forming, as I have read way too many instances of that happening to people as a result of the jab. And not just someone in my age group, late 50's, but of younger people, athletes, in much better physical conditioning than myself. I only took the two initial shots, no boosters at all, but in thinking back, I wish I had waited and not gone through with getting them, as I only did because I was figuring it would be mandated for international travel. Silly me...being patient and waiting it out as the Covid mandates went by the wayside, would have been the right move. But hindsight is always 20-20, so no use bitching about it now. Patience now is a virtue as I take things day by day and optimistic on a little improvement each week. Besides, we still gotta meet up for a beer over there. Yet another motivating factor to get back in the saddle.

I've had a bit of a rough go lately, completely out of the blue. A couple weeks back, I had a pretty severe pain in my right leg, going from the calf up to the back of my thigh. Started feeling it on a Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday night, couldn't sleep a wink. Called my VA help nurse (Veteran's Administration for military vets) on that Friday morning and after answering some questions, advised me to go the the ER at the VA hospital. 5 hrs later, having had xrays and an ultrasound, I was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis, as I had a blood clot. Was placed on blood thinning medication and Tylenol for the pain to be used as necessary, and for which there was considerable for the next several days, but now after 2 weeks, the blood thinning pills seem to be working as the leg pain has lessened considerably, as well as my taking Tylenol going from 2 tablets 3x per day, to twice per day at the same time I take a blood thinner pill. The doctor seems to think the long flight home from Kenya in late Sept, three flights over 22-23 hrs, was the trigger that set the clot in motion to expand. I was advised in no uncertain terms, no long flights or road trips in a vehicle for a 3-6 month time period. What sucks is that only a week earlier, I had booked my flights and accommodations for a Thailand-Kenya return from Dec 28- Feb 5, and will only receive a partial refund on the whole lot. Was very much looking forward to getting back to Patts, seeing some of my old friends and mates from previous years travels and whatever else struck my fancy, but will listen to the doctors orders, take my meds, keep my leg elevated when sitting on the sofa or easy chair, and slowly increase my exercise by walking around the mobile home park where I live. It's about a 3/4ths mile distance, and have been doing 1 lap around twice a day at a modest pace. I'm slowly building up to a quicker pace and next week will extend my walks to 2x around two times each day. Have had my medication refilled into January, as I'll go from 2 15 mg pills per day to a single 20mg pill once per day. On a good note, since June, when I departed for the summer, until my most recent doctor's appt this past Monday, have dropped 14 lbs, I guess roughly 6.5 kilos, and am looking to drop more by next June, (270 lbs is the goal, was 302 at the doc's office) which is when I'm shooting for a return to LOS. Oh, though it will affect the pocketbook, from here on out, all trans-continental flights for me will be in business class which will allow for much more room to stretch, to walk around, to sleep....etc. But each trip, maybe 2 per year, will be several weeks to a few months, so to mitigate the cost. Fortunately, it appears I'm on the road to recovery.