I almost died last summer after getting hit by a drunk driver. Not only that, but my significant other, the 2 kids and her younger brother were also in the car. It was the most unusual of circumstances since the drunk driver hit a police car first at full speed and then careened into ours from behind while we were on the shoulder.

Thank the lord that nobody got seriously injured during this accident and that a drunk driver was taken off the street. However, my back and neck were in bad shape due to the blunt force trauma from getting rear ended.

That’s when I needed some help recovering and my first experience with a chiropractor began at Colonia Chiropractic. My initial visit was with Dr Frank Stiso, where we talked about my injuries and he took X-rays to see how everything was looking with my bones. Turns out my pelvis was out of alignment, as was my neck.

Then, I began seeing Dr. Darlene Werko 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for treatment. At first, the treatments were tough since I wasn’t very flexible. In fact, I didn’t work out outside of doing cardio for a month. The treatment consisted of 20 minutes of pressure from a machine where they put 2 wires near my neck and 2 wires near the base of my spine to soften those areas before the doctor manipulated them with her hands.

The techniques used on me comprised of:

• Pressing down on my back and cracking my neck while laying on my stomach
• Twisting my pelvic area via pushing down on my hip while laying on my left side
• Twisting my pelvic area via pushing down on my hip while laying on my right side
• A couple of cracks of the neck while elevated at an angle and laying on my back

These started to work for me and my visits to Colonia Chiropractic reduced to the point where I was able to start lifting weights again and went from 3 days to 2 days to 1 day per week to biweekly. I still don’t feel 100%, but then again that could be from other lifestyle choices. I can function pretty much how I used to and I have all of my sessions with Dr. Darlene Werko to thank for that, as well as my 1 session with Dr. Michele Stiso.

Business Card Count: 37,013

My significant other and I decided to take a trip to the Dominican Republic right before Christmas since we wanted to get away to somewhere warm. After seeing how the hurricanes earlier in 2017 decimated the Caribbean, we decided to go there since they had an all-inclusive resort that was in our price range.

Like my prior all-inclusive resort trip to Antigua, I didn’t expect to get any business cards since we stayed on resort for most of it outside of one excursion. But shockingly, I found 2 cards in the most unusual of places.

The first one was for Pepe El Lanchero VIP Tours that apparently do excursions throughout the Dominican Republic, which was somehow in the sand on the beach on my introductory day on the island. Oddly enough, that company was not the one who our excursion was through.

We wound up going ziplining through another company called Blue Travel Partner Services and it was a once-in-a-lifetime fun experience seeing the nature of the Dominican Republic while dashing through the air. It, along with relaxing/reading by the beach & pool, going clubbing, dining at the buffet & gourmet restaurants and enjoying plenty of drinks & our company was a nice combination for a vacation.

We stayed at the Bahia Principe Ambar Blue in Punta Cana and as I said, it was a wonderful experience. There were different sections of Bahia Principe and one had kids nearby, but it wasn’t like they were horribly annoying or anything. The first language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish, so thankfully my significant other is fluent. She joked that was like I was her boy toy because she spoke for me.

The staff there were top notch, as were the accommodations. The room was so nice with a comfortable king bed, though the pillows were too soft as all hotel pillows are, and a beautiful bathroom. The flaw of Bahia Principe Ambar Blue is that our minibar was never restocked once even though they went to the room everyday, sometimes twice, to clean it up.

The weather was in the high 70s-low 80s everyday and the water was somewhat cold as the afternoon got later. The whole area shouldn’t have naturally been this nice in December, but we were told on the excursion that our resort area was actually mountains until they were literally knocked down to make tourist attractions. Who would have thunk it?

Speaking of the excursion, I was also humbled by the lifestyle of the poor citizens of the Dominican Republic. The schools have barbed wire on the walls and one public school even only opened up 7 months ago, which amazes me beyond belief. It makes me glad to stay on the resort most of the time in my bubble.

We didn’t stay at Barcelo, but I found this business card in the Dominican Republic airport of all places. It was literally on the counter as checked our baggage. Leaving Punta Cana was quite difficult since we were going back to the cold weather and our lives. Good thing Christmas was right around the corner and my work week is only 3 days and then New Year’s Day is off as well.

