What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0255

12701.  Choose to change what happens next: You can’t change what happened, but you can change what happens next;

12702.  Maturing beyond others’ opinions: Maturing is realizing other people’s bullshit is not about you.  Let them.  You have more important things to do;

12703.  Make something good happen today: Today is going to be a good day because I’m going to make something good happen.  I’m bringing a good attitude.  I'm going to have good energy.  I’m going to have good boundaries, so I am not going to let stupid stuff drain me;

12704.  Apparently, the way to get a discount on your next Viking cruise, is to be on a cruise during a heatwave/drought and have the air conditioning (on the ship) go out for 2-3 days;

12705.  Most of the time a woman’s receptivity to meeting a stranger has nothing to do with you;

12706.  You cannot change yourself to make women who reject you like you more.  Because most times you could put any guy in your place and they would have gotten the same reaction;

12707.  Approaching women is like pulling the lever on a slot machine.  You never know what you’re going to get.  You could win the jackpot or you could get absolutely nothing.  The best part is that the “approaching women slot machine” is free and only takes a second.  You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to play.  And you can pull that lever whenever you want, as much as you want, if you have the nerve and the stamina;

12708.  Approaching women has an element of luck that we cannot control;

12709.  Improve yourself into the man you think is awesome and not what you think women would like;

12710.  Approach every woman you want to meet.  Treat it like pulling the lever on a slot machine.  You’ll win sometimes.  And sometimes you won’t.  When you don’t win, don’t sit there and analyze how you could have pulled the lever better.  Don’t assume the machine thinks you’re ugly.  Don’t bang your head against the machine trying to turn the last wheel into a jackpot cause you’re one cherry away.  Just smile and pull the lever again . . . and again . . . and again . . . until you hit the jackpot;

12711.  The char siu pork shank (with wok seared shrimp fried rice, bean sprouts, snow peas, egg, sweet & sour sauce & tamari) at the Royal Restaurant (RoyalRestaurantVa.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is tasty;

12712.  The vegetable pakora at Bollywood Masala (BollywoodMasalaAlexandria.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is tasty.  It’s crispy and has a good crunch.  It’s like Indian tempura;

12713.  (Former Washington Capitals defenseman) Steve(n) Olesky married Brooke Hogan (i.e., Hulk Hogan’s daughter);

12714.  When you don’t ask for permission, people read it as a sign that something is already underway.  There’s research in venture capital showing that investors don’t just judge the facts, they judge the founder’s commitment and behavior.  When someone moves forward like something is already happening, it registers as a green light and as a signal that the investment might happen with or without the investors, so they are more likely to invest;

12715.  Exercise science shows that the best workout isn’t the most extreme one; it’s the one that fits you.  Research consistently finds that people stick with physical activity longer when the type, intensity and environment match their preferences and lifestyle.  When a workout feels personally meaningful or enjoyable, adherence goes way up;

12716.  Blueberries and strawberries pair well with Jell-O (zero sugar) lemon pudding;

12717.  Jell-O zero sugar lemon pudding makes a good fruit dip;

12718.  (I can say) I’ve had durian, specifically durian custard. . . . It’s like they made custard with diesel fuel.  It has a (nice) custard flavor that turns into a (light,) diesel fuel vapor tang;

12719.  (I can say) I’ve been to an IndyCar (Series) race(, specifically the Freedom 250 Grand Prix);

12720.  (I can say) I’ve been to qualifying at an IndyCar (Series) race(, specifically the Freedom 250 Grand Prix);

12721.  (I can say) I’ve seen Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Helio Castroneves, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Tommy Kendall and Tony Kanaan race( in the I(nternational )R(ace )o(f )C(hampions) races at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix);

12722.  Jeff Gordon said the Freedom 250 Grand Prix was his first street circuit race;

12723.  The chicken and waffles at “Southern Style Chicken & Waffle” (WafflesSC.com) are tasty. . . . I (quite) like their “sweet & spicy” sauce;

12724.  The homemade strawberry lemonade at “Southern Style Chicken & Waffle” is tasty;

12725.  Apparently, the chicken, fish and waffles at “Southern Style Chicken & Waffle” are made-to-order. . . . When dining in, it makes the food hard to eat because it’s so hot;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0254

