Surviving a Myriad of Pro Baseball Challenges: Sobrevivir a una miríada de desafíos de béisbol profesional

Following the career of a professional baseball player can be as nail biting as the most exciting baseball game.  When considering foreign baseball players, the ups and downs can be even more intense.  Take the case of Deivy De Castro, who was recently released from the Atlanta Braves and now sits in limbo, wondering if that signals the end of his career or if another team will need his skills in the future.

Seguir la carrera de un jugador de béisbol profesional puede ser tan emocionante como morderse las uñas como el juego de béisbol más emocionante.  Al considerar a los jugadores de béisbol extranjeros, los altibajos pueden ser aún más intensos.  Tomemos el caso de Deivy De Castro, quien recientemente fue liberado de los Bravos de Atlanta y ahora se encuentra en el limbo, preguntándose si eso señala el final de su carrera o si otro equipo necesitará sus habilidades en el futuro.

 

The journey for foreign players is a little different from the average American player, as the foreign players are often recruited at younger ages and sent to a specialty baseball academy to hone their skills.  This means that some players are taken from their families at a young age to attend this academy, which could be located in a country different from their own, such was the case of one player from Nicaragua who was sent to an academy in the Dominican Republic at 14-years-old.  Baseball becomes their primary focus, and for players like De Castro, who is from the Dominican Republic, baseball can advance you.

El viaje para los jugadores extranjeros es un poco diferente del jugador estadounidense promedio, ya que los jugadores extranjeros a menudo son reclutados a edades más tempranas y enviados a una academia de béisbol especializada para perfeccionar sus habilidades.  Esto significa que algunos jugadores son separados de sus familias a una edad temprana para asistir a esta academia, que podría estar ubicada en un país diferente al suyo, tal fue el caso de un jugador de Nicaragua que fue enviado a una academia en la República Dominicana a los 14 años.  El béisbol se convierte en su enfoque principal, y para jugadores como De Castro, que es de la República Dominicana, el béisbol puede avanzar.

 

Training these foreign players to be laser focused on only learning the game, I had asked one player what happens if he gets hurt.  What’s the backup plan?  He responded, “there is no backup plan.”

Entrenando a estos jugadores extranjeros para que se centren en aprender solo el juego, le pregunté a un jugador qué sucede si se lastima.  ¿Cuál es el plan de respaldo?  Él respondió: "No hay un plan de respaldo".

 

I was taken aback when he said that, but he explained.  “You have to remain positive and focused, with your eyes on the prize.  You cannot have that mindset that something else is an option, as it’s baseball.”

Me sorprendió cuando dijo eso, pero me explicó.  "Tienes que mantenerte positivo y enfocado, con los ojos puestos en el premio.  No puedes tener esa mentalidad de que otra cosa es una opción, como es el béisbol".

 

Unfortunately, injury is a reality in a sport where balls are being thrown around 100 miles an hour at a person.  Players are often struck by these zooming balls, resulting in colorful bruises they try to hide.  In the case of De Castro, players push their bodies to the limit of what they can handle, resulting in injury.

Desafortunadamente, las lesiones son una realidad en un deporte donde las pelotas se lanzan a una persona a unas 100 millas por hora.  Los jugadores a menudo son golpeados por estas bolas de zoom, lo que resulta en moretones coloridos que intentan ocultar.  En el caso de De Castro, los jugadores empujan sus cuerpos al límite de lo que pueden manejar, lo que resulta en lesiones.

 

“The injury happened to me in a game.  I made a throw to third base, and the bone broke.  Then I had an operation,” De Castro detailed.

"La lesión me pasó en un partido.  Hice un lanzamiento a la tercera base, y el hueso se rompió.  Luego tuve una operación", detalló De Castro.

 

As if jinxed by fate, as De Castro was going through his healing process at the facility in Florida, Hurricane Ian ravaged through the area, resulting in players being sent home due to unsafe conditions.  Lines of Academy buses loaded baseball players, ushering them off to airports unexpectedly.  September 28, 2022, was more than a wind of change for the players, as facilities were damaged by the storm.

Como si estuviera atrapado por el destino, mientras De Castro estaba pasando por su proceso de curación en las instalaciones en Florida, el huracán Ian devastó el área, lo que provocó que los jugadores fueran enviados a casa debido a condiciones inseguras.  Filas de autobuses de la Academia cargaron a los jugadores de béisbol, llevándolos a los aeropuertos inesperadamente.  El 28 de septiembre de 2022 fue más que un viento de cambio para los jugadores, ya que las instalaciones fueron dañadas por la tormenta.

 

The Braves had one of the newest facilities in the area, built to hurricane standards, so they were luckier than their competition only a few miles away.  The Tampa Bay Rays had a facility built before the 2004 Maimi-Dade standards took effect, and with their facility located closer to the Gulf of Mexico, they sustained a whirlwind of damage.  It looked like a giant ripped through the stadium, flipping over bleachers, crumbling up their bull pen and tearing through the beloved baseball stadium.

Los Bravos tenían una de las instalaciones más nuevas de la zona, construida según los estándares de huracanes, por lo que tuvieron más suerte que su competencia a solo unas pocas millas de distancia.  Los Tampa Bay Rays tenían una instalación construida antes de que los estándares Maimi-Dade de 2004 entraran en vigencia, y con su instalación ubicada más cerca del Golfo de México, sufrieron un torbellino de daños.  Parecía un gigante destrozando el estadio, volteando las gradas, desmoronando su corral de toros y destrozando el amado estadio de béisbol.

 

It was so badly damaged, the Rays were unable to host Spring Training games this year, but that did not mean it sat idly.  Right after the storm rolled through, the military was on site, pushing debris aside to set up a community outreach location.  That’s where locals could go for ice, water and food each day.

Estaba tan dañado que los Rays no pudieron organizar los juegos de entrenamiento de primavera este año, pero eso no significaba que se quedara de brazos cruzados.  Justo después de que la tormenta pasó, los militares estaban en el lugar, empujando los escombros a un lado para establecer un lugar de alcance comunitario.  Ahí es donde los lugareños podían ir por hielo, agua y comida todos los días.

 

After the storm, most grocery stores were destroyed or empty, making it necessary for the military to set up these community outreach locations.  With limited supplies for locals, it’s no wonder teams sent players back home, having to brave driving through areas with no street signs or streetlights, dodging debris.  Can you imagine what players like De Castro, who rode through the storm, thought during this time? 

