Novel: The Plan- Tracy

[ I have intentionally scheduled Tracy's interview as the last appointment of the day. I gave my receptionist the late afternoon off. I have also taken the liberty of withdrawing $2000. from my savings and it is secured for later in my black tri-fold wallet. I stopped by the local CVS and brought a small bottle of the most expensive men's cologne that they carry. Such as it were. I've forgotten the name but the bottle is a deep hunter green and the scent is woodsy and reminds me of Douglas Fir. I also picked up a heavy lead crystal ashtray from Waterford's Online. Before her arrival I remove the domed gold cap from the cologne and give it a quick spray. Just enough for the scent to linger in the air, but not so that it overwhelms.  She arrives clean, early and with her hair fashioned in long soft curls. Her white gauzy dress leaves very little to the imagination and is obviously new. It shows off her new tan. It is here, we start our interview.]

"For me?" her eyes find the ashtray.

[I reply affirmatively...and let her know I am making a special exception to the non-smoking rule just for her. She appears pleased, then lights up.]

"Dad...er...The General tole me already that he tole you what I said to the kids about Jer...about him jus' runin' oft instead of them knowin' what he done"
 
[She looks to me for a reaction, warily.]

[I commend her for the lie, and tell her not only is it the best thing for the children, but that I think it would be best overall if Mark was told the same thing. She is visibly relieved and relaxes immediately.]

"So I done good, then?"

[ She is pathetic, always on the verge of begging for some scrap of affection and affirmation thrown her way. It will make what I am planning much easier.  To her I say, "Yes. It was exactly right. I wish I would have thought of it myself" She beams like a slow child seeking approval, and lights a second cigarette off the end of the first. I hope this progresses quickly or I may develop lung cancer from her second-hand smoke.]

"How soon do ya think I should come up tah see Mark?"

[ I tell her that perhaps The General should bring Josh and Jade up alone first. Evading her direct question then re-directing her by complimenting her new frock and hair.]

"I had some money lef' out of what you gave me. I hope you don' mind. I don' never get nothin' new."

[ "Oh no", I say reassuringly. "It really does look beautiful on you. And my late wife used to style her hair just like that."  I lie. Then I reach in my wallet and produce the cash I withdrew on the way to my office. "Here. I really want to help. I remember how hard it was just after my wife died." Another lie. This time as she folds twenty crisp 100 dollar bills her face cannot contain the surprise and shock. It is probably the most money the woman has had in a lump sum. She rises. Drops her cigarette half finished in the crystal ashtray and rises  reaching for me. Embracing me tightly. This time I let her and smooth her hair with my free hand. She sobs. Shaking through the thin material of the dress.]

"I'm sorry, it is just so hard. All tha time."  

[I let my hand linger, a moment too long, at the small of her back. Then act as though I am trying to compose myself. A victim of her feminine wiles. It is working. Christ, she obviously believes I am interested in her. I apologize and tell her that was very unprofessional of me. That a doctor is legally bound to not get involved with his clients. That I could be in serious trouble if anyone ever knew. That I knew how lonely she must be because I have been that lonely for years. The Academy Award for BEST acting, right here, people. No stage hands, grips or Best Boy needed.]

"I would never hurt you." she croons.

[The irony of this heartfelt statement makes me bite the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The choked back laugh comes out sounding a lot like a sob, but tears still fill my eyes. She thinks they are tears of sadness, or loneliness, or longing, or whatever. I turn away before I laugh in her face and ruin everything.]

"I have to go. I wil' see you nex' week" she promises, after we conclude our discussion of Mark and the progress he appears to be making, and I nod.
She reaches and gives my hand a pat before she walks away.

Strangely, after she has left the office, I find myself in a state of extreme arousal.  
"Sportin' Wood", as Tracy would undoubtedly laugh bawdily, and say.

She would believe it was what her body could do to me. In reality it is the thought of what I am planning to do to her body that has caused the erection. Ignoring it, I dump the filthy ashtray and after washing and drying it to its former pristine condition I slip it into my desk drawer until next week, and notice my member has retuned to its normal flaccid state.

Turkey Survives Coup Attempt...The Cicadias Have Arrived...and Preparing for Virtual Scotland

So after a rather rowdy night...The Turkish Government says

"We've GOT this." (note the tank)

and also added that those participating in the failed coup would be penalized. I am sure that means an entirely different thing than the penalties we impose here in The States.