12651.  There was a lot of inbreeding in the Habsburg family;

12652.  At their height, the Habsburgs ruled over a third to a ¼ of Europe’s landmass;

12653.  Maria Theresa (Habsburg) was crowned queen at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava;

12654.  There are McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger Kings and Subways in Bratislava;

12655.  There are no open container laws in Slovakia;

12656.  (I can say) I've had Chateaubriand.  It's basically (beef) steak with a wine sauce;

12657.  Apparently, some cruise ships use the river as a heat sink;

12658.  (I can say) I've been to Hungary;

12659.  Budapest has Bolt and Uber;

12660.  There is a Buda-side and a Pest-side to Budapest;

12661.  The Buda-side is the hilly side on the west bank of the Danube and the Pest-side is the flat side on the east bank of the Danube.  There are 6 districts on the Buda-side and 16 districts on the Pest-side;

12662.  Budapest has a population of 1.7 million people in the city and 3.3 million in the greater metro area;

12663.  Hungary has a population of 9.5 million people;

12664.  To save energy, the city of Budapest turns off most decorative lighting at 11:00 PM in the summer and 10:00 PM in the winter;

12665.  Hungary is part of the E(uropean)U(nion), but they don't use the euro.  They use the (Hungarian) forint;

12666.  It’s 300 forints to $1.00 USD;

12667.  There’s no need to exchange currency in Hungary.  They take euros and USD;

12668.  The president in Hungary is primarily a figurehead.  S/he doesn’t make any political decisions.  The prime minister has substantial executive powers;

12669.  There’s a local legend in Budapest that Gustave Eiffel (i.e., designer of the Eiffel Tower) was involved with the design of Margaret Bridge.  The bridge was constructed by Maison Ernest Gouin et Cie, a company linked to Eiffel’s engineering firm;

12670.  The Hungarian government sells historical buildings to foreign companies, but there’s a catch.  The companies have to restore and maintain the buildings, ensure public access and use the property for commercial or event purposes while keeping cultural functions open;

12671.  The Széchenyi Thermal Bath (& Swimming Pool) (SzechenyiBath.hu) in Budapest is the largest spa complex/thermal bath in Europe;

12672.  There are 40 thermal baths/spas in Budapest;

12673.  (I can say) I've been to a Hungarian thermal bath/spa;

12674.  (I can say) I've had sabayon.  It’s just (a) custard;

12675.  (I can say) I've sang karaoke with the cruise program director (i.e., Paul Lau);

12676.  (The) Ubers in Budapest are taxis;

12677.  Pistachios can be good on pizza( specifically the parma and pistachio pizza at “Al Dente” in Budapest (Facebook.com/aldenteristo)). . . . Who knew?

12678.  Hungary's chimney cake reminds me of Prague's trdelní( cake);

12679.  There are 7 Michelin starred restaurants in Budapest;

12680.  (I can say) I’ve eaten at a Michelin star restaurant in Budapest( specifically Costes Downtown);

12681.  The nicest McDonald's I've (ever) been to is in Budapest’s Nyugati Railway Station;

12682.  The “Mango x Sprite Zero” and the “Sour Cherry x Sprite Zero” at McDonald’s in Budapest are good;

12683.  A McDonald's hamburger tastes the same in Budapest;

12684.  McDonald's hamburgers are also tiny in Budapest;

12685.  The ketchup is less sweet in Budapest;

12686.  The spicy pork burger at McDonald’s in Budapest is tasty.  It’s like a less spicy sausage patty;

12687.  McDonald’s sells onion rings in Budapest;

12688.  It costs 200 forints to use the bathroom/restroom at a McDonald’s in Budapest; however, you can redeem your bathroom/restroom receipt/ticket as a coupon for 200 forints if you make a purchase of at least 400 forints;

12689.  The Budapest Metro reminds me of the Vienna U-Bahn;

12690.  There are McDonalds, Starbucks, Burger Kings, Subways, KFCs and Pizza Huts in Budapest;

12691.  There are a lot of Italian restaurants in Budapest;

12692.  You can return plastic bottles and aluminum cans for a deposit at (some) grocery stores in Budapest;

12693.  The (potato) chips at European ALDIs seem crunchier and less greasy.  They also have only a handful of ingredients and smaller bags;

12694.  T-Mobile has unlimited talk and text to and from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  T-Mobile also has unlimited basic data and streaming in Canada and Mexico;

12695.  Get to the airport based on your final destination not the first leg of your flight;

12696.  Embrace and enjoy the present moment: 20 years from now, you’d give anything to be this exact age, this healthy and back in this exact moment.  Take a second and enjoy this moment right now.  It's how you make an average Tuesday good.  You allow yourself to enjoy it;