Después de la tormenta, la mayoría de las tiendas de comestibles fueron destruidas o vacías, por lo que fue necesario que los militares establecieran estos lugares de alcance comunitario.  Con suministros limitados para los locales, no es de extrañar que los equipos enviaran a los jugadores de regreso a casa, teniendo que enfrentarse a conducir por áreas sin señales de tráfico ni farolas, esquivando escombros.  ¿Te imaginas lo que pensaron jugadores como De Castro, que cabalgó a través de la tormenta, durante este tiempo? 

 

The reality that De Castro and other Dominican players faced was that the Dominican Republic had also gotten hit by a hurricane, so they went from one storm recovery location to another.  Some of the country did not even have running water at that time, as they had been hit very badly by storms weeks earlier.  They were scrambling for supplies as much as Florida was, a harsh reality for players to face.

La realidad que De Castro y otros jugadores dominicanos enfrentaron fue que la República Dominicana también había sido golpeada por un huracán, por lo que fueron de un lugar de recuperación de tormenta a otro.  Parte del país ni siquiera tenía agua corriente en ese momento, ya que habían sido golpeados muy mal por las tormentas semanas antes.  Estaban luchando por suministros tanto como Florida, una dura realidad que los jugadores deben enfrentar. 

 

Surviving those harsh condition, trying to keep a positive outlook, De Castro returned back to Florida this year for Spring Training, catching a glimpse of Florida’s continuing recovery process.  Unfortunately, with baseball’s ever-changing lineup, he was released from his contract, but he still maintains a positive attitude, trusting that everything is going according to God’s plan.  His faith helps him maintain a positive outlook, and his focus is solely on continuing to improve his baseball skills, acting as if this is merely a bump in the road on the way to the next adventure that God has planned for him in life.

Para sobrevivir a esas duras condiciones, tratando de mantener una perspectiva positiva, De Castro regresó a Florida este año para el entrenamiento de primavera, vislumbrando el continuo proceso de recuperación de Florida.  Desafortunadamente, con la alineación siempre cambiante del béisbol, fue liberado de su contrato, pero aún mantiene una actitud positiva, confiando en que todo va de acuerdo con el plan de Dios.  Su fe lo ayuda a mantener una perspectiva positiva, y su enfoque es únicamente en continuar mejorando sus habilidades de béisbol, actuando como si esto fuera simplemente un bache en el camino hacia la próxima aventura que Dios ha planeado para él en la vida.

 

We could all learn from his resilience and positivity.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so to speak.  We never know what life might throw at us, or if we might throw so hard that we break something, but there’s no point in giving up, as there’s so much in the world that life has to offer.

Todos podríamos aprender de su resiliencia y positividad.  Cuando la vida te dé limones, haz limonada, por así decirlo.  Nunca sabemos lo que la vida podría arrojarnos, o si podríamos tirar tan fuerte que rompamos algo, pero no tiene sentido darse por vencido, ya que hay mucho en el mundo que la vida tiene para ofrecer.

 

Marisa Williams earned her Master's in Writing at the Johns Hopkins University.  She is the author of more than 100 books.  One of her recent screenplays, Birds of Baseball, 

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PTSD Affects Interactions: El TEPT afecta las interacciones

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is something that people throw around casually in conversation, but not everyone knows what it truly means.  A traumatic experience can be different for individuals, as not everyone goes through the same things in life.  What's traumatic for one person may be different for another, such as the experience of losing a loved one, but some things are traumatic for most people, such as being in an active war zone, being raped, or nearly being killed by someone or something.

El trastorno de estrés postraumático, también conocido como TEPT, es algo que las personas lanzan casualmente en la conversación, pero no todos saben lo que realmente significa.  Una experiencia traumática puede ser diferente para las personas, ya que no todos pasan por las mismas cosas en la vida.   Lo que es traumático para una persona puede ser diferente para otra, como la experiencia de perder a un ser querido, pero algunas cosas son traumáticas para la mayoría de las personas, como estar en una zona de guerra activa, ser violada o casi ser asesinada por alguien o algo.

When someone goes through a traumatic experience, the stress of the situation can haunt them for years to come.  It's not like an all-day, everyday experience, as there might be something small that triggers the memory.  Much like the scent of a perfume that a loved one used to wear can bring back their memory, certain sounds, phrases and even songs can bring memories back to the surface or trigger that memory.

Cuando alguien pasa por una experiencia traumática, el estrés de la situación puede perseguirlos en los próximos años.  No es como una experiencia cotidiana de todo el día, ya que puede haber algo pequeño que desencadene la memoria.  Al igual que el aroma de un perfume que un ser querido solía usar puede traer de vuelta su memoria, ciertos sonidos, frases e incluso canciones pueden traer recuerdos a la superficie o desencadenar ese recuerdo.

Being old enough to have gone through a few traumatic things in my life, I will attempt to share some of my personal triggers as examples.  When I was 15, I was held captive for 11 hours and raped.  During this time, an album was playing on repeat, and when I hear those songs, it can trigger me.

Siendo lo suficientemente mayor como para haber pasado por algunas cosas traumáticas en mi vida, intentaré compartir algunos de mis desencadenantes personales como ejemplos.  Cuando tenía 15 años, me mantuvieron cautiva durante 11 horas y me violaron.  Durante este tiempo, un álbum se estaba repitiendo, y cuando escucho esas canciones, puede desencadenarme.

For many years, if I saw a man that resembled the person who did that to me, it would also trigger me.  It was to the point that I met the nicest guy that I wanted to date, but I could not get past his physical features that triggered me, putting up a wall, unable to get past any points of intimacy.  It was to the point that the guy offered to get plastic surgery to help me get past it, but I could not justify him doing that for my own issues, telling myself I really need to learn how to get over this so many years later.

Durante muchos años, si veía a un hombre que se parecía a la persona que me hizo eso, también me desencadenaría.  Fue hasta el punto de que conocí al chico más agradable con el que quería salir, pero no pude superar sus rasgos físicos que me desencadenaron, levantando una pared, incapaz de superar cualquier punto de intimidad.  Fue hasta el punto de que el tipo se ofreció a someterse a una cirugía plástica para ayudarme a superarlo, pero no pude justificar que lo hiciera por mis propios problemas, diciéndome a mí mismo que realmente necesito aprender a superar esto tantos años después.

It's easier said than done to get past it.  Time helps.  It's not a full cure though.

Es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo para superarlo.  El tiempo ayuda.  Sin embargo, no es una cura completa.

