The Mysterious Jolly Roger

As I left out this morning, work bound, the dew was heavy. and the sky was grey. I looked across the foggy lawn at the skiff stare into the distance wishing I was crawling aboard for a day at sea. then it happened, so appropriately, Ol' Jolly Roger Whipped around with a sudden breeze and stuck to the damp windshield of the center console and stared at me. I felt needed by the sea!!!
- True Story

Capt. B
Dead Mans Chest

Pirates of the Open Waters

Pirates of the Open Waters...
exactly what we were a couple of weeks ago, every time I climb aboard any vessel I feel the excitement and desire of a rugged, moralless pirate...
Far fetched imagination you might say, for me, its research and history. I'm not sure if I had any pirate ancestors or how I would feel about them if I did. Not really a respectable career, however, very intriguing and interesting never the less. I feel guilty saying this but I get a rush from the current pirate attacks. Not excited of them harming a human being, but from the history and the past of pirate life, with the exception of prostitution, pirating may be one of the oldest professions...
...back to the story, headed out onto the open water, a night of camping, exploring, fishing, bullshitting, rum drinking, making up stories, and living one night on a deserted island, an island filled with lost treasure and mystery. Upon offloading the mothership (Surrender the Booty) into the water, anxiety filled my veins, felt like the first time all over again, as Captain Jarrett started the engine we knew it was only minutes before the adventure began. I could picture Blackbeard's deckhands loading Queen Annes Revenge with ammunition, rum, food, and raising the sails, ready to embark on their next path to Hell...
The water was rough, always alittle harsh on the nerves, but adds to the excitement of being upon unsettled waters, mother-nature in control, just a tiny speck surrounded by Salt Life. A 10 minute trip that lasted two hours now...
Land Ahoy!!! Find the perfect camp spot, "tide is going to be high tonight", Gather twigs, palmettos, and palms. Look for wildlife, and hunt for food, wait, wait, wait... Priorities, Priorities mate, Pass the RUM! Now, take the new cutlass that i have been fantasizing about using for weeks now, and start cutting palmettos for a gear pad and the dead ones for the fire. Start the fire, wait... wait... the vessel is washing ashore... push, lift... back to the fire..
there we go we have smoke and there it is... Captain Jarrett has always had a nak for starting cod roasters. OK we are right on track. "Wait.. wait... wait..., hurry come quick the rough current has again washed the mothership ashore, this time, its dark, the RUM is working its magic and mother-earth has done a number on the boat, lift, push, lift, push, twist, lift, push, almost there. OH MY GOD!!! MOTHER OF ALL LOST PIRATE SHIPS!!!!!!! MY LIP!!! THE BOAT HIT ME IN THE FACE AND I BIT THE DAMN THING OFF!!! Blood is gushing like I have been razorsliced in the face, hurt like hell it did, "Yo Bro, probably could use a few stitches, the ship is wrecked ashore, have to wait till morning comes before we can leave. "Pirate First Aid" time, pass the RUM, 5 big gulps and sanitize the wound, awwwwwwwww!!! that's a nice feeling, feels similar to sticking your head in the fire pit. A little ice now, more Rum, and forget about it. A few more moments and gone, not asleep, drunk from rum and adrenaline, things become foggy and wow morning time, damn my head is pounding, I swore i wasn't going to get plastered, Tylenol please!, DAMN, Pirates had to be some tough mothers! Feeling weak and wimpy this morning. Get the boat in the water, coffee, load the boat, coffee, more coffee, more Tylenol, homeward bound! A night in dreamer's eyes, lived to the fullest, and unforgettable adventure. A little adventure + a huge imagination = Complete Satisfaction. Never give up an opportunity to make a good-time a life experience by adding your own little twist.

Step III - The Big Question?

February 07, 2009
Today is the big day.
8:00 a.m. -Wake-up
8:10 a.m. - Feed the Pups
8:15 a.m. - Coffee
9:00 a.m. - Breakfast & Tylenol
9:45 a.m. - More coffee
10:30 a.m. - Shower
10:45 a.m. - Dress
Noon - Sarah, unaware of what the day holds - Wakes up
1:30 p.m. - Ready to go and the Brown family shows up, what is this??? Sarah is going to want to go with them, this is messing up the plans, what is going to happen, is this really happening to me?
2:00 p.m - Finally on the way, you know to the coast, its a beautiful weekend in February and I am craving the smell and feel of the ocean's therapy.
3:30 p.m. - Pick up lunch to-go from Arby's and find parking ( I can't believe that I really just paid 5 bucks for parking and I can park at the Hotel for free.)
4:00 p.m. - The wind is whipping through the cool air and across the top of the loose sand, I am freezing. So much for the planned picnic with champagne and cuddling on a blanket on the beach, it is freakin cold!
4:15 p.m. - Finished eating Arby's (The new toasted subs are awesome). Sarah fed the birds and we are now being attacked. She is ready to go, wait the moment is not right yet, I have to get my mind right, I take a hike to the closest trash can to toss the leftovers and our garbage... This will give me that moment with my thoughts. As I return and sit, Sarah is insisting, "Lets go, it is so cold." Ok this is it! As I pack away our things in my survival pack, I explain to her that sometimes you plan things and have this perfect mental picture of how everything will fall in place and then it turns out freezing and your plans change. As I am explaining, I fondle around my bag until that little black box falls into my palm. This is it!!! As I stand, turn, and fall to my knees. She is continuesouly asking, "Are you serious, are you serious, tears roll down our faces as I ask. She says YES! The ring is huge, but gorgeous on her hand. Chapter II of 'US' begins now. What a beautiful day!