12697.  Master the art of pausing: Pausing to decide if it’s worth your energy.  Most of the stuff that’s draining you is not worth your energy;

12698.  Don’t take anything personally: Learning how to not take anything personally will change your life.  Most of what people do has nothing to do with you.  Let their moods be theirs.  Your life is yours.  That’s where you take your power back;

12699.  Stop waiting, start living today: . If you wait until you feel better to start living, you’ll wait forever.  Go live your life.  If you feel sad, do it sad.  If you feel anxious, do it anxious.  If you feel uncertain, do it uncertain.  Because healing, happiness and change don’t always come before the experience.  It’s the experience that heals you, that makes you change and that makes you happier.  So go do it;

12700.  You are responsible for your own happiness: You’re responsible for the energy you bring and how you show up.  You’re responsible for waking up every day and doing the work to make progress on what matters.  You’re responsible for defining what matters to you.  You’re responsible for telling the truth even when it’s hard.  You’re responsible for paying for your life.  Nobody owes you anything, but you.  You owe yourself everything;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0253

12601.  The soups on Viking cruises are great . . . and I’m not a (big) soup person;

12602.  There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Subways in Vienna(, Austria);

12603.  There are a lot of hot dog/sausage stands in Vienna;

12604.  “Wien” is “Vienna” in German;

12605.  Austrians speak German;

12606.  “The Sound of Music” is not popular in Austria;

12607.  Austria is made of 9 provinces with Vienna as the capital;

12608.  Austria has a population of 9 million people;

12609.  The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the home of the Lipizzaner stallions;

12610.  Lipizzaner stallions are born dark and turn white with age;

12611.  There are 74 (Lipizzaner) stallions in Vienna.  The stallions spend 3 weeks in the countryside and then 3 weeks in the city;

12612.  Lipizzaner stallions get 8 weeks of rest/vacation a year;

12613.  The Austrian National Library in the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna is the largest library in Austria with more than 12 million items;

12614.  There are 9 public and 5 private universities in Vienna;

12615.  Vienna is big into café culture.  There are over 1,200 cafés in the city;

12616.  The Austrians seem to like their sweets;

12617.  At the Swarovski flagship store in Vienna (at Kärntner Straße 24, 1010 Wien, Austria), there’s complementary (Moët & Chandon) champagne, coffee and water on the top floor.  And the restrooms (in the basement) are free too;

12618.  Swarovski makes more than (just) jewelry and watches, they make tableware, glasses, decorative accessories, picture frames, ornaments and figurines too;

12619.  (I can say) I've had a Vienna sausage in Vienna;

12620.  You can return plastic bottles and aluminum cans for a deposit at (some) grocery stores in Vienna;

12621.  “Sacher-torte” is a sponge cake that combines chocolate sponge and apricot jam with a chocolate glaze.  It was invented by the Austrian confectioner, Franz Sacher, in the mid-19th century;

12622.  (I can say) I’ve had (the original) “Sacher-torte” at the Sacher Café (Sacher.com/en/Restaurants/Cafe-Sacher-Wien) in the Sacher Hotel in Vienna;

12623.  Besides Rome and Vatican City, Vienna and Bratislava are the 2 closest capitals to one another in Europe.  They’re about 50 miles apart;

12624.  “Wiener” means “Viennese” in German;

12625.  Vienna has city greenhouses heated by trash incinerators.  People can buy produce and flowers from the city greenhouses in the local markets;

12626.  Vienna has the largest cemetery in Europe based on internment with 330,000 people;

12627.  Vienna has a larger airport than Bratislava.  Apparently, people will fly into Vienna and then drive to Bratislava;

12628.  There are no working nuclear power plants in Austria.  Austria built the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant, but a referendum passed (in November 1978) banning nuclear fission before the plant could start operating;

12629.  There are over 1,400 wind turbines in Austria;

12630.  Austria generates power from dams and hydroelectric plants;

12631.  Austria has no active coal-fired power plants.  They phased out coal power in 2020;

12632.  Wind turbine blades can’t be recycled.  They last for 25 years and then they’re buried;

12633.  (I can say) I've been to Slovakia;

12634.  The Danube flows through 10 countries (i.e., Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova & Ukraine) and connects 4 capitals (i.e., Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia, Budapest, Hungary & Belgrade, Serbia);