When I was attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, I lived in a nice part of the city by the Inner Harbor, but nice areas turn people into victims.  I had a tiny girl put a .45 Glock in my chest, hoping to get money, and when she found out I only had $6, being a broke student at the time, she got made.  Turning me around, she put the gun in my back, ordering me to open up my apartment.

Cuando asistí a la Universidad Johns Hopkins en Baltimore, vivía en una buena parte de la ciudad junto al Inner Harbor, pero las áreas agradables convierten a las personas en víctimas.  Hice que una niña pequeña me pusiera una Glock .45 en el pecho, con la esperanza de obtener dinero, y cuando descubrió que solo tenía $ 6, siendo una estudiante arruinada en ese momento, la hicieron.  Dándome la vuelta, me puso el arma en la espalda, ordenándome que abriera mi apartamento.

Luckily, she did not realize I was on the phone with my father.  I told him to call 911, and she took off.  It could have been a lot worse, but as it happened on my front porch, every time I went downstairs, I saw her standing there, the entire scene repeating in my head over and over each time I walked there.

Afortunadamente, ella no se dio cuenta de que estaba hablando por teléfono con mi padre.  Le dije que llamara al 911, y ella se fue.  Podría haber sido mucho peor, pero como sucedió en mi porche delantero, cada vez que bajaba las escaleras, la veía parada allí, toda la escena repitiéndose en mi cabeza una y otra vez cada vez que caminaba allí.

Unable to get over it, after my downstairs neighbor died less than two weeks later of complications of when he was held up at gunpoint and shot in the chest, I not only moved out of the apartment, but moved out of the city.  Luckily, I was on the last semester of my Master's degree, working independently with instructors, so I was able to complete my degree remotely.  Still, it was traumatic.

Incapaz de superarlo, después de que mi vecino de abajo muriera menos de dos semanas después por complicaciones de cuando fue detenido a punta de pistola y disparado en el pecho, no solo me mudé del apartamento, sino que me mudé de la ciudad.  Afortunadamente, estaba en el último semestre de mi maestría, trabajando de forma independiente con instructores, por lo que pude completar mi título de forma remota.  Aún así, fue traumático.

Most recently, I was in an abusive relationship, and the guy would literally pick fights to get me to leave the house, so he could hookup with men on Grinder.  I didn't know what he was up to until later, when his own friends busted him, saying they were sick of him leading me on and using me.  Still, he would say stuff like, "if you could learn to listen..." and rant for hours, until I would leave the house.

Más recientemente, estuve en una relación abusiva, y el tipo literalmente se peleaba para que saliera de la casa, para poder conectarse con hombres en Grinder.  No supe lo que estaba haciendo hasta más tarde, cuando sus propios amigos lo arrestaron, diciendo que estaban hartos de que me guiara y me usara.  Aún así, decía cosas como: "si pudieras aprender a escuchar ..." y despotricar durante horas, hasta que salía de casa.

Unbeknownst to me, that phrase became a trigger for me.  I associated it with him getting ready to scream at me for hours straight, as I tried to be as quiet as a church mouse, convinced that might make him stop bellering like a bull moose.  When somebody casually said that phrase to me when I was trying to convince them to go to a concert with me that they did not want to go to, it sent me on a downward spiral, where it was like that person was my ex suddenly in the flesh about to go off on me.

Sin que yo lo supiera, esa frase se convirtió en un desencadenante para mí.  Lo asocié con él preparándose para gritarme durante horas seguidas, mientras trataba de estar tan callado como un ratón de iglesia, convencido de que eso podría hacer que dejara de gritar como un alce toro.  Cuando alguien casualmente me dijo esa frase cuando estaba tratando de convencerlos de ir a un concierto conmigo al que no querían ir, me envió a una espiral descendente, donde era como si esa persona fuera mi ex de repente en carne y hueso a punto de atacarme.

You can try to warn people, like, "hey, that just triggered my PTSD, and I cannot help it," but most people do not even fathom what that means.  Try to explain that it makes you feel like you've returned to that traumatic moment in the past, and they will huff that your past has nothing to do with them.  While they may be right, it's easier said than done to try to explain when a mental health crisis is happening, or even after it happens, trying to pick up the pieces of broken friendships afterwards.

Puedes tratar de advertir a la gente, como, "oye, eso acaba de desencadenar mi trastorno de estrés postraumático, y no puedo evitarlo", pero la mayoría de las personas ni siquiera entienden lo que eso significa.  Trata de explicar que te hace sentir como si hubieras regresado a ese momento traumático en el pasado, y se burlarán de que tu pasado no tiene nada que ver con ellos.  Si bien pueden tener razón, es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo para tratar de explicar cuándo está ocurriendo una crisis de salud mental, o incluso después de que sucede, tratando de recoger los pedazos de amistades rotas.

People will call you unstable, and maybe that statement is true in some cases.  The experience is different for everyone, as different people have different reactions to different traumas.  My brother, for example, after getting hit by cars and being in car accidents, had a hard time just getting into a car for a while, not wanting to drive, preferring any other mode of transportation, as the cars made him think of being in accidents, invoking an irrational fear that it was sure to happen again, as it happened before.

La gente te llamará inestable, y tal vez esa afirmación sea cierta en algunos casos.  La experiencia es diferente para todos, ya que diferentes personas tienen diferentes reacciones a diferentes traumas.  Mi hermano, por ejemplo, después de ser atropellado por automóviles y tener accidentes automovilísticos, tuvo dificultades para subirse a un automóvil por un tiempo, no querer conducir, preferir cualquier otro medio de transporte, ya que los autos lo hicieron pensar en tener accidentes, invocando un miedo irracional de que seguramente volvería a suceder.

Most people think of soldiers when they think of people with PTSD, and even that can be misunderstood.  A guy I went to school with had fought in Afghanistan as a Marine, and he did not tell me he had PTSD until we were at a haunted house, confessing that darkness, confined spaces and loud noises triggered him.  With the haunted house being full of triggers for him, this massive guy was clenching me for dear life the whole way through, cowering and shaking at some points, yet he still soldiered through the experience, convinced it might help him get over some of his PTSD by convincing himself that it was in a controlled environment, not a war zone.

La mayoría de la gente piensa en soldados cuando piensa en personas con trastorno de estrés postraumático, e incluso eso puede malinterpretarse.  Un chico con el que fui a la escuela había luchado en Afganistán como infante de marina, y no me dijo que tenía trastorno de estrés postraumático hasta que estuvimos en una casa embrujada, confesando que la oscuridad, los espacios confinados y los ruidos fuertes lo desencadenaron. Con la casa embrujada llena de desencadenantes para él, este tipo masivo me estaba apretando por la vida querida durante todo el camino, acobardado y temblando en algunos puntos, sin embargo, aún así se soldó a través de la experiencia, convencido de que podría ayudarlo a superar parte de su trastorno de estrés postraumático convenciéndose a sí mismo de que estaba en un ambiente controlado.  no es una zona de guerra.

