What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0248

12351.  Apparently, airlines waste a lot of food.  A stewardess told me, airlines throw out all of the (inflight) meals that aren’t eaten/served;

12352.  Apparently, black-eyed peas and collard greens, a classic Southern dish, are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day to bring luck and financial prosperity for the new year.  The black-eyed peas symbolize luck and general well-being.  The collard greens represent money/wealth because of their green color.  It’s often served with cornbread, which symbolizes “gold;”

12353.  The Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Hardywood.com) in Richmond, Virginia, is the first brewery in Virginia powered entirely by renewable energy (i.e., solar, wind & biomass);

12354.  Kuba Kuba (KubaKuba.info) in Richmond, Virginia, was founded in 1998 by Chef Manny Mendez;

12355.  You might run into Peter Bondra (formerly of the Washington Capitals) walking around the upper concourse of Capital One Arena;

12356.  I can say I’ve shaken Peter Bondra’s hand;

12357.  The craziest (ice) hockey game I’ve (ever) watched in person had 2 fights, 2 penalty shots, a hat trick (by Justin Sourdif) not by Alexander Ovechkin and 2 empty net goals (1 by John Carlson and 1 by Ovechkin).  The game was 1-0 (Anaheim) Ducks . . . then 5-1 (Washington) Capitals . . . then 5-4 Capitals . . . and finally 7-4 Capitals;

12358.  Polenta is like a cross/mix between grits and mashed potatoes;

12359.  Christina is allergic to dolphin/dorado/mahi-mahi;

12360.  Mike Tomlin (the former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers) was born in Hampton, Virginia.  His father, Ed(ward) Tomlin, played (college) football at Hampton Institute from 1964-1968;

12361.  I can say I’ve eaten $105.00 bread (specifically the Olivieri 1882 classic panettone);

12362.  The Olivieri 1882 classic panettone (USA.Olivieri1882.com) is (really) tasty.  It maybe the best bread I’ve ever eaten/had;

12363.  Panettone is (actually) really good when it’s not dried out and hard;

12364.  The Old Bay wings at the Crystal City Sports Pub (CCSportsPub.com) in Arlington, Virginia, are tasty.  They’re crispy and flavorful without being greasy/oily;

12365.  I can say I’ve been to a gender reveal party;

12366.  There are families that (actually) get along, where the parents and children will buy and share a house together;

12367.  I can say I’ve seen Rick Steves (the travel writer) in person;

12368.  Rick Steves was a piano teacher;

12369.  Rick Steves’ travel company, Rick Steves’ Europe, (RickSteves.com) is based out of Seattle, Washington;

12370.  The butter lettuce salad (with no blue cheese, avocado, cherry tomatoes & champagne vinaigrette) at CUT by Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgangpuck.com/Restaurants/Cut-Washington-D-C) in the Rosewood Washington, D.C. is (really) tasty.  The champagne vinaigrette is great.  I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about a salad;

12371.  The 8 oz American Wagyu bavette (i.e., Kuroge Washu bloodline from Mishima Reserve) at CUT by Wolfgang Puck is (really) tasty;

12372.  The French fries/pommes frites at CUT by Wolfgang Puck are really crispy and crunchy;

12373.  You can get half off all handcrafted beverages at Capital One Cafés when you pay using a Capital One credit, debit or co-branded card that shows the Visa or MasterCard logo or any Discover credit or debit card that shows the Discover logo;

12374.  External success won’t fill your inner emptiness;

12375.  Define your vision or let the world define it for you;

12376.  Failure is growth.  Your ego is what holds you back;

12377.  Confront unhealed pain for true freedom and wholeness;

12378.  Courage is action before preparedness; confidence is earned;

12379.  Your inner circle determines your future trajectory;

12380.  Embrace vulnerability; hiding your true self destroys connection;

12381.  Comfort is the enemy of your true potential and growth;

12382.  Take ownership; no one else will rescue you from your life;

12383.  The baby smash burgers at Founding Farmers (WeAreFoundingFarmers.com) are tasty;

12384.  Wegmans’ pretzel bites are tasty;

12385.  If you hate being alone, it’s usually because you haven’t built a relationship with yourself( yet);

12386.  While it’s completely natural to crave love, it shouldn’t be your only focus – nor should it replace all the other important assets in your life.  Don’t lose yourself in your pursuit of finding someone else;

12387.  Trying to be chosen gives away your power.  When your decisions, appearance and behavior revolve around being desirable to someone else, you’re slowly abandoning yourself;

12388.  You want to be unapologetically self-centered during singlehood and make choices based on what you want for both now and your future emotional well-being.  When you choose yourself first, confidence and self-respect naturally follow;