12635.  Bratislava is the only (Slovak) city south of the Danube;

12636.  The buildings in Bratislava south of the Danube were largely built during the Communist era;

12637.  Bratislava has 470,000 residents, 56,000 students and 660,000 people living in the city including people who haven’t (officially) changed their residency to the city;

12638.  Slovakia has a population of 5.4 million people;

12639.  Bratislava has 5 districts;

12640.  The president in Slovakia is largely ceremonial.  S/he serves as the international representative.  The president does nominate and appoint the prime minister.  The prime minister is the head of the government and holds the most executive power;

12641.  Houses are gated in Bratislava;

12642.  Slovakia’s main industry is automobile manufacturing;

12643.  There are 4 automobile manufacturing plants in Slovakia;

12644.  Slovakia produces Volkswagens, Audis, Porsche Cayennes, Skodas, Peugeots, Citroens, Kias, Land Rovers and the Lamborghini Urus;

12645.  Hyundai and Volvo have automobile plants under construction in Slovakia;

12646.  Tourism is only about 3% of Slovakia’s GDP;

12647.  Trams have the right of way over pedestrians in Bratislava;

12648.  Bratislava has Bolt and Uber;

12649.  Maria Theresa Habsburg had 16 children in 19 years( from 1737-1756).  13 survived infancy and 10 survived to adulthood.  She married them off into other royal families.  Her 15th child was Marie Antoinette;

12650.  Maria Theresa (Habsburg) took the (masculine) titles of archduke and king;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0252

12551.  Jalen Brunson’s (i.e., point guard for the New York Knicks) father, Rick Brunson, was the director of basketball operations from 2007-2009 for the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team under (former) coach Dave Leitao;

12552.  Martin Garrix has a lot of songs;

12553.  The (Peruvian-style) rotisserie chicken at “Edy’s Chicken & Steak” in Falls Church, Virginia, is tasty;

12554.  Apparently, rats won’t eat veggie dogs;

12555.  Apparently, droughts and heatwaves can make the Danube too shallow for some (river) cruise ships;

12556.  The countryside outside of Munich is rather picturesque.  There are a lot of very well-maintained farms;

12557.  The Autobahn/highways outside of Munich are very well maintained.  There’s very little garbage/trash, no potholes, no debris in the shoulders and no grass, plants and weeds growing in cracks;

12558.  The chocolate in Germany tastes different.  It’s not as sweet and (probably) made with different dairy;

12559.  A lot of the houses in Bavaria have solar panels( on them);

12560.  The Autobahn/highways around Munich is/are only 1-2 lanes going either way;

12561.  They grow a lot of corn in Bavaria. . . . They also grow wheat and soybeans;

12562.  The river cruise ships/Viking longships for Viking (specifically the Viking Tor) are (really) nice;

12563.  It’s TK Maxx not TJ Maxx in Germany;

12564.  There are no open container laws in Germany;

12565.  There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Subways in Germany;

12566.  (I can say) I’ve been to Austria;

12567.  A lot of corn is grown in Austria;

12568.  Harvard professor Arthur Brooks argues that imagining your own death is one of the most reliable paths to living better.  Research in Personality and Social Psychology Review found that when reminded of death, people make healthier choices, use their time more wisely and show increased empathy toward others.  The Stoics called it memento mori – remember you will die.  Turns out the best way to appreciate the road is to know it ends;

12569.  If you like wine, cocktails and/or spirits, it’s worth getting the “Silver Spirts Beverage Package” (i.e., $27.00 per person per day) on Viking cruises.  They’ve got good wine and scotch/whiskey selections;

12570.  In Germany, you can’t name your child “Hitler.” . . . “Adolf” isn’t explicitly banned;

12571.  In Germany, you can’t deny the Holocaust.  If you do, you could be fined or jailed( up to 5 years);

12572.  Regensburg(, Germany) was founded in 179;

12573.  Oskar Schindler briefly lived in Regensburg after World War II;

12574.  (Johann Wolfgang von) Goethe stayed at the Gasthaus WeiBes Lamm/White Lamb Inn in Regensburg on September 4^th, 1786;

12575.  In the 1300s, salt was called “white gold;”

12576.  In the 1300s, people wanted to be paid in salt.  That’s where the word, salary, comes from.  It’s where the phrase, “not worth its weight in salt,” comes from too;