Business Card Count: 36,989

My significant other wanted to do something special over the weekend and she decided to take me out to Duane Park on Bowery in Manhattan. She told me she went to this burlesque show for her cousin’s bachelorette party and enjoyed it. She also told me that it was the closest thing to her taking me to a strip club.

And she was right in one way and wrong in another. She was right in that there were 6 seductive performers on stage showing everything outside of their nipples and genitals. They each has pasties on and disrobed as they went through their act. Some of them sang, some of them talked comedy and others did a more complex dance routine. All of them were very talented.

She was wrong in that it didn’t feel like a strip club to me, even one that is classier. It was definitely more upscale than that scene and the food & drink selection was dynamite. Here’s a look at what I (I mean we) ate.

Duane Park Course 1: Drinks

Once we arrived at Duane Park, we decided to go to the bar while our food was being prepared. We shared 3 different drinks, though we drank more than just 3. The first one was my favorite: the Adam’s Apple, which consists of apple-infused whiskey, apple cider, maple & thyme. There was a really unique flavor to this one and was appropriate for the season.

The second is the Gypsy Rose Lee, which consists of gin, rose syrup, lime, muddled rose & green apple, and was pretty good though I’m not a huge gin person. The last one is British Blonde, a cocktail with vodka, cocchi americano, matilde peche & lemon that doesn’t resemble any of the blondes I met in London. But it was still pretty flavorful, though my least favorite of the 3 ironically since I’m a vodka guy.

Duane Park Course 2: Appetizers

I worked up an appetite looking at the menu. While they had octopus and figs with goat cheese & prosciutto as 2 appetizer choices, we would up wanting to share 2 items, the first being tuna tartare with a side of tahini sauce and long sesame tuilles that was very refreshing.

The second item was much more interesting: roasted shrimp. That might sound boring by itself, but the shrimp were cooked well and came with 2 side items: Georgia cheese grits and garlic sauce. Combining cheese and garlic is always a sure-fire way to enhance any food item and it worked here with perfection.

Duane Park Course 3: Dinner

By this point, I was ready for dinner. I love fish and don’t have it often as I like, but seeing apple-cider salmon on the menu really perked up my taste buds and it did not disappoint. The fish has nuts on it, as did the side salad that came on the plate and that combination was heavy enough to feel like dinner, yet light enough to leave room for dessert.

As was the pan-roasted organic chicken. This moist & delicious piece of meat was served with a starch I didn’t recognize by look or taste and broccoli rabe. The vegetable was the only flaw on the plate in my opinion since I’m not a fan of how bitter broccoli rabe is and would have definitely preferred some sort of heavier sauce to muddle that flavor profile.

Duane Park Course 4: Dessert

I’m rarely one to indulge on dessert, but this night was one time I made an exception. Seeing banana upside down cake on the menu was intriguing and the flavor of it made my night. I don’t like very sweet treats and the cake itself was moist (thanks in part to the delicious sauce and hint of pineapple) and not too overly sweet.

I didn’t eat the dessert my significant other got, but if I have devoured this pumpkin cheesecake if I were a fan of cheesecake. Just look at how good it looks between the cinnamon crumbles, nice portion of whipped cream and that sauce that looks like it would wake you up & motivate you to drive home.

My overall experience at Duane Park was such a good time between the food and the burlesque show performance that it was worth the struggle to find parking in New York City, specifically in the Bowery area. I’d definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for an excuse to wear a suit.

Business Card Count: 36,733

On a special occasion like celebrating a life event, I like to have a cigar. It’s once in a blue moon, but I do enjoy it from time to time.

I’ve never been to a cigar bar in my life, but was excited when my friend Jon wanted to do one for his bachelor party in NYC in 2014.  Unfortunately, a couple of people in our group were wearing shorts and the dress code was pants only… so no luck.

But it wouldn’t be until over 3 years later when I got an opportunity to go to a cigar bar near me. It was actually accidental since me and my significant other were going to a Cuban restaurant in Rahway NJ when we stumbled across Sticks Cigars.

Turns out, it’s a cigar bar that just opened like 2 months ago and we decided to go in since we wanted to try something different. We were properly greeted by a woman named Emily who gave us a tour of the establishment that included lockers that you could rent out for a yearly fee and an outside area.

We wound up sitting inside in comfortable chairs as the cigars they had in stock were explained to us. I wound up leaving to grab a bottle of wine since it is a BYOB with a glass fee. When I got back, we enjoy 2 different cigars with our wine: one mild one made for 1st-time smokers like her and one a little more robust.

Overall, Sticks Cigars gave me (and my significant other) a very fun experience with a helpful & nice staff. We’ll definitely visit again and I recommend going there if you’re looking for a cigar bar in the Rahway, New Jersey area that offers a budget-friendly smoke and an intimate atmosphere with a big screen TV.

Business Card Count: 36,449

Well, I was given 2 months notice to move out of my apartment. My living situation is a little bit complicated.

You see, I live in the basement of a house and I pay rent to the landlord who is a mother living with her son and boyfriend. 2 separate people, just to avoid any confusion.

The house is owned by a married couple in their 80s who I’ve never met. They have decided to put the house on the market, which has created upheavel.

Realtors have been coming frequently, such as Eva Mok from Next Age M3 Realty. She was speaking in an Asian language (I don’t want to sound ignorant by saying the wrong country or dialect) to her client & both were polite.

The complications come in when my landlord doesn’t get notice and people just show up, like an incident of them walking in as she was getting out of the shower.

Eventually, my landlord got fed up and said she can’t live like this and was moving out by September 1st. I did get almost 60 days notice, which is nice.

I was planning to move, so the stars aligned. But I was still mad though since I didn’t like how I couldn’t control my fate. I felt that way in my marriage and would have liked the option to be the one to say “I’m done” instead of being pseudo-evicted.

It feels like I got laid off at home, which has happened to me twice already in my work career. It really felt like I was getting some secondary treatment though the notice was a good amount of time.

I’ll talk about the move itself in another blog post in the near future.

Business Card Count: 35,915

At this time last year, my life was very much in flux. Admittedly, I felt like my life was spiraling out of control.

Between a failed/failing marriage, living paycheck to paycheck and feeling like I’ve lost my identity, I knew I needed help. That’s when I decided to get therapy.

I called up my health insurance provider and got a list of local therapists in my area. I chose Tery Gerard Michaud because she specialized in divorce and that was the most pertinent change in my life.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but going through it and picturing it are 2 different things. That’s because you don’t fantasize about the gradual progress you make. You also don’t think about the emotional strain it takes to talk about your shortcomings and, specifically for me, that there are certain aspects you can’t control since you can’t make someone do something.

I’m keeping this mostly vague since my therapy sessions with Tery Gerard Michaud are nobody’s business except my own. But I did take away a lot from my sessions. One main takeaway was that I was not as confident as I felt like I was, factoring in love, work and other passions in my life.

I’ve also learned not to judge books by their cover, so I no longer jump the gun when I see something. There’s always an explanation, no matter how illogical it seems to us. I know my choices over the past year astound some people, but I’m doing what makes me happy and not trying to satisfy others.

After almost a year, I decided that my need for therapy lessened exponentially when living in a new home by myself and starting a monogamous relationship with a new significant other. Tery Gerard Michaud gave me a yellow sheet of paper with a few mantras I look to when I feel down.

• I am strong, I am confident.
• I am genuine.
• I am starting over with someone who appreciates me.
• A new company will be lucky to have me. I’m good at what I do. I work hard & have much to offer.
• Now, I’m free to pursue my dreams.

I’m grateful for the therapy I did with Tery Gerard Michaud and I’m taking that experience with me for the 2nd half of my life. I’m still growing and gradually reducing my flawed points to have a minimal impact on my life.

Business Card Count: 35,774

I’ve been to plenty of baseball games in my time: the Mets, the Yankees, little league. Hell, I’ve even been to some spring training games when vacationing in Florida as a kid. Not to mention my dad’s softball league when he was part of a team called Top 40, where all of the players were over 40.

But, I went to my 1st-ever minor league baseball game over Memorial Day weekend between the Somerset Patriots and the visiting Bridgeport Bluefish with Jess & the kids. It was a fun afternoon/evening out with nice seats right behind home plate. They sold one of my favorite alcoholic beverages at the stadium, Not Your Father’s Root Beer, along with a variety of food such as ice cream (soft serve and flash frozen Dippin’ Dots style), Oreo churros, cheesesteaks and more (most of which I did not eat though I would have if I was hungry).

In between each inning, they had a number of shenanigans with the most notable being a race between a carrot, apple & another piece of produce, kids racing on horses, kids rolling up a buddy in a carpet & rolling them back out and my favorite: shaving cream, bug spray and sunscreen racing to put cans in a recycling bin that turned into a wrestling match. The night ended with the home team winning 5-1 and fireworks. A fun time was had by all.

Where The Business Cards Come In

The part of the story where business cards are associated are the vendors I saw. Apparently, minor league teams like the Somerset Patriots and perhaps even the Bridgeport Bluefish at their home stadium have local businesses pay for space to get in front of a diverse audience of baseball lovers.

The first one is Allied Wealth Partners out of Martinsville NJ. They had a couple of advisers on hand to I assume help people in need of keeping track of their finances. I would venture to guess that you must have some money if you can plop down for a minor league baseball game.

I can see how that can make sense.

The second one is for Seton Hall University. But not for the school: it’s for their ROTC Pirate Battalion program. As I approached the table, the national anthem came on and the two reps turned around right away & saluted the flag as it played… while I snagged their business cards in between God Bless America and the Star-Spangled Banner.

I also see the logic in a university military program setting up shop at a minor league baseball game. I’m sure there are potential high school students who would consider serving their country and like baseball, America’s pasttime.

There were other vendors at the Somerset Patriots vs Bridgeport Bluefish game, but they didn’t have business cards. I’d definitely go to another game in the future between the nice weather, fun atmosphere and great company.

Business Card Count: 35,749

Working out is important to me, even when I’m away. That’s why I was happy to find out that there was a YMCA Aquatic & Family Center located right next to my hotel: the Orlando Metropolitan Resort. And it was free because I was staying at that hotel.

I walked into the gym and was greeted by signing in. After that, I walked in and saw that it looked like a typical gym ala Planet Fitness… just without the judgment-free zone jargon and free pizza. There was one of every piece of equipment, which was more than adequate for my workout.

That day, I chose to do arms because it was the quickest workout and I was with a friend. I didn’t want to be that guy who took too long, but I did want to burn some calories. It was a good workout and I did some core afterwards.

The only regret I have is not bringing a bathing suit to Orlando. Not only was the weather great, but the YMCA had a HUGE pool with an open-air atmosphere and loads of Olympic-sized lanes for swimming laps. If I ever go back there, I’d love to take a swim in there and have a longer workout.

I wasn’t sure what to expect since I’ve never been to a YMCA before, but I had an enjoyable workout. I was expecting something with not-the-best equipment and maybe an aerobics class set to some oldies.

I’m not ashamed of that joke. Or to blast the Village People at full volume while driving slowly through a rough neighborhood.

Business Card Count: 35,125

If you couldn’t tell by my photo (which is from my most recent birthday bash), I’m quite white. I’m probably the whitest person I know and I once met Casper.

I put the Caucasian in Caucasian. Okay, I’ll stop now.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not as entertained by Hispanic comedians like George Lopez or black comedians like Chris Rock for whatever reason, but I recently went to the Ron Snipes Birthday Bash since a friend of mine knew the man who was being honored on this night.

And I’ll also admit that I was skeptical going in that I wouldn’t really get a lot of the humor being portrayed. And I must say that there were parts I couldn’t related to from all 5 comedians who performed at the Ron Snipes Birthday Bash.

However, I could appreciate the humor since I was surrounded by the laughter of others with the few jokes I didn’t exactly get and there were a good amount of jokes and plays on words that I found humorous. They all brought me into a world where I can imagine their hypothetical situations happening in real life.

Among the comedians who gave a set were Marshall Brandon, Edgar Rivera and Ruperto Vanderpool. I honestly don’t know who was who except by the order they went in, but their topics varied across the board. I must say I truly enjoyed myself and would do it again if asked, especially if they served a buffet like this event did (with meatballs, rice, roasted chicken, hot wings & carbs I opted out of).

The only other comedy club I went to was in NYC for my friend Jon’s bachelor party. That was funny as well, though the funniest moment was when my other friend Jerry hit one menu and it started a domino effect into another menu, into my glass of wine and landing splat onto my pants. Funny times.

I spoke with the host/guest of honor and Ron seemed like a good person, as were the other comedians on hand for the after party.

Business Card Count: 33,733