I'm not sure that it helped that much.  He did not want to go back the next year.  That's how it goes.

No estoy seguro de que haya ayudado tanto.  No quería volver al año siguiente.  Así es como funciona.

People try all sorts of things to try to get themselves over a traumatic experience, but sometimes, it's easier said than done to try to forget and move on.  There's good days, that can go for months at a stretch, but all it takes is on unexpected trigger, and you're right back there.  That's what PTSD is in a nutshell for those who don't know, and if you're lucky enough to not have it, feel blessed, as there's plenty of others who live with the ghost of a memory that scares them from time to time unexpectedly.

La gente intenta todo tipo de cosas para tratar de superar una experiencia traumática, pero a veces, es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo para tratar de olvidar y seguir adelante.  Hay días buenos, que pueden durar meses seguidos, pero todo lo que se necesita es un disparo inesperado, y estás de vuelta allí.  Eso es lo que es el TEPT en pocas palabras para aquellos que no lo saben, y si tienes la suerte de no tenerlo, siéntete bendecido, ya que hay muchos otros que viven con el fantasma de un recuerdo que a veces los asusta.

It might cause people to lash out, misdirect their emotions, or dig in their heels to not go to a location, such as me refusing to go back to where I got my jaw dislocated and neck snapped.  It's not always easy to deal with, but a little understanding goes a long way.  Not everyone is going to understand, even when people try to explain it, but the more awareness people have about what it is can help.

Podría hacer que las personas ataquen, desvíen sus emociones o se hundan en sus talones para no ir a un lugar, como que yo me niegue a regresar a donde me disloqué la mandíbula y el cuello se rompió.  No siempre es fácil de tratar, pero un poco de comprensión ayuda mucho.  No todo el mundo va a entender, incluso cuando la gente trata de explicarlo, pero cuanta más conciencia tenga la gente sobre lo que es puede ayudar.

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Emotions by Hodelpa in Juan Dolio: Emociones de Hodelpa en Juan Dolio

Wanting to extend our stay in the Dominican Republic, we found Emotions by Hodelpa in Juan Dolio Beach on the www.choicehotels.com website.  Not only familiar with the hotel chain, but having some extra points to use, we wound up booking the VIP experience at Emotions using spare bonus points.  For a free hotel stay, this more than surpassed our expectations, as it was like discovering an all-inclusive paradise.

Queriendo extender nuestra estadía en la República Dominicana, encontramos Emotions by Hodelpa en Playa Juan Dolio en el sitio web de www.choicehotels.com.  No solo familiarizados con la cadena hotelera, sino que también teníamos algunos puntos adicionales para usar, terminamos reservando la experiencia VIP en Emotions usando puntos de bonificación de repuesto.  Para una estancia gratuita en un hotel, esto superó con creces nuestras expectativas, ya que fue como descubrir un paraíso todo incluido.

Our biggest complaint is that we did not stay longer!  Coming from another all-inclusive resort, we found Emotions to have much better food and VIP offerings, such as a private, beachside pool with servers to bring you whatever you wanted.  The driftwood in the ocean called to me, and as a strong swimmer, I had to make my way out there, causing the lifeguard to sweat a little and signal me back a few times.

¡Nuestra mayor queja es que no nos quedamos más tiempo!  Viniendo de otro resort con todo incluido, descubrimos que Emotions tiene mucha mejor comida y ofertas VIP, como una piscina privada junto a la playa con servidores para traerte lo que quieras.  La madera flotante en el océano me llamó, y como un fuerte nadador, tuve que salir allí, haciendo que el salvavidas sudara un poco y me indicara que regresara varias veces.

The nice part is that there is a lifeguard, and he did keep an extremely watchful eye on me, even as I swam outside of where I should have been.  As I would learn, there's a reason they don't want you to swim there, as there's lots of hidden obstacles in the ocean as you approach what you think is a sandbar.  It's more like a coral reef with all sorts of creatures that will swim underneath you and make your heart pound a little.

Lo bueno es que hay un salvavidas, y él me vigiló extremadamente vigilante, incluso mientras nadaba fuera de donde debería haber estado.  Como aprendería, hay una razón por la que no quieren que nades allí, ya que hay muchos obstáculos ocultos en el océano cuando te acercas a lo que crees que es un banco de arena.  Es más como un arrecife de coral con todo tipo de criaturas que nadarán debajo de ti y harán que tu corazón lata un poco.

The hardest part for us was deciding whether we wanted to book the swim-out room or the oceanfront room.  As a water baby, I loved the idea of being able to swim out of my hotel room and have a private area to play in.  However, as a nature lover, my love of the ocean won out, as we booked oceanfront.

La parte más difícil para nosotros fue decidir si queríamos reservar la sala de baño o la habitación frente al mar.  Como bebé acuático, me encantaba la idea de poder nadar fuera de mi habitación de hotel y tener un área privada para jugar.  Sin embargo, como amante de la naturaleza, mi amor por el océano ganó, ya que reservamos frente al mar.

I did like the idea of building four.  That's adults only, and it has a private pool for just that section.  That pool has a really cool hammock swing that is oversized and perfect for lounging; however, our oceanfront room also had its own private oceanfront pool with massive cabanas that were like plush beds to lounge on while wet, making it perfect for our purposes.

Me gustó la idea de construir cuatro.  Eso es solo para adultos, y tiene una piscina privada solo para esa sección.  Esa piscina tiene un columpio de hamaca realmente genial que es de gran tamaño y perfecto para descansar; Sin embargo, nuestra habitación frente al mar también tenía su propia piscina privada frente al mar con cabañas masivas que eran como camas de felpa para descansar mientras estaban mojadas, lo que la hacía perfecta para nuestros propósitos.

Play chess on the oversized chess set.  Get some exercise climbing up the rock wall.  Relax in the numerous swings that are happily hidden throughout the resort, including on the ocean.

Juega al ajedrez en el juego de ajedrez de gran tamaño.  Haz algo de ejercicio escalando la pared de roca.  Relájese en los numerosos columpios que están felizmente escondidos en todo el complejo, incluso en el océano.

Will you get your picture with a parrot.  Maybe you're more into monkeys.  You never know what kinds of creatures you will find roaming around the resort.