12577.  Salt came from Salzburg (i.e., German for “salt city/fortress”);

12578.  It took almost 600 years (from 1273 to 1872) to complete St. Peter’s Cathedral in Regensburg;

12579.  Tobacco shops in Regensburg have bottle openers;

12580.  Allegedly, the best (and most famous) sausage in Regensburg is at the “Historische Wurstkuchl” (i.e., “Historic Sausage Kitchen”) (Wurstkuchl.de).  It’s located right next to the Stone Bridge and it’s the world’s oldest, continuous, sausage roasting kitchen( operating for over 500 years);

12581.  On a cruise ship (on the Danube) . . . check (kind of);

12582.  Passau(, Germany) was founded in 700 BC;

12583.  Passau is a walled city;

12584.  “Artist’s Alley” in Passau is on Hollgasse (i.e., “Hell’s alley”);

12585.  The Danube is the second longest river in Europe.  The Volga is the longest;

12586.  Apparently, there are a lot of power plants on the Inn( River);

12587.  There are no locks on the Inn( River);

12588.  The Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers confluence/merge in Passau;

12589.  There’s a Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau(, Germany) and Vienna(, Austria) and a Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest(, Hungary);

12590.  Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau is home to the largest organ in Europe( with 17,974 pipes and 233 registers);

12591.  Apparently, Passau is known as “Bavarian Venice.”  After devastating fires in the 1600s, Italian architects were hired and the city was rebuilt in the then-fashionable Italian Baroque style;

12592.  In Germany, most stores (including grocery stores) are not open on Sundays;

12593.  In Germany, “bio” means “organic;”

12594.  Pretzels in Germany are tasty.  They’re softer and less chewy (i.e., more bready) than the ones in the United States;

12595.  “Tor” is “Thor” in Swedish;

12596.  “Das Oberhaus Feichtinger” (DasOberhaus.com) next to Veste Oberhaus has a great view of Passau;

12597.  Viking (cruises) serve(s) (complementary) high tea in the afternoons;

12598.  Getting a blowjob on a cruise ship (in Krems, Austria) . . . check . . . blowing your load in her mouth . . . (double) check . . . swallowed . . . (triple) check;

12599.  Dinner and cocktails on Viking cruises are excellent;

12600.  Apparently, the chefs on the Viking Tor are Swiss trained;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0251

12501.  Tom Morello (of “Rage Against the Machine” and “Audioslave”) can (really) play the guitar( too);

12502.  We don’t believe what we see; we see what we believe;

12503.  2 beliefs that are the (silent) killers of success with women: 1.  Pedestalization of women; and 2.  Devaluing yourself;

12504.  When you’ve seen enough messy apartments, awful conversations, zero senses of humor, poor taste, no hobbies, hidden blemishes and imperfections, past trauma, sadness, self-hatred, destructive habits, bad attitudes and issues, you learn that women are human just like you.  They have their own set of challenges that they struggle with.  Look past the cute face and perky body.  You need to find out her greatness before you over value her in your mind.  A man who gets it, knows this.  And that is the type of man women are attracted to not a guy who’s sold before she even opens her mouth;

12505.  If you looked at women realistically and knew your true value, how would you go about dating?  You wouldn’t be afraid to approach and talk to women.  You wouldn’t have any desperation and chase women; they’d chase you.  You wouldn’t care what women think so much about you.  You could get to know them as human beings not trying to “get” anything from them.  You would give value and good energy freely and not “need” anything back.  You would be the buyer not the seller.  This is the place you want to be at;

12506.  3 steps to get there: 1.  You have to know what you value; 2.  You have to build yourself into the man that has those values; and 3.  You have to value yourself;

12507.  There are a lot of murals in Downtown Houston;

12508.  Nopales are prickly pear cactus pads;

12509.  If you’re a “(The )Simpsons” fan, check out “Neil’s Bahr” (NeilsBahr.com) in Houston, Texas;

12510.  If you’re going to see several attractions in Houston, consider buying a CityPASS (CityPASS.com);

12511.  There are (Texas) longhorn cattle at Space Center Houston (SpaceCenter.org);

12512.  The Saturn V (rocket) was the first launch vehicle to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit;

12513.  The first stage of the Saturn V (rocket) used kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel;

12514.  NASA assembled the Saturn V (rocket) on a mobile platform including a launch tower with 8 (swing) arms and a crew access arm.  The Crawler Transporter moved the entire assembly to the launch pad.  The Crawler Transporter moved about 3 ½ miles (i.e., 5.6 km) to the launch pad in a 6-hour trip at about 1 mph (i.e., 1.6 kph);