                        "American Gated Bed and Breakfast Incarceration"

                                                "Turkish Prison"

I must admit breathing a small sign of relief, though,  as I don't want to see the whole thing fall into a Domino Effect with Putin involved, Then Us involved...then BAM...another damned war on our hands. 

So today-

The Cicadis arrived...er...returned. Red-eyed, loud and loathsome. No, not your drunk uncle...but just as annoying.

The Maples, Black Locusts, Pines ( and ground) are scattered with moulted shells and the treetops are clattering. You have to appreciate their timing. One tree full will sing their song...and then it will work its way to the next and the next one in kind of a loud Cicadan Wave.

(listen for yourself)

https://youtu.be/mah26og11ms

Now imagine this noise times 1000 or so. In the trees just behind your house.

Yeah...it's like that.

And if you are outside chatting with a friend, it does absolutely no good to raise your voice. They simply adjust their own decibel level.
It is uncanny, really.  All the bug-eaters seem thrilled. The annual smorgasbord is open!

Happy that Mayes took a little extra time wandering Scotland and prepping for my own Virtual Scotland to begin Monday!

Scotland Itinerary:

I want to see a traditional Scottish stone house like Mayes describes in her rental.

I want to try Oatcakes.

I want to learn about some of the geology of the region and procure a piece of Basalt.

I want to learn some of the Scottish Slang and Gaelic Language.

I want to try my hand at making Scotch Whiskey.  Just a wee bit. I have already tried both Glen Livet and Glen Fiddich in the past. Or maybe just some Stout.


I want to discover Glasgow.

I want to try some of the Scottish Dishes she prepared and share some recipes. I also am going to try Haggis (tinned) for my very first time. EVER.  And perhaps my last...

I want to see Highland Cows...and maybe taste Highland Beef if available.

I want to check out the innumerable castles, ruins of abbeys, lochs, and gardens.

I want to read about the lore of Nessie in Loch Ness.

I want to learn a bit about St. Andrew (Patron St. of Scotland)

I want to explore Autchermuchy.

I want to read some poetry by Robert Burns. Want to Create a Robert Burns Dinner.

I want to try a real bagpipe if possible...or at the very least understand how one works and hear some Scottish Music.

I want to learn about the Scottish Clans and the Tartans (plaids) they used to identify themselves.

I want to make Susan's Mother's Summer Pudding (using blackberries)


I want to explore Glamis Castle and grounds.

I want to explore the outlying Islands. Especially the Shetland Islands. 

I want to try a bit of Scottish Tablet Sweet.

And I want to try to confine the virtual trip to a month's time. I have turned two fellow writer/unable to travel distances any more on to the wonders that is Virtual Travel, and we are set for a small group adventure to Greece in mid-August together. I will be following Mayes footsteps pretty closely witha few deviations to accompany group travel.

May see if "Idgy" wants to join us, as well! We haven't set off on a good virtual adventure for a while!

So there is that. 

Finishing up here for a completely Zen Sunday.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

               Glasgow at Night

Roller Coaster Week...Politics and Pence...Mall-Ratting...Lokai...Reunion after 30+ Years...and Pokemon Power

This week has been a lot like:

Noooooooooooooo...Oh, hell no...Awesome...AMAZING....Water from Mount Everest and Mud from the Dead Sea, no kidding...OMG together at last...Damn, did we ever get OLD...it is sooooooooooo good to be together again...didn't you USED to have hair??? And, Hey you kids get off my lawn...what do you mean there is a Charizard out there? Maybe Maintenance can call Pest Control!

So,  Bernie endorsed Hillary and we all threw up a little in our mouths...but life went on and we spent Monday recalculating...just like the GPS wench.  Then just when we thought we had it figured out

"Maybe Jill Stein"

Trump announced his pick for VP. Indiana's own Mike Pence.

"OMFG...NO...just NO! "

And suddenly even Voting for Hillary was not off the table. I have watched Pence for the last four years destroy Indiana. I will do anything I HAVE to do to make sure he is NOT one heartbeat away from The Presidency, okay???

ANYTHING.

And if you do not live in Indiana...well you have been warned. Put this in perspective. Donald Trump couldn't scare me bad enough to vote for Hillary...but Mike Pence does the job.

Thank goodness, the rest of the week was beyond positive.

Enjoyed two of my grands, Mall-Ratting with them Wednesday before school is back in session. It was wonderful. Kaylee is now 11 (...we stuck candles in our Cinnabons...) and Hannah Renee is 9.  Such fun ages! They are amazing.