¿Obtendrás tu foto con un loro?  Tal vez te gustan más los monos.  Nunca se sabe qué tipo de criaturas encontrarás vagando por el complejo.

Spoiled by room service being included, we had champagne and fresh fruit brought up to us upon arrival, and though we signed up for the Asian restaurant, the Italian one wound up being our spot.  Sip on a fresh mojito and enjoy stellar service from the waitstaff who make you feel pampered.  There's always the buffet when you can't make your mind up on what to eat, as it offers a little of everything that's made just right, making your potential problem being too full after a trip there, as you'll want to try a bite of everything.

Mimados por el servicio de habitaciones incluido, nos trajeron champán y fruta fresca al llegar, y aunque nos inscribimos en el restaurante asiático, el italiano terminó siendo nuestro lugar.  Disfrute de un mojito fresco y disfrute del servicio estelar de los camareros que lo hacen sentir mimado.  Siempre está el buffet cuando no puedes decidir qué comer, ya que ofrece un poco de todo lo que está bien hecho, lo que hace que tu problema potencial esté demasiado lleno después de un viaje allí, ya que querrás probar un bocado de todo.

Room service provides a choice of meal.  It's all inclusive, so you can choose them all if you want.  Why not experience all the culinary creations that are offered at an all-inclusive resort?

El servicio de habitaciones ofrece una selección de comidas.  Es todo incluido, por lo que puede elegirlos todos si lo desea.  ¿Por qué no experimentar todas las creaciones culinarias que se ofrecen en un resort todo incluido?

The day we arrived, there was a wedding set up on the beach, and the natural landscape at sunset is simply picturesque.  Whether you're planning a destination wedding or simply an escape from the everyday hustle and grind, Emotions by Hodelpa in Juan Dolio Beach will have you not wanting to leave the Dominican Republic.  Do yourself a favor and add this to your travel destination bucket list.

El día que llegamos, había una boda organizada en la playa, y el paisaje natural al atardecer es simplemente pintoresco.  Ya sea que esté planeando una boda de destino o simplemente un escape del ajetreo y la rutina diaria, Emotions by Hodelpa en Juan Dolio Beach hará que no quiera salir de la República Dominicana.  Hágase un favor y agregue esto a su lista de destinos de viaje.

Emotions by Hodelpa Juan Dolio | All Inclusive Resort in Dominican Republic

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Discover Three Eyes: Descubre Tres Ojos

When we booked our trip to the Dominican Republic, one of our top priorities was seeing some of the pristine nature the country has to offer.  After researching a number of caves and waterfalls, the one location that kept calling to us was Three Eyes in Santo Domingo.  Arranging a private driver through www.mydaytrip.com, we lucked out with Jonas, who was an amazing guide and driver.

Cuando reservamos nuestro viaje a la República Dominicana, una de nuestras principales prioridades era ver algo de la naturaleza prístina que el país tiene para ofrecer.  Después de investigar una serie de cuevas y cascadas, el único lugar que nos llamaba era Three Eyes en Santo Domingo.  Organizando un conductor privado a través de www.mydaytrip.com, tuvimos suerte con Jonas, que fue un guía y conductor increíble.

Jonas picked us up in Punta Cana, making our stop at Tres Ojas, before dropping us in Juan Dolio Beach.  As we were switching hotels, we figured it was the perfect time to plan an excursion.  The thing with My Day Trip is that they screen all their drivers with a background check, and Jonas was about the safest driver on the street, which made us feel completely comfortable as two women on our own in a foreign land.

Jonas nos recogió en Punta Cana, haciendo nuestra parada en Tres Ojas, antes de dejarnos en la playa Juan Dolio.  Como estábamos cambiando de hotel, pensamos que era el momento perfecto para planificar una excursión.  Lo que pasa con My Day Trip es que examinan a todos sus conductores con una verificación de antecedentes, y Jonas era el conductor más seguro de la calle, lo que nos hizo sentir completamente cómodas como dos mujeres solas en un país extranjero.

Making our parents comfortable, they gave us the driver name, license plate and everything before he arrived.  That way, we could give the info to our loved ones back home, just in case anything happened.  Honestly, some family members were trying to make us scared to travel off the beaten path, but their fears were completely unfounded, as we had nothing but a good time and felt extremely safe the whole time.

Haciendo que nuestros padres se sintieran cómodos, nos dieron el nombre del conductor, la matrícula y todo antes de que llegara.  De esa manera, podríamos dar la información a nuestros seres queridos en casa, en caso de que algo sucediera.  Honestamente, algunos miembros de la familia estaban tratando de asustarnos de viajar fuera de los caminos trillados, pero sus temores eran completamente infundados, ya que no tuvimos nada más que un buen momento y nos sentimos extremadamente seguros todo el tiempo.

With tour guides at Tres Ojas, we learned more about the history of the country, as well as their diverse backgrounds.  The tour guide explained that dolls and statues are often carved without any distinct features, as the backgrounds in the Dominican Republic are so diverse that they don't want to characterize their people as one.  From Christopher Columbus landing to all the various people across the planet that have flocked to the beauty in the Dominican Republic, there's not just one ethnic group featured, as the absence of features opens to all backgrounds to be included in the rich history.

Con guías turísticos en Tres Ojas, aprendimos más sobre la historia del país, así como sus diversos orígenes.  El guía turístico explicó que las muñecas y las estatuas a menudo se tallan sin ninguna característica distintiva, ya que los fondos en la República Dominicana son tan diversos que no quieren caracterizar a su gente como uno.  Desde el aterrizaje de Cristóbal Colón hasta todas las diversas personas en todo el planeta que han acudido en masa a la belleza en la República Dominicana, no hay un solo grupo étnico destacado, ya que la ausencia de características se abre a todos los orígenes para ser incluidos en la rica historia.

From learning how the natives carved into stone, to the many movies that had been filmed at the location, the history of the location can be seen and felt.  As you descend down the steps to the hidden caverns and lakes, you can almost feel yourself disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life.  It's no wonder that Jurassic Park and other movies were filmed there, as it looks as if it had been placed into a time capsule, undisturbed for centuries, preserving the natural beauty.

Desde aprender cómo los nativos tallaron en piedra, hasta las muchas películas que se habían filmado en el lugar, la historia de la ubicación se puede ver y sentir.  A medida que desciende por los escalones hacia las cavernas y lagos escondidos, casi puede sentirse desconectado del ajetreo y el bullicio de la vida de la ciudad.  No es de extrañar que Jurassic Park y otras películas se filmaran allí, ya que parece como si hubiera sido colocada en una cápsula del tiempo, sin ser molestada durante siglos, preservando la belleza natural.