12389.  Cats (and dogs) can eat butter lettuce in small, moderate amounts;

12390.  Schmidt likes butter lettuce;

12391.  Start your day without your phone to reclaim your attention;

12392.  Build self-respect by moving and facing uncomfortable truths;

12393.  Identify/name your feelings to prevent burnout and make better decisions;

12394.  Protect your energy by setting clear boundaries and not avoiding conflict;

12395.  Align your actions with your vision to avoid drifting through life;

12396.  Choose empowering inputs to shape your thoughts and your future self;

12397.  Train your mind to see the good and shift from scarcity to awareness;

12398.  Implement a shutdown ritual for rest and embrace new daily standards;

12399.  Dogs can eat sesame seeds, marshmallows (although not good for them) and popped rice/Rice Krispies cereal;

12400.  Dogs can eat (plain) whipped cream( as an occasional treat);

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0247

12301.  Camel owners will (sometimes) tie their camels’ front feet together so they can’t walk as fast and run away;

12302.  Apparently, some camels will keep walking and won’t come back;

12303.  In Morocco, it costs around 30,000 dirhams (i.e., $8,150.00 USD) for a camel;

12304.  Apparently, camel is a popular meat in southern Morocco;

12305.  The smell of rose water reminds me of an aya(huasca) ceremony;

12306.  Moroccans keep horses for fun and for racing;

12307.  Moroccans don’t eat donkeys.  Islam forbids the eating of (domesticated) donkeys;

12308.  Moroccans don’t eat horses;

12309.  Moroccans don’t eat mules;

12310.  Berber carpet/rugs come from the Amazigh/Berber people of Morocco;

12311.  Moroccans will sell goods, snacks and coffee/tea out of the trunks of their hatchbacks;

12312.  Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States in 1777;

12313.  Apparently, the (feral/wild) cats in Ouarzazate like fried chicken gristle;

12314.  The name of the hotel at Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, Morocco, is the “Oscar Hotel;”

12315.  Apparently, you can make drawings/paintings with sugar water, tea and cardamom water( . . . and a flame);

12316.  The beef with prunes and almonds tagine at the Amal Center’s restaurant (AmalNonprofit.org/solutions/the-restaurant) in Marrakech is (really) tasty;

12317.  The chicken tagine at the Amal Center’s restaurant in Marrakech is (really) tasty.  It maybe the best orange chicken I’ve ever had;

12318.  If I’m ever in Marrakech again, I’d go out of my way to get a meal at the Amal Center’s restaurant;

12319.  There is no fast food outside of the (big) cities in Morocco;

12320.  The tallest building in Marrakech is the minaret tower of the Koutoubia Mosque;

12321.  In Morocco, if a woman has henna on her hands and feet, it means she’s married;

12322.  In Morocco, if a woman has henna only on her hands, it means she’s single;

12323.  Apparently, people use snail mucus/mucin for skincare.  Supposedly, it can hydrate, smooth and promote skin healing with benefits like reducing fine lines/wrinkles and dark spots and helping with acne;

12324.  (I can say) I've put snail mucus/mucin on my face;

12325.  Apparently, real saffron is always red.  It smells earthy and bitter.  When water is added to saffron, it turns yellow.  Saffron can last 10 years in a glass jar at room temperature;

12326.  Supposedly, saffron is good for arthritis, tinnitus and high blood pressure.  2-3 times a month, you’re supposed to take a pinch of saffron, let it steep for 15 minutes in boiling hot water and drink it;

12327.  There are not a lot of handrails in Morocco;

12328.  In Morocco, the riads in the countryside and in the small towns/cities don’t have telephones and televisions in their rooms;

12329.  The Mabrouka Rooftop & Sky Bar has a great view of Jemaa el-Fnaa (i.e., the main square) and the cityscape of Marrakech;

12330.  Getting a hand job in Marrakech . . . check . . . a blowjob . . . (double) check . . . sex . . . (triple) check;

12331.  If you (ever) get lost in the streets of the medina (quarter) in Marrakech, just ask the shopkeepers where/which way the big square is;

12332.  I’m (a little) disappointed by ZaaZaa;

12333.  Apparently, the (feral/wild) cats in the Marrakech Menara Airport like cake;

12334.  Failure is a speed bump on the way to success.  If you convert it to learning, there is no failure.  Failure is you thinking it should work every time;

12335.  Apparently, I went to college with Virginia’s first female governor (i.e., Abigail Spanberger then Abigail Anne Davis, majoring in French in the College of Arts & Sciences ’01);

12336.  Gargling with warm, salt water does (actually) help with a scratchy/sore throat;

12337.  You can get a shot of Tullamore D.E.W. and a Union Craft Brewing Zadie’s Lager for $10.00 (all day every day) at O’Shaughnessy’s Sports Bar in (Old Town) Alexandria;

12338.  Jimmy John’s “Picklewich” isn’t worth the hype;

12339.  I can say I’ve been in a suite at the MGM National Harbor;

12340.  I can say I’ve seen Tej Parker (i.e., Ludacris/Christopher Brian Bridges) in concert;

12341.  Ludacris (i.e., Christopher Brian Bridges) says he flies his own (private) jet to his concerts;

12342.  I can say I’ve eaten in (Gordon Ramsay’s) Hell’s Kitchen;

12343.  REI (REI.com) makes a cat tent (i.e., tiny half dome tent);

12344.  Shelli’s cousin (i.e., Robert Newton) played baseball for the University of Virginia.  He was an infielder;

12345.  There are Highland cows in Earleville, Maryland;

12346.  In (the basement suite of) a lake house (in Earleville, Maryland,) . . . check;

12347.  It’s not hard to make a pot pie, but it is a lot of work;

12348.  “(Monty Python’s )Spamalot” is (pretty) funny.  It’s based on (the movie,) “Monty Python and the Holy Grail;”

12349.  Charlie (Dog) likes green beans;

12350.  The DiGiorno (Detroit-style crust) “Thanksgiving Pizza” (with roasted turkey, green beans, crispy onions, dried cranberries and gravy drizzle) is (pretty) good;