Apparently you ACTUALLY CAN shop till you drop!  Who knew, right?

We had such fun together...and my 11 year  old "grand" taught me about the new fashion bracelet fad:   Lokai

A silicone bead bracelet set with a Black and a White bead across from each other.  The black bead has mud inside from the Dead Sea (symbolizing life's lows) and the white has water from Mt. Everest (symbolic of life's highs) and the bracelet is a reminder of BALANCE in life.

Apparently, Lokai Bracelets are The Trend right now.
 (I had never even heard of them)

You can read more about the company, the bracelet and even purchase your own
here

http://mylokai.com/

I have one of the Classics which were available on our Mall Trip and plan to get one of the Black (Custom) bracelets online.

I was also privileged to have a Reunion 5 Hour Brunch with friends, this week, that I literally lost touch with since my early 20's and had not seen for over 30-35 years. We camped out at Almost Home Tea Room together from Noon until 5 PM laughing, chatting and, best of all, just catching up on each others lives...barely scratching the surface. It was absolutely amazing!  Now we have children, grandchildren, are retired from great careers, have grey hair (or no hair at all...you can stop laughing now, John) Against all odds...somehow we all got older. And the BANK JOB we always used to discuss (only half-jokingly) and the particular small town bank...is now PERMANENTLY closed.  See what happens when you put things off for 35 years? What do you mean we "should have phoned ahead??"  We are indisputably the most incompetent bank robbers- ever.  Now that we are back in touch we are going to stay in touch! It was so good to laugh and talk and be together again. Maya Angelou was right...

Because sitting around that table...we weren't retired, or older, or grey...we were right back around that camp-fire under the stars, with fried bass, cold beer and morels, hiding Curry's clothes while he was showering, and discussing the possibility of an armed robbery we would never commit!
I love you guys!
Forever.

Because I am still in awe of how this has taken the World by Storm...just a bit more about Pokemon Go...

Daily the headlines are screaming about this or that which has ocurred since the game released a little more than a week back.  Face it...this is what happens any time anything NEW is launched. The negative stories tend to float to the top...because that s how we are. Monkeys at The Obelisk. Hooting and throwing rocks.

And some of the stuff is common sense...don't walk off a cliff while chasing a Pokemon...Don't Pokemon Go and DRIVE at the same time for fuck's sake...and do they really need to tell you that you shouldn't Pokemon Go at Arlington Cemetery or in a Holocaust Museum. 

Seriously!


Here are some of the really good changes I have seen since the games release:


Nintendo stock is through the roof. If you had 100 shares the Wednesday before it launched...today you would have already have made $1600. over and above the original price...all while sitting comfortably on your sofa.   Buy. Buy. Buy!  
I actually saw a buyer on Friday that picked up 600 shares. It is still early on...and hasn't come close to peaking yet.


Some people are downloading "Steps For" APPS at the same time...so while they are walking to capture the closest Squirtle they are also donating to good causes!

Young children...20-somethings and oldsters (like me) are gathering is small pods and family units playing together again. How wonderful this is cannot be over-stated.

Everyone is laughing together while they are doing it.

People playing are talking/socializing with each other while laughing/getting exercise and playing together.

Dogs are getting walked, like, 5 times a day!
 
And an anecdotal story from my eldest  and his wife about the first night they tried out the APP...and were happily hunting Pokemon near their home at around 1 AM. They happened across a 90 year old man...a Vet...who was clinging to a stop sign with his dog in tow. He had been out alone and got turned around...LOST. They said he was terrified. 

Together they found where he lived and got him home safely!

That is a Pokemon Go story worth the telling!

So don't be one of these people...okay?

                                    " And take your Pokemons with you"


Apparently, since there wasn't enough going on in the World...there was an attempted coup in Turkey. While I was writing this blog.

You know this crap wouldn't happen if everyone just had Pokemon Go to play...right???

More anon...

Congratulations DNC...

You have finally done it.

You have finally managed to completely make a mockery and sham of the Presidential Elections, and disgust and turn away a life-long politiphile.

                                    You must be so proud of yourselves.

You know, I think I would have felt better about the whole thing if you had simply "Appointed" her instead of playing us along like we had a choice or our vote would actually matter.  Of course, indirectly that is what you did anyway.

