I can have fun without drinking. I've been practicing 
Exactly, AJ!!
And it was with you in mind, that I happily added that line into the post!
FYI, not just to AJ, but for the entire board, really, I’m doing this post. Check it out!
Just talked with DC this afternoon about possible plans for a, LONG OVERDUE, get together, for any members who are cool with it!
I’m relatively new, compared to our board veterans, however, I’ve either met in person, or talked more privately, and personal, via phone or email, to more than a few of our members here.
My experiences here, so far, allow me to proudly report, that NO member I’ve met is a WEIRDO, or certified WACKALOON!! LOL!😂🤣😂......(Ok, well, my good buddy, DC, is a ROCKIN, CRAZY, MoFo), but nevertheless!! 🤣😂🤣
This forum, being my FIRST, and ONLY, board that I’ve ever been a part of, AND, coupled with my old school, generally cynical attitude, I am a poster boy for paranoia, concerning ANYTHING, from the social media world!! Don’t trust it, never will! Just ask AJ, DC, or Alta!
Especially having to consider MEETING someone from the board!!
Well... after about 6 mos of slowly, and carefully posting, from when I first looked at the board, I responded to a light invite from DC, and Lady, (has to be a couple years now), to come to Baltimore for a quick visit! (They actually meant a “visit”, to a frickin tequila bar)!!....
OK..., THATS IT!!...shows over, done deal!!
DC and I got hammered, HEAVY, not to mention, Lady, was very cool, helping to manage our progressively pickled asses, keeping things together, and by the time it was over, VOILA, I inherited two new friends!!! Not a bad night at all!! DC and I get together all the time, now!👍
I’ve had the privilege to meet several members!
ALTA, for example, we met at the Becks lounge, at a Caps game, shared a few brews, then went on to meet up for the rest of the season, sharing MORE brews, food, some good laughs, amen generally just shooting the shit about life, hockey, etc! He even introduced me to his Dad! Although I don’t know him deeply, I do know that he cares a lot about the things that are close to him. (His Dad, his dogs, and such)! He’s a damn good man!
Also got to meet “Beags”, (Beaglefan), for a short, but sweet, meeting, at the entrance portal for my Caps seats, a little while back!
A VERY nice GENTLEMAN, is Beags, whom although we didn’t have much time, our chat was quick and efficient, allowing both of us to maximize our time spent, on the natural curiosity that would exist, in such an unusual moment!! Let me add, also, I’m willing to bet, a kind, and warm, person, both as a father, AND as a son! Here’s my logic as to why:
Any dad, who, I know for a fact, like me, is not a Carlson fan, YET, brings his daughter with him to the game, and she, WITH A #74, CARLSON JERSEY ON!!
He introduces ME to her, (knowing that I’m about as big of a Carlson fan as he is, in advance), and DEFENDS her decision to wear it!! Now that’s a DAD, that LOVES his daughter!!👍👍 😂🤣
I also added the “warm son” comment, because, well, you would just have to have read one of Beag’s older posts, about his mom taking him to the Blues hockey games, when he was a kid!! A heart warming little story, and damn near a tear jerker, to say the least!
And I certainly can’t leave out mentioning AJ. Our board founder and leader!
Believe it, or not, I have never yet, met the man, but I have talked to him, many times, on the phone!
A very straightforward talker, who I feel I’ve come to know fairly well, to the extent that a phone will allow.
You want to talk about a guy with some HEAVY knowledge! Covering a very wide range of things, as well!! The word “Britannica”, comes to mind. He’s been to A LOT of places, and seen ALOT of things, I’ll just say that!!
We’ve talked hockey, easy life stuff, and DEEP life stuff, amongst many other things!
When we talk, we usually talk in excess of 45 minutes per conversation! Several of them much longer than that, and I’m not the kind of guy to banter on with bullshitters, as I don’t suffer fools very well!😂
I find that AJ and I agree on many more things than not. Regardless, he’s a patient, easy, person to talk to, who says a lot, but also listens a lot. Another, caring, good person!
Why am I posting all this??
Because, I’ve basically allowed all of my 60 years of life’s experiences, to shape me into a quite distrusting person!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a generally happy person, who just happens to be in possession of a distrusting nature, nowadays! In fact, I don’t know many people who aren’t this way! And besides, who could blame us, right? I’ll go as far to say it’s probably the responsible way to be, in these times!!
That doesn’t mean I like the characteristic of being distrusting, but it also means I have an open heart that searches for the sincerely good things in the world.
Being those things seem to be getting fewer and far between, I permit myself to take little risks from time to time.
One of them, being my point for this entire post!!!
I took a little risk, letting my guard down slightly, and meeting a few new folks.
It worked out, and I’m damn glad it did!!!👍👍 I feel I’m a better person for it, and you can’t beat that!!
So when DC and I have some more details about a Caps/Hopslam get together, most likely in January, early next year, and we post it on the board, or message, or WHATEVER?, it’s my hope that some of you all will consider what I’ve shared here, and consider coming out IF your cool with it!!
Mick, I know it’s reverse vacay logic to leave Florida’s warmth, for a cold climate up here, but DC says your cool, and hell, I know I’d enjoy putting down some bourbon with ya!!
You too, Rich! DC has already met you, and speaks well of you! Plus I believe we live near each other, and I know we think a lot alike, at least on this board!! What more do a couple of old schoolers need for an excuse, to drink a few Hopslams, along with some good hockey talk!! Ya damn right!!
And anybody else that I’ve had the pleasure to post with here, as far as I’m concerned, is welcome!
A lot of interesting folks on the board, here, whether I’ve mentioned them by name or not!
OK people, I’ve spoken my mind, and there will be details to follow in the near future!👍👍
Rush