Even though the national park is called Three Eyes, or Tres Ojas, named for the three natural pools of water underground, there are actually four lakes, not three.  To get to the final lake, you must take a ferry, and when we read that there was a ferry, we pictured like a steamboat or something.  That was not the case, as this was old school, with a hand-pulled ferry to get you across the third lake.

A pesar de que el parque nacional se llama Tres Ojos, o Tres Ojas, llamado así por las tres piscinas naturales de agua subterránea, en realidad hay cuatro lagos, no tres.  Para llegar al lago final, debes tomar un ferry, y cuando leímos que había un ferry, nos imaginamos como un barco de vapor o algo así.  Ese no fue el caso, ya que esto era de la vieja escuela, con un ferry tirado a mano para llevarte a través del tercer lago.

The ferry only fits a few people at a time, offering an intimate setting in the dark cavern.  Through the cave, it gets a little dark for a moment, but as they continue to pull you closer, the light breaks through the darkness, illuminating lush ferns and a slew of fish eager to keep the mosquitos away.  No need for bug spray when the fish eat all the eggs before they get a chance to hatch and bite you.

El ferry solo se adapta a unas pocas personas a la vez, ofreciendo un ambiente íntimo en la oscura caverna.  A través de la cueva, se oscurece un poco por un momento, pero a medida que continúan acercándote, la luz atraviesa la oscuridad, iluminando exuberantes helechos y una gran cantidad de peces ansiosos por mantener alejados a los mosquitos.  No hay necesidad de repelente de insectos cuando los peces se comen todos los huevos antes de que tengan la oportunidad de eclosionar y morderte.

If you want to see stalactites and stalagmites, the caverns of Tres Ojas are phenomenal.  If you want to see blue water that has been seemingly untouched, this is place.  If you want to feel as if you stepped back in time, then it's no wonder that Jurassic Park chose this location to film at.

Si quieres ver estalactitas y estalagmitas, las cavernas de Tres Ojas son fenomenales.  Si quieres ver agua azul que ha sido aparentemente intacta, este es el lugar.  Si quieres sentir que retrocediste en el tiempo, entonces no es de extrañar que Jurassic Park haya elegido este lugar para filmar.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be getting a Stairmaster type of workout with all the steps to climb.  For the breathtaking views, it is worth it.  This is one of those ideal locations for yoga meditation where you can feel the peacefulness of nature enveloping you.

Asegúrese de usar zapatos cómodos, ya que obtendrá un entrenamiento tipo Stairmaster con todos los pasos para subir.  Por las impresionantes vistas, vale la pena.  Este es uno de esos lugares ideales para la meditación de yoga donde puedes sentir la tranquilidad de la naturaleza que te envuelve.

Los Tres Ojos, Santo Domingo (visitdominicanrepublic.org)

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Freaks on Parade

 With the announcement of the upcoming Freaks on Parade tour announcement, we will not be discussing the Fournier, or Furnier, side of my French family, such as my grandfather's second cousin's son or how my uncle would play guitar with his cousin Vincent in a Saginaw garage before anyone was anyone.  We will also not be discussing how Rob Zombie pulled me up on stage in Detroit, which led to me getting a job offer to tour on Ozzfest in 2002, nor the many adventures I've had covering them over the years, including being my own Freak on Parade, going up to the biggest, scariest gangstas and bikers with the gnarliest tattoos and challenging them, "I bet ya fifty bucks that I got a tattoo that hurts worse than you."  Instead, we will fast forward past my times touring on Ozzfest to when I was living in New Orleans right before Hurricane Ivan, which was the year before Hurricane Katrina, when I covered Ministry with My Life in the Thrill Kill Cult the night before Hurricane Ivan was scheduled to hit the city.

This story is fitting to flashback to, given the fact that they have been tearing the mold from all of the ceilings and walls out of my house finally after getting hit by Hurricane Ian, so hurricanes and damages caused by such have been on the foremost of my mind after rocking through the Category 5 storm.  First of all, let me start out by saying that this particular show still ranks up into one of the best concerts I have ever attended, and that's out of literally thousands of concerts I have covered over the years as a journalist.  Yes, my family puts on a fabulous show, and Rob Zombie is amazing in concerts.  However, it was the atmosphere of being at a show the night before a hurricane is supposed to hit that made it so extra special, as everyone partied as if it could have been their last night on earth, which it could have been.

When every single person in attendance at a show has missed the mandatory evacuation notice, opting to stay past when recommended, knowing there's a chance you might not be able to leave, it's literally a party like your last night on earth type of celebration where everyone simply wants to have a good time.  For those who don't remember, Hurricane Ivan was supposed to be a direct hit on New Orleans, just like Katrina hit the following year, but at the last minute, the storm turned towards the Panhandle.  At the time of the show, it was still looking like a direct hit to NOLA, so people didn't know that it would turn, causing everyone to not only fear for their lives but to give into the fact they could die.

At that point, leaving was a nightmare, as the traffic was already at a standstill.  You couldn't go north or east, as they said there was a chance it could turn, so everyone from Florida was heading up and filtering from the East, resulting in no hotels having any vacancies.  When I finally was able to leave the following day with a neighbor, as I did not have a car at the time, it took us eight hours to go 11 miles, just to give you a perspective of what it's like to wait too long to leave for a hurricane.

As mentioned, I recently did stay for the Category 5 Hurricane Ian, which did result in damages to not only my house, but being at my mom's house when a couple ton pine tree fell on the room while my father and I were inside watching and hoping it didn't tear all the way through and slam onto us.  Take my advice: don't stay.  Get the heck out of dodge the minute the announce a storm anywhere nearby.

The only reason I stayed, for those who did not read my Hurricane Ian Diary posts, was because the storm was not scheduled to hit us.  They kept crowing how it would be north of Tampa.  Therefore, none of us left, as they never announced that it was a problem, until it was too late to leave.

By the time the announced it would hit south of Tampa, the traffic from Tampa north was at a standstill.  Talking with people who did leave, they advised to hunker in place, as we would not be able to make it too far.  When you only have a few hours notice, do you pack up, jump in the car and face the storm in a vehicle while trapped on a road, or would you rather be in a building for the storm?