And it is NOT paranoia when the released emails show they really were out-to-get you while they were busy gas-lighting us all. 
 Just sayin'

Know that you got what you wanted...but you certainly can't force any of us to vote for her in the General. And stop screaming about that being a vote for Trump...because If YOUR candidate isn't a strong enough candidate to beat Trump without MY vote....well...maybe you should have picked a stronger candidate.

Just sayin'

And I am angry at Bernie, too.

What the hell happened to Contested Convention...Not Over Until July 25th...and Standing with Us like we have stood with you through the entire Primary. Now 12 days from the Convention you are going to bail on us????? What about the supporters who have booked flights and hotels and taking buses, trains and automobiles so that they could have stood behind you at the Convention. What about the millions of new voter millennials who BELIEVED in you??? Do you REALLY believe a word of her Concessions? Because if you do...you are some special kind of stupid.

She will say or do anything to get the Nomination. Hasn't she already proven this??

I can't even imagine what they must be feeling right now...if a seasoned voter like myself can feel such let-down.  But it must certainly be along the lines of why BOTHER to vote at all. And what about the supporters who scraped together every spare vacuum cent to donate to your campaign?

Yes...good on you DNC, Hillary, and Bernie for proving out what millions of them say everyday

"Our Vote Doesn't Count"

You are all so afraid Trump will take office that you have all but ensured that he will.

Good on you.

And if...by some chance Hillary does manage to pull it off...what you have effectively done is condone mass election fraud, rigging, manipulation of the MSM, and ensure this country years more gridlock and scandal after scandal (costing taxpayers millions upon millions of dollars)

Once again...good on you.

Just don't be depending on MY VOTE, okay?

Or you will be sadly disappointed.

                                          Having an "Iago" Moment.

And don't think those millennials you just disenfranchised by the millions will forget this in the future either...if you can manage to make ME apolitical...what do you think it is going to do to an 18 year old???

Pokemon Go: Or WHY is there a Pidgey on the Lawn...Kaylee is 11...Tarzan and a Quick Glance at Wales

Pokeman Go: The App.  They're Baaaaaaaaaaaack!  It's crazy. And sweeping the nation. My small college town is in the thick of it. Chris and Tina (revisiting their own childhoods) are as well.

Got my first exposure on Friday, actually. Chris bringing me up-to-speed.

It's basically Geocache with Cyber-Pokemen strewn through the local churches, stores, nature parks and landmarks. Brilliant actually.
 Most of these kids grew up with Pokeman: The Card Games, the Movies, the Gameboys...this is the natural progression. Not only does it assure the resurgence of the formerly mentioned...but it adds an adult (nostalgia) twist to all of it.
Already stock is through the roof. 

James stopped by on Sunday for some 1:1 time...socio-political discussion (where after all these years we may have actually stumbled on some common ground,a minor miracle...it seems we have both evolved a bit), brought me a gallon of milk and something I had never tried before: Cinnamon Raisin Mini-Bagels. 

OMG! 
I'm hooked. 

Also played a little guitar, turned me on to Blue October's new stuff, and Tool.  I liked Tool a lot!

Today, Kaylee turned 11

 How the hell did THAT happen???  From this

to this

Later this week, She, Hannah and I are heading out for our own Mall-Ratting Adventure together!

Can't wait!

Here is something you might want to wait on though.

The New Tarzan. Saw it Sunday. Supposedly, a sequel to Lord Greystoke. Sort of...except apparently the director and screenwriters didn't actually WATCH the first film. They took a lot of liberties with the Greystoke story. And, they added in Samuel Jackson, who was playing the same character he played in his previous Tarantino film.  It is Tarzan. He doesn't need back-up or a big gun for crum's sake. And  Alexander Scarsgard as John Clayton the III (aka Tarzan) has the amazing body, to be sure...but everything else including his voice screamed Metrosexual Male. You seriously half-expected him to remember he had a mani and pedi scheduled somewhere through the picture.  Maybe on second thought, he did need back-up. Margot Robbie was the film's saving grace as a strong female lead as Jane.  All in all...disappointing.
Wait for it on CD.  
You will be happy you did.

Frances Mayes spent very very little time in Wales. Barely a mention, really. And there is Scotland (which she fleshed out much better) so taking a quick moment to check out Wales...then it is off to Scotland.

I loved their Crest!

Like Ireland and England they had their share of Castles and beautiful Coastline.

Differing in that their language (Welsh) was derived from Germanic origins and is still spoke there today.

https://youtu.be/x0eNEKax_Rc

This is a good tour of tiny, beautiful Wales.

And now it is time to bid Hwyl Fwar  (Welsh for Goodbye) to Wales and soon to follow Mayes to Scotland.

More anon...

Self-Victimization

 I lost a friend last night.  I had known her for 7 years.

By the end of our conversation it was painfully clear we were never really friends...more of acquaintances, I suppose. 

And our only point of agreement may have been that-  NO, apparently I never really knew her at all.  If I had, I realized I wouldn't have liked her much, and certainly would have never considered her a friend.  It was sad.

I should have got a clue years back when she referred to me as her "white" friend.  You see, it would have never dawned on me to refer to any of my friends by their skin color...or their religious persuasion.  I don't introduce someone as ________________ my _______________ friend.

(okay...maybe years back I used the word DRUNK...but that was just once, Jake, let it go...)

It is not a matter of being PC. Back in the day we didn't call it being politically correct, anyway.

We called it "manners". 

But I digress. 

I made the mistake of trying to discuss the shootings deaths of the two young black men this week (horrid and completely unjustified in my opinion) and the five Dallas police officers (also horrible and completely unjustified in my opinion). 

The conversation devolved quickly. 

The random shootings of two black males, in her opinion was completely unjustified. Executions. I agreed fully. 

The random killings of 5 police officers who only moments before were helping serve and protect a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest...she deemed Deserved. Because their skin happened to be white and they were wearing a blue uniform. And the shooter was A Victim of White Oppression.

 WTH????    Seriously????


Then she turned on me with the whole White Privilege sermon and at one point in the by-now-heated conversation used the words YOUR KIND...to describe me. And that white people really couldn't ever understand. That I just didn't "get it".

My KIND????

"Not Get It???"

"White Privilege?"

Yeah...this conversation is done, okay.

Somehow she could see how horrible and unjust it was for (as she called them) Her People.

Timothy McVeigh, Ted Bundy, and Charles Manson, all white...but never really considered MY PEOPLE, okay?

But she couldn't quite make that giant leap that the five officers who were killed were selected by the color of their skin as well, just as hate filled and randomly...and also left behind widows and children who were going to have their lives turned upside down. That their children would grieve the same tears as Sterling's children. Or Castiles' girlfriend or his family.

Tears of grief over hateful senseless killings aren't black or white. They are colorless. 

I grew up in the 60's-70's.  It was an amazing time. Our Generation (well most of us) were all about love and unity. We (both black and white) had grown up in households full of racism/prejudice and swore that we would not live that way. We would not raise our children that way. That people weren't the color of their skin but (to paraphrase Dr. King) their character. Their values. 

We swore to raise the next generation this way.

Many of us succeeded.

We believed in a world where you could be Black or White or Yellow or Red, Christian or Jewish, Buddhist or Baptist, Catholic or Wiccan, Atheist or Agnostic, Straight or Gay...Able Bodied or Disabled, Heavy or Thin or somewhere in between...and nobody cared. 

 Nobody judged on such superficial matters.

(I can hear you thinking YEAH RIGHT...and rolling your eyes...Congratulations...you are part of the problem, then)

Face it. Anybody can say

Poor Me...I'm  ____________________.

Anyone can fill in that blank.  Disabled, Gay, A Woman, Fat, Jewish, et al....and yes...even Black or White.

(...and if you happen to be a disabled, fat, black, Jewish, lesbian woman...well i guess you are pretty much screwed...)

You can scream to the heavens how unfair life is, how you are being oppressed, kept down, victimized.

The fact of the matter is that you ARE being victimized. By yourself.

Self-Victimization.

And it is going to continue until you stop using whatever crutch you are holding on to and decide to STOP being The Victim.

There will probably always be bigots and racists. Prejudiced people. But we don't have to let them define us. We don't have to play the role they try to hand us. When we let them destroy the good person we could otherwise be...well...you might as well slip a slave collar and shackles on yourself. Because you're wearing them.

I understand my former friend's concerns. I really do. She worries that one day an officer much like the one who shot Sterling or Castile may end up shooting a daughter, son, or family member of her own over the color of his or her skin.

I have sons. Three of them. My eldest is covered in tattoos...as is his wife. I know that there are many people out there who see their piercings and tattoos and immediately "judge" them based on it. Thugs/Gangsta. Trash. Never knowing one thing about them. ( They are both loving and caring, hard working, and great parents...who happen to love tattoos ) Replace Trayvon Martin with my skinny tattoo covered "white boy" son...put a hoodie on him and send him through an upscale gated neighborhood late at night (skittles and iced tea optional) and some over-zealous Zimmerman Wanna Be might shoot him, as well.

I have worried over it, too.

We need to stand together (all of us) and fight injustice...instead of fighting between ourselves and creating more division. 

Otherwise (as Pogo says)

"We have met the enemy...and he is US"

 

The Winner...Politics...and Irish Chocolates!

If you have ever wondered how ANYTHING the size of a large grain of pepper could drive you to distraction...you've clearly never owned a cat or dog.

And yes...I did put Advantage between Tucker's shoulder blades early in the season...and no...it did NOT stop the little bouncers this year. 

So...not an infestation but plenty annoying when you sit down with a nice cup of tea and the paper or a book and soon enough the random

"Boing"  "Boing"  

BITE.

 (ouch!)

And in short order it became very apparent how 3/4 of Europe died with the Black Plague. 

After trying various sprays and such I pulled out the heavy artillery this morning.

At this risk of being completely tasteless, this stuff (Enforcer) is Zyklon-B for fleas.

Placed one hissing cannister at either end of my flat...pressed the levers...and ran.  No worries. Tucker was safely outside throughout the ordeal. His ordeal came later in the form of the flea-bath of a lifetime.
He is STILL pissed, I might add.

Came back in 2 hours later to air out the house with ZERO hoppers noted! Enforcer keeps killing for up to 7 months fleas and eggs.

Mission Accomplished!

Before either Tucker or I were skeletonized by them.

So many directions in the political arena this week, it is hard to know where to begin. Or, if, to begin at all.

Maybe in England...where the guy that rallied the voters to vote for Brexit...has now decided to step down like the PM did last week.

 "Say what??? Bloody Wanker."

 Everything is still a clusterfuck  there.
 The silver lining?  If you live in The States, there has never been a less expensive time to visit England.

Just Sayin'  

Speaking of clusterfucks. You need to look no further than the 2016 Presidential Primary Election, here.  Unbelievable. Just shaking my head. The FBI says there will be No Hillary Indictment.  "Cheeto Jesus" is still being effing outrageous. And Bernie Sanders is appearing more and more like my Obi Wan Kenobi.

Focusing on the Progressives in Congress and those that are challenging in the House/Senate...and, of course, those on a local and State level.  We can change things from the bottom up. And still putting pressure on the DNC and Super-delegates before the Nomination on July 25th.

The latest turd-in-the-punchbowl?  Donald Trump may be picking our very own Mike Pence for the VP slot. As someone who has watched this guy's ascent through his political career in Indiana (and then his rapid descent)...and the disastrous 4 years he has spent as our governor...my advice is to be afraid...be very afraid.  Even Mike's own party in Indiana wants him the hell out of here. In a predominately Red State...that tells you all you need to know. The very idea of him ever being one heartbeat away from the Presidency is appalling.  
Ask any Hoosier you know.

I'm seeing Brando in Apocalypse Now

"The Horror. The Horror."

Caught the new Independence Day: Resurgence  (after a "day before re-watch" of the Will Smith older one)  Nicely done sequel, with a lot of the old cast and a few really good new faces. Worth the time.

Also Mother's Day with Jennifer Aniston. Chick Flick, but if you are a Mom you have GOT to see this film!

And last, but not, least The Fundamentals of Caring. Truly a film that will make you laugh....and cry.....and then laugh again. For everyone. Even my eldest son said

"Hell of a film, Mom!"

 Check it out!

Since scratching the surface of Ireland (Dublin) I realize that an in-depth virtual adventure will have to wait...or I will never get through Mayes book by the end of the year. So anticipate an in-depth journey at a later date, as I still have to finish Scotland and Wales before moving on from The British Isles.

However, this arrived!

My tin of Butler's Chocolates direct from Dublin Ireland.

Had to laugh at the Customs Tag, though. (below)
(Note the.. May Be Officially Opened...just above the declaration of Chocolates)

Suddenly realizing why a career as a customs agent would have never worked out for me.

"Ah, sod off...that is the third tin you have confiscated for inspection this week!"

me:  nomnomnomnom

So we will finish up with Mayes travels this year...and then revisit Ireland for an as-long-as-it-takes adventure!

Now, about that chocolate.

A heavy milk chocolate shell enrobing a creamy dark truffle. Quite nice!

The tin holds about 20 truffles.

Try them yourself!

http://www.butlerschocolates.com/

Rich, decadent and delicious!

More Anon...