Step II - Choose the Perfect Band

February 02, 2009
Well I did it today. I searched page after page, color after color, price after price, shape after shape, and setting after setting. Finally, there it was just waiting to be placed in that little box and wait patiently for it to go to work and be that bond between she and I. Its not huge that's for sure but the love behind it is worth more than any dollar can buy. It may not be the priciest in the glass case but something said perfect and it definitely has unique character. Come Saturday that little band will have a huge roll in two becoming one. For now its tucked away in a black velvet box placed in a safe, secure, and secluded inner pocket of a suit coat. The next time light reflects from its core it'll be looking into her eyes waiting for an answer.

Step I - Ask for the Blessing

01/30/2009
Holy Crap! I did something insanely off the wall today. Its so great that I can't spill the beans just yet. I feel really good about myself and about my life and the direction that I am taking in this adventure on earth. All of this adrenaline was running through my body and soul like a million rockets headed for space, my mind was spinning and blank at the same moment. Its not that I was nervous it was just setting my mind to the task and actually following though with step one. I feel the steps to follow will come with ease, it felt like taking that first step after crawling for such a long period of time. I now sit with ease and pinch myself to make sure i wasn't just dreaming.

Listen carefully:
Follow close behind, don't step on my heals I won't leave you in the woods alone. This path will have two sets of footprints...

S.A.D.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter repeatedly, year after year. The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed.

I discovered today that I am this disease during a long stretch of cold, dreary, rainy, and ugly weather that does not allow me to see the outdoors and catch some rays.

No outdoor activity, No Boating, no camping, no biking, no hiking, no fishing, no playing with my pups, no kayaking, no yard work, no landscaping, no beach, no green trees, no honey bees, no green grass, all i do is sit here on my ass, no girls in skimpy bikini's, no picnics, no flowers, no grilling just a lot of chilling, no beer outside, no surfing, no sailing, no eating outdoors, no frisbee, no whiffle ball, no warm air, no dry air, no color on the earth, no sun tan, no windows down, no top back, never warm, NO FUN WHATSOEVER! Sorry to rant and rave about something that cannot be changed. I just want to go outside and play. I feel like that kid that lived in the bubble from that movie... yeah that one. Just let me out please. Sincerely, I need sun.

A Craiglist Posting

I just received this email with the below Craigslist Posting, I felt obligated to share this with you all: I checked Craiglist for this listing and it is a legit story.

Subject: Craiglist posting - good reading

I was the white guy with the black Burberry jacket that you demanded I hand over shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I hope you somehow come across this message.

I'd like to apologize. I didn't expect you to crap your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. Truth is, I was wearing the jacket for a reason that evening, and it wasn't that cold outside. You see, my girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber 1911 .45 ACP pistol for Christmas, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that evening. Beautiful pistol, eh? It's a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head, isn't it?

I know it probably wasn't a great deal of fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge flopping about in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse since you also ended up leaving your shoes, cellphone, and wallet with me. I couldn't have you calling up any of your buddies to come help you try to mug us again. I took the liberty of calling your mother, or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, and explaining to her your situation. I also bought myself some gas on your card. I gave your shoes to one of the homeless guys over by Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all of the cash in your wallet, then I threw the wallet itself in a dumpster. I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell. They'll be on your bill in case you'd like to know which ones. Alltel recently shut down the line, and I've only had the phone for a little over a day now, so I don't know what's going on with that. I hope they haven't permanently cut off your service. I was about to make some threatening phone calls to the DA's office with it. Oh well.

So, about your pants. I know that I was a little rough on you when you did this whole attempted mugging thing, so I'd like to make it up to you. I'm sure you've already washed your pants, so I'd like to help you out. I'd like to reimburse you for the detergent you used on the pants. What brand did you use, and was it liquid or powder? I'd also like to apologize for not killing you and instead making you walk back home humiliated. I'm hoping that you'll reconsider your choice of path in life. Next time you might not be so lucky.

If you read this message, email me and we'll do lunch and laundry. Peace!

Alex

Unplugged Values? What is this Blog?

Unplugged Values simply means that there is no order to this blog, no topic, no limit to discussion. Sometimes you'll find a rant that last for days sometimes you'll find life lessons, maybe even a praise. I'm not a miserable person, just a deep thinker in thought, a little hippie, a little tree-hugger, pirate of the seas, business man, educator, designer, artist, musician, writer, reader, coffee drinker ( black, no sugar, no creamer, just black please), beer & wine connoisseur, adventurer looking for an adventure, mariner, fisherman, dog lover, dreamer, a kid at heart, a child of GOD, an optimist on a positive route, and the list does not really have an end. Lost in transition from boy to man, I find myself drifting in between the stages of life. I adapt to situations and revert in minutes. I spent too many years in college and graduated a few years too early. I have laid my head on an array of pillows, and awakened to different faces, I follow my heart and soul, I use my brain and come to no conclusion. I chase dreams and usually find a different path on my journey to success. I see the world fall apart starting in a classroom and find the faults wandering the streets, I see the successful being hindered by the ones with no concern. I have random thoughts and few endings. I love nature and swinging from the limbs of different trees. Class is changing and I'm ending for now. Thanks for resting your eyes on my page stay tuned.