Cheers

Had a great time in Jamaica. Got a lot of great pictures, too. My wife, in fact, took 3,268 pictures. No joke. I've highlighted a few of them here.

This is me having a drink by the pool.




This is me having a drink at Kimono's

This is me bringing drinks back to the pool.

This is me after being served a drink.



This is me serving my own drink.

I think that covers most of the finer moments of the trip. I'll cover some of the more minor highlights a bit later.

Cheers!

-Sailor Matt

Off to Uncharted Islands!

Okay folks, I'm off on vacation to the beautiful paradise of Jamaica. I've secured two seats on an out-bound cargo plane delivering chickens to the island, and I've arranged for lodging in an old storage shed. The whole trip has been pretty affordable so far, and the wife and I are looking forward to a relaxing experience beneath the tropical sun. Our travel agent says it's going to be great.

I'll check ya'll when I get back.

-Sailor Matt

P.S. I had a job interview today. Holy crap was that scary! Went well, though...

As Halloween Creeps Upon Us...

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. When I was a kid, the primary mission was to collect as much candy as possible on Halloween night. On days leading up to this junk food free-for-all, sloppy maps of the neighborhood would be drawn, and secret meetings would be held on the playground to mark out the best possible trick-or-treat course. On Halloween night, we would race frantically from house to house, sweating in our plastic masks and vinyl costumes, our organized plans gone out the window. A riot of fun was had by all.






As I've grown older, I've acquired a new appreciation for the magical atmosphere that creeps in around the days of Halloween. Additionally, I get overwhelmed with the desire to read Harry Potter, which is a phenomenon I can't quite explain. The best way to outlet my Halloween excitement, of course, is to throw a party. Last year we threw one of our very own, with the help of some friends, and I went through great lengths to prepare my costume: LT Dangle from Reno 911.


This year I am uberly excited, because my Halloween costume has gone in a much more creative direction. I just hope it doesn't get too cold this year, as my costume consists only of one article of clothing (spandex bicycle shorts) and a wig, with a few key accessories thrown in. It's going to be a blast.

-Sailor Matt

My Back-Woods is Your Big City

My mom and step-dad recently visited me in the mediocre state of Virginia, and after sharing with them my flashy Virginia Beach life (please note the sarcasm), I began to reflect back on my quaint, Mid-Michigan memories of yesteryear. The Wolverine State* was my whole world growing up; not until I joined the Navy did I gain a wider perspective of where "home" actually fit on the map. The small town I return to occasionally is the Big Town of my parents' lives, and my pace in the burbs of Virginia Beach is "hectic city life" for simple Michigan folk. Ironic, because I find my life in this place to be quite slow.

I don't mean to imply that Michigan is dull, or that my visits back home to Saginaw are in any way boring. Quite the contrary, I usually have a frolicking good time. For example, I chanced to cross paths with this creepy individual, who was attempting to lure kids away from their parents with candy at the time...

The next day, I came across a parade of the ugliest children I had ever seen. But they were cheerful enough, which lightened the mood...

Finally, my Michigan adventure ended with an encounter with this individual, which I can only guess is the product of some Upper Peninsula genetic cross-over...

To be honest, however, I must admit that some of my experiences may have been influenced by the ruby water of Michigan's most elite in Italian dining: Olive Garden. Their red sangria is to die for, and their clientele is very upper-crust.

In retrospect, I must say that I will always have a fondness for Michigan in my heart. They suffer six months of winter snow, and their economy is in the pooper, but it's not such a bad place, in all.

But I'm still moving to Dallas when I get out.

-Sailor Matt

*It has yet to be proven that wild wolverines live, or have ever lived, in Michigan.

Divine Chocolate

This, my friend, is a $2.50 piece of chocolate:

A truffle is an amazing experience. A delicious chocolate shell encasing a soft, creamy chocolate liquor center, flavored in mint, orange, raspberry, or a myriad of other delicious combinations. I love 'em so much, I could not buy just one...

To be entirely honest, I ate five of these bad boys. I only had the forethought to take a picture after the first three were gone. I also had a stick of marshmallows dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed oreo cookies. Incredible!

The outlets in Williamsburg have a fantastic chocolate shop, in which I spent a great deal of money and blatantly abused my military discount.

-Sailor Matt

A Sailor Out of Service

O’ Navy, farewell old friend. You have been dear to me, and have shared with me experiences unimaginable, but soon I shall leave your bosom. You held my hand when I was so young, guiding me across the mysterious waters of worldly travel, worldly women and worldly alcohol. I shall always remember the Blue Motorcycle you handed me in Palma. I shall never forget Iranian night at The Mix in Dubai, nor the time you locked me in the bathroom in Naples. O’ Navy, you have been my friend, my advocate, my lover.

I am a family man now, and pulling away from the pier has grown oh so bitter sweet. My heart breaks every time I must leave my wife and child ashore, and the pleasures of sailing have faded and dulled. The wenches are less fun, the grog is less groggy. The sea foam has lost its mystical glow. The time has come for me to part ways with my dearest of partners. Farewell, o’ Navy. I shall always bleed Navy Blue.

Anchors aweigh, my boys. Anchors aweigh. Farewell to foreign shores, we sail at the break of day. Through our last night ashore, drink to the foam. Until we meet once more, here’s wishing you a happy voyage home.

-Sailor Matt