12515.  The second and third stages of the Saturn V (rocket) used liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as fuel;

12516.  (I can say) I’ve been in a (replica) space shuttle;

12517.  You can go inside an actual NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft and a replica space shuttle (i.e., Independence) at Space Center Houston;

12518.  Almost a ton (i.e., 1,710 lbs/775 kgs) of pig iron was secured to the floor forward of the first row of seats of the shuttle carrier aircraft to balance its center of gravity.  An additional 3 ½ tons (i.e., 7,000 lbs/3,175 kgs) of pea gravel went in the cargo hold during shuttle ferry flights;

12519.  If you can, reserve tickets in advance for the “Astronaut Training Facility” and the “NASA Campus” tours at Space Center Houston.  They fill up fast;

12520.  For an additional cost, you can see (the Christopher C. Kraft) Mission Control on the “Historic Mission Control” tour.  Apparently, availability is extremely limited, so it is recommended you get your tickets 2 weeks in advance;

12521.  The barbeque sauce for the chopped, brisket sandwich at Buc-ee’s (Buc-ees.com) is a little (too) sweet;

12522.  The chicken burrito at Buc-ee’s is tasty;

12523.  Buc-ee’s sells original artwork (i.e., paintings & photographs) in their bathrooms;

12524.  “Angel Share” (AngelShareHTX.com) in Downtown Houston reminds me of Platform 9 ¾ in “Harry Potter;”

12525.  “Angel Share” in Downtown Houston has Happy Hour daily from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  They have $5.00 off wines by the glass and select cocktails as well as $5.00 rail/well drinks and drafts;

12526.  Houston’s METRORail accepts credit cards, contactless cards and mobile wallets;

12527.  The “Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the Houston Zoo;

12528.  Apparently, adult male, Asian elephants typically live alone;

12529.  You can feed the (Masai) giraffes at the Houston Zoo (HoustonZoo.org);

12530.  Red pandas are cute;

12531.  The supreme pizza (with pepperoni, hamburger, sausage, green peppers, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms & onions) at Frank’s Pizza (FranksPizza.com) in Houston, Texas, is tasty;

12532.  The “Main Street Square” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the SpringHill Suites Houston;

12533.  The “Preston” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas;

12534.  There are (Bengal and Sumatran) tigers at the Downtown Aquarium (DowntownAquariumHouston.com) in Houston, Texas;

12535.  (I can say) I’ve petted/touched (cownose and southern) stingrays;

12536.  You can see a largetooth sawfish at the Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas;

12537.  I enjoyed/liked the Downtown Aqarium( in Houston, Texas), but everything is an upsell;

12538.  There are crab and crawfish cakes;

12539.  The crab and crawfish cake (with house slaw, roasted cherry tomatoes & white wine, lemon, cream sauce) at “The Moonshiners Southern Table + Bar” (TheMoonshinersHouston.com) in Houston, Texas, is tasty;

12540.  If you want to have a drink surrounded by taxidermy( and other strange/unusual objects), go to notsuoH (notsuoH.com) in Downtown Houston;

12541.  If you’re looking for a dive bar in Houston, “Warren’s Inn” is recognized as the oldest, continuously operating bar in Downtown Houston.  It was established in 1953 and it’s known for its stiff pours;

12542.  Coffee significantly reduces the absorption of iron.  It’s recommended to take iron supplements 60-90 minutes apart from coffee and pair them with vitamin C to enhance uptake;

12543.  Calcium, magnesium and zinc absorption can be hindered by coffee’s polyphenols; spacing intake by at least an hour is advised;

12544.  High caffeine intake may slightly reduce absorption or increase excretion of vitamins B and D, so pairing them with food and water is beneficial;

12545.  Life hack: If you want to crisp up your soggy (hotel, breakfast) waffle, put it in the toaster;

12546.  The sausage kolache at Shipley Donuts (ShipleyDonuts.com) is tasty. . . . It’s like a big “pig in a blanket;”

12547.  The chicken tikka naan pizza at Bowl’d Masala (BowldMasala.com) is tasty;

12548.  POST Market (POSTHTX.com) in Downtown Houston is what I’d imagine a food hall in “Blade Runner” looks like;

12549.  (I can say) I’ve flown first class.  It’s nice; more legroom, complementary alcohol, more and better snacks and a meal;

12550.  The Whataburger Jr. is like a better McDonald’s hamburger;