Retirement

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

lastexitlondon said:

It's gonna be all worth it. 
Safe journey 

Thanks
21 hours later we arrived.
I drove the entire 1200 miles.
Stopped every 200 or so for gas and to stretch a little. Kathy was a trooper. Haha
Cats were fantastic. 
Slept most of the way.
The last hour they got a little restless. 
But they were great!

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Poncier said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

lastexitlondon said:

It's gonna be all worth it. 
Safe journey 

Thanks
21 hours later we arrived.
I drove the entire 1200 miles.
Stopped every 200 or so for gas and to stretch a little. Kathy was a trooper. Haha
Cats were fantastic. 
Slept most of the way.
The last hour they got a little restless. 
But they were great!

Good to hear.
Was on vacation so missed the recent updates but glad all worked out. Alligator infused furniture looks good. 
Enjoy retired life in Florida, but beware, it's hot there, there are alligators, traffic and very wet water!

Where did you vacation?

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

lastexitlondon said:

It's gonna be all worth it. 
Safe journey 

Thanks
21 hours later we arrived.
I drove the entire 1200 miles.
Stopped every 200 or so for gas and to stretch a little. Kathy was a trooper. Haha
Cats were fantastic. 
Slept most of the way.
The last hour they got a little restless. 
But they were great!

lastexitlondon said:

Time for the pool speedy

lastexitlondon said:

Is that Croatia?

It’s always been up & coming since they gained independence in 1991… after the war, rebuilding etc started to take off in late 90s and now it’s one of if not the best places in all of a Europe & the world to vacation…he’ll live if you can swing it, I’d do it in a heartbeat ! It’s just a different way to view life and it’s really invigorating to me. I can’t stop smiling and enjoying everything my eyes see and smell. the Adriatic Sea is one of if not the clearest bodies of water in the world… now nutrients gases , low algae make it so… the colors are stunning. The Dalmatian coast is a sight to see, you can drive from all the way north to south in less than 7-8 hours approx… then there are islands you can go to and stay there a few days that are even more naturally beautiful… the people are generally friendly, (except for when I help up the parking ticket exit yesterday due to not prepaying, a line of Croats in cars almost crucified me 🤣) good thing I speak the language well enough… but kids are very sweet, they work in lil stores and if u tip them which I always do even though it’s not required there they are so appreciative. I haven’t been back in 20 yrs … long story, so this awesome lady who took the pic cause she knew I had ice cream on my face 😝 convinced me a few weeks ago at a Mumford & sons concert after not seeing each other for ages and knowing I hadn’t been to just come… she didn’t take no for an answer, so I had to oblige… so hard saying yes to this place😄there was a part of me that wanted to leave the past behind… being there after my dad passed and having memories in my teens n 20s … I figured it wouldn’t be the same and just bottle on the past as a memory… landing was emotional, seeing that water from the plane you get so excited … I got my car, dropped off my shit at hotel, was in the water 30 min later for hours… the European riviera lifestyle with the relaxed cafes/ having a beer … mostly rocky beaches … feels different. Then there is the medieval history with the Roman’s/ Venetian’s and cathedrals , museum… the town squares sill day    N night are bustling and you don’t feel any sense of danger or someone might rob you… listen I’m sure it happens, but rare… some tourists ( particularly from a certain place not to be mentioned) can be loud and puking all over… but mostly it’s a great peaceful vibe …the food is unreal, it’s gotten little more expensive since the euro but for Americans it’s very affordable for the most part. I’m staying little bit here little there but I got a hotel adjacent to the biggest cathedral in the region… and this past weekend you hear wedding procession from my window so I went down to dance and sing n eat before I went out to dinner with friends and to a club… no one cares, the more the merrier! 

Then I got to reconnect with my boy who started my pj concert madness, a mentor to me as a kid… always looked out for me and taught me so much about life, how to treat people and carry yourself … keep  looking out for people, be selfless…so 1998 I’m up in Oneonta as a 17 yr old freshman … broke, as any college kid… recycling beer cans so you can drink again soon … that’s what we did…. Parents paid for meal pass, tuition etc… u want entertainment… get a job , stop drinking 🤣 … so Pearl Jam  didn’t hit NY up too often before 1998, Ticketmaster shit… or I was too involved in school … so 1998 msg… again I’m broke, I’m. 5 hours away… so my buddy tells me he’s flying in from Croatia to see them… he’d seen them open for Stones in Oakland … he’s a big fan, I was so jealous of him.. fe said meet me in nyc , I’ll buy your ticket and beer/ food… whatever. I said Joe, not happening… so he sent some $$ up for gas/ tools.. said DO IT… so me and a bunch of friends packed into a VW Corrado hatch… still one of my favorite cars … and made the 4-5 hour trip … got there, inside minutes before show started … drinking bud cans on way there… goosebumps for days prior, then to get that show… with friends and my Croatian friend ( like a cousin, but better) was awesome… still talk about it to this day.. still laugh about the trek to make it.. then in 2003 I couldn’t make the show, had tix… something terrible happened , I was at fault ultimately ( didn’t kill anyone or anything) but I fucked yo in life …. After that… took me years to level out… dad got sick, couldn’t come back to my favorite place on Earth… so I got to see my grandparents graves , visit my dads humble beginnings, see some family ( many have moved away from villages etc) and just live the good life with this feeling that I made it back all the way… not just here, but mentally and in my heart… it’s been crazy. Lots changed for better, roads, malls etc… the Charm is still the same. My family has direct bloodlines to Croatian Monarchs as well as Roman ancestry … use to be an I at the end of my last name… dropped after Roman rule to signify Croatian heritage centuries ago. My dad grew up in a tiny house with 6 brothers n sisters, my grandpa built a successful business here and them too always stayed humble, always looked out for people… always. My Dad $ Grandfather were interval in Croatia’s independence in 1991 from NY… organizing , raising $$ & awareness to end the war … they met the 1st Croatian president and always told me America is the greatest… but never ever forget this place… it’s always there exiting to wrap its arms around you…. Sucks I have only few more days but I’m going hard everyday.. driving all over, only relax time is at the beach few hours a day 

Speedy you are welcome to come and I’ll show you around and we can not give a rats ass together having some good times 

Oh yea… I was dared to get a tattoo at 5am after the club by a German girl who said she’d pay for it and my drinks… 🤣 I’m glad I woke up and didn’t have a dick tattooed or something 🤣 I can live with Batman .. love Batman 

She didn’t know getting a large pc next week in ny 

Sucker… so much fun