I vividly remembered what it was like to stand in traffic, not only for Ivan, but also for Hurricane Irma, which resulted in dad and I waiting five hours for gas at three in the morning in the middle of nowhere, as it was the only gas station with gas left.  It's hard to keep driving when everyone is out of gas.  Let me tell you, staying is hard when everyone is out of gas too, and you see these armies of sad looking people on bicycles with a dozen gas cans tied to the frame of their bike seeking any sort of gas.

Then when a gas station finally gets gas, the military has to step in, as it's a mad house.  Yes, they literally have guns, as people get that out of hand.  Once that gas station opens, it's worse than a flock of seagulls, as you have a line three miles long for the people with gas cans in hand standing, but there's a line six miles long of cars waiting, with many running out of gas waiting to get gas.

It's very humbling to be working with professional baseball players, then like a month after season ends, instead of going to the stadiums to watch games, it's instead to get supplies.  For anyone who is paranoid about a FEMA camp as is popular on social media, you better realize that means that food, water, ice and supplies like tarps are being handed out when you need it the most.  You'll be thankful to pull into the Tampa Bay Rays stadium to get a free tarp when you have a tree on your house like I was.

So, yeah, when you're in a position where you don't know how strong that storm surge will be, when you're facing getting hammered with waves that can literally flood the whole city and take out buildings, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will party like you never partied before, like it's your last night on earth, as the danger is real, imminent, and it very well could be your last night on earth.  As mentioned, the traffic at that point was already at a standstill, so you could either hop in line to stand, or go see Ministry with My Life in the Thrill Kill Cult to party like you never have before.  Cudos to the bands for even staying to play, but at that point, they were trapped, too, so it's like being the musicians on the Titanic, willing to sacrifice yourself to entertain others in a real-life crisis.

Okay, they might have been strumming guitars instead of violins, but then again, Ministry is known for a lot of random sounds in their music, so you just never know what you might hear from Al.  My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult also has a variety of musicians on stage, so again, you never know.  Going in, honestly, for me, it was all about Ministry, as I had never seen My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult, but after seeing them both that night, it made my a hardcore fan of both of those bands.

So yeah, give them both props for even performing under those types of conditions, and I'll also give them props for both having girls on stage performing.  At that time, there was not a lot of girls performing rock with guys, and there's still a stigma about it, so the face that both bands were open to recognizing talent of both genders even back then was a very cool thing for me that stayed with me.  Now, it sounds like whatever, but back in the day, gender equality was not as equal as it should have been, which might not have been recognized unless you were a female in the music industry struggling.

As a journalist there to cover the show, I was posted in front of the barricade for the first three songs, and while it was not my first time doing this, I will say it was one of my coolest times doing it.  That's because when I went to go out of the photo pit after shooting, I simply climbed up, pointed, and crowd surfed out of the pit, with the fans in the crowd being so cool, they surfed me over to my friend in the back of the venue, putting me down exactly where I pointed both times like a real pimp situation.  Most often, crowd surfing can end in injury, but on this occasion, it was that perfect wave to surf.

To put myself in perspective, as much as I hate to admit how old I am getting, this show would have been nearly twenty years ago in 2004, if memory serves me correctly.  That's like enough time to have had a kid that could now be graduated and old enough to vote or something.  That's scary to me, as I do not have kids, so it's like that perspective of oh my gosh, I'm old enough to have a kid that graduated.

That much aside, like I said, going in, for me, it was all about Ministry.  That's just a band that my brother and I grew up with and would jam constantly.  Every time it comes on the radio unexpectedly, I will jam it, call my brother and jam it through the phone, just so he can flashback with me.

I mean, "Jesus Built My Hotrod" just gets you going.  Still, whenever it applies to someone or an unfortunate situation, my brother will cackle, "never trust a junkie" and jam "Just One Fix."  Those words are classic and timeless, and songs like N.W.O. only seems more fitting these days.

Admittedly, Freaks on Parade is one tour that certainly catches my interest this fall.  It's just in time to kickstart Halloween season, one of my personal favorites, so I'm into it.  If you're into it, too, and you should be, as these guys are all awesome performers, some of my favorites out of literally thousands I have covered over the years, then you can catch them on tour coming to a city near you.

2023 Freaks On Parade Tour Dates:
Thu Aug 24 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sat Aug 26 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 29 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Wed Aug 30 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Fri Sep 01 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 02 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Tue Sep 05 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Wed Sep 06 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Fri Sep 08 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Sat Sep 09 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Sep 10 – Hartford, CT – The XFINITY Theatre
Tue Sep 12 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Sat Sep 16 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre *
Tue Sep 19 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Wed Sep 20 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 22 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Sat Sep 23 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Sun Sep 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Here's a quick example of what I have seen, but there's not telling what it will be like with this group of performers known for changing up their shock value.  Only way to know for sure is to go and check it out on your own.  Highly recommended.

Of course, feel free to check out Outlandish Writer, then come Party like Pirates.  For my latest books, check out www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz. If I have convinced you that you would like to buy a house in Florida, I sell real estate, too.

BulletBoys Rocked Port Charlotte: BulletBoys Sacudió Port Charlotte

It took me a while to think of the cat-like way that these rockers presented themselves on stage, but the word of the day is "sashay."  Yes, I would hands-down, definitely say that the BulletBoys tend to sashay across the stage, owning it like my cat claiming the comfiest spot in the house.  Throughout watching the show, I kept picturing them to be like cats, as they are so expressive in their performance.

Me tomó un tiempo pensar en la forma felina en que estos rockeros se presentaban en el escenario, pero la palabra del día es "sashay".  Sí, sin lugar a dudas, definitivamente diría que los BulletBoys tienden a cruzar el escenario, poseyéndolo como mi gato reclamando el lugar más cómodo de la casa.  A lo largo de ver el programa, seguí imaginándolos como gatos, ya que son muy expresivos en su actuación.

Let me try to explain this better.  Cats tend to have a little bit of an attitude, and these guys simply captured the essence of my cat's personality traits, presenting them on stage as a performance, often like my cat does, especially when it's around feeding time.  Anyone who has pets can testify that their personalities come out when it's food time, with my cats tending to pull out their biggest lover acts.

Permítanme tratar de explicar esto mejor.  Los gatos tienden a tener un poco de actitud, y estos tipos simplemente capturaron la esencia de los rasgos de personalidad de mi gato, presentándolos en el escenario como una actuación, a menudo como lo hace mi gato, especialmente cuando se trata de la hora de comer.  Cualquiera que tenga mascotas puede testificar que sus personalidades salen cuando es hora de comer, y mis gatos tienden a sacar sus actos de mayor amante.

Have you ever had a cat figure-eight around your legs for attention?  That's how the BulletBoys are on stage.  They bring that cat-itude, so to speak, like they are about to seduce you for what they want.

¿Alguna vez has tenido una figura de gato alrededor de tus piernas para llamar la atención?  Así es como los BulletBoys están en el escenario.  Traen ese gato-itud, por así decirlo, como si estuvieran a punto de seducirte por lo que quieren.

I can only testify how my cats are, and when it's food time, they will just about bring out top hats, canes and start tap dancing if they think they will make the food get dished out faster.  It's like pulling out all stops, and that's what the BulletBoys do, pull out all stops to make sure they have your undivided attention.  When I say they sashay across the stage, they do so with not only a sexy sway of the hips, almost grinding-like motions that start to remind you about sex, encapsulating that sexual desire in a strut that says that are as skilled as my cat at getting what they want when it's seduction time.

Solo puedo testificar cómo son mis gatos, y cuando es la hora de comer, casi sacarán sombreros de copa, bastones y comenzarán a bailar claqué si creen que harán que la comida se sirva más rápido.  Es como sacar todas las paradas, y eso es lo que hacen los BulletBoys, sacar todas las paradas para asegurarse de que tengan toda tu atención. Cuando digo que cruzan el escenario, lo hacen no solo con un balanceo sexy de las caderas, movimientos casi como un rechinamiento que comienzan a recordarte sobre el sexo, encapsulando ese deseo sexual en un puntal que dice que son tan hábiles como mi gato para obtener lo que quieren cuando es hora de seducción.

They're not one of those bands that's going to sit around like bumps on a log singing campfire songs for kids.  Sorry if that's what you were looking for.  These guys are showmen who will entertain you.

No son una de esas bandas que se van a sentar como golpes en un tronco cantando canciones de fogata para niños.  Lo siento si eso es lo que estabas buscando.  Estos chicos son showmen que te entretendrán.

I say they have the attitude of a cat, because they are not like dogs with wagging tails that are looking to slobber all over you for attention.  They are more like cats that are more than used to being pampered, and if they want to entertain you, they will, as they know that they have those skills.  They're not looking to prove themselves, as they have already risen up through the ranks, served their time, trained others and are the veterans in the field serving as an example of how it should be done.

Digo que tienen la actitud de un gato, porque no son como perros con colas meneando que buscan babear sobre ti para llamar la atención.  Son más como gatos que están más que acostumbrados a ser mimados, y si quieren entretenerte, lo harán, ya que saben que tienen esas habilidades.  No están buscando probarse a sí mismos, ya que ya han ascendido de rango, han cumplido su condena, han entrenado a otros y son los veteranos en el campo que sirven como ejemplo de cómo debería ser.

You don't have to know any of their songs to have a good time.  Honestly, I did not know every song, but they have such a stage presence that you cannot help but be sucked into their glamour.  I get tickled pink when the younger generation has no concept of what a glam rocker is, and if you saw BulletBoys playing behind the Harley Davidson dealership on 776 at the Twisted Fork, then you would know why I can say with full certainty that BulletBoys truly embodies the essences of glam rock.

No tienes que conocer ninguna de sus canciones para pasar un buen rato.  Honestamente, no conocía todas las canciones, pero tienen una presencia tan escénica que no puedes evitar ser absorbido por su glamour.  Me hace cosquillas cuando la generación más joven no tiene idea de lo que es un glam rocker, y si vieras a BulletBoys tocando detrás del concesionario Harley Davidson en 776 en el Twisted Fork, entonces sabrías por qué puedo decir con total certeza que BulletBoys realmente encarna las esencias del glam rock.

Long hair to swing around? Check.  Note studded leather accents, glam outfits, but more importantly, the glam attitude that is very much cat-like in the sense of not caring if you like them or not, as they know full well that there are many others who will fully appreciate the good time they bring to the stage.

¿Cabello largo para balancearse? Comprobar.  Tenga en cuenta los acentos de cuero tachonados, los atuendos glamour, pero lo más importante, la actitud glamorosa que es muy parecida a un gato en el sentido de no importarle si te gustan o no, ya que saben muy bien que hay muchos otros que apreciarán plenamente el buen momento que traen al escenario.

They know how to control a stage, not coming out for your approval, but to ensure that you have a good time, even if you thought you were not going to.  They seduce you into dancing.  Somehow, that sounds just gets you off of your feet, inspiring you to lose a few calories after indulging in some of the Twisted Fork's awesome menu choices.

Saben cómo controlar una etapa, no salir para tu aprobación, sino para asegurarse de que pases un buen rato, incluso si pensabas que no ibas a hacerlo.  Te seducen para que bailes.  De alguna manera, esos sonidos simplemente te levantan, inspirándote a perder algunas calorías después de disfrutar de algunas de las increíbles opciones de menú del Twisted Fork.

It's kind of like you can have one of those days where things just don't go right, you don't feel the liveliest, like maybe you got blown off by someone or are just having a bad day in general.  That does not matter, because what the BulletBoys do is demand your attention, whether you had planned on giving it to them or not.  It's like a genie in a bottle who convinces you to dance, even if you are deadset against it, as it's like forces beyond your control demand that you get up and have fun.

Es como si pudieras tener uno de esos días en los que las cosas simplemente no salen bien, no te sientes más animado, como si alguien te hubiera impresionado o simplemente estuvieras teniendo un mal día en general.  Eso no importa, porque lo que hacen los BulletBoys es exigir tu atención, ya sea que hayas planeado dársela o no.  Es como un genio en una botella que te convence de bailar, incluso si estás en contra, ya que es como si fuerzas fuera de tu control exigieran que te levantes y te diviertas.

Again, these guys have been around the scene long enough that they have tons of songs that are familiar if you were around in that era.  However, even if you have never heard their music, you will be inspired to move your booty about, as it's that infectious groove that sets into your bones and commands you to dance as if you are merely a voodoo doll responding to their commands.  They will have you screaming back to them, even if you normally keep quiet, as they pull you into their music.

Una vez más, estos tipos han estado en la escena el tiempo suficiente para tener toneladas de canciones que son familiares si estuviste en esa época.  Sin embargo, incluso si nunca has escuchado su música, te inspirarás para mover tu botín, ya que es ese surco infeccioso que se establece en tus huesos y te ordena bailar como si fueras simplemente una muñeca vudú respondiendo a sus órdenes.  Te harán gritarles, incluso si normalmente te quedas callado, mientras te llevan a su música.

The first time the singer says he can't hear you, you might not quite feel it yet, but it builds on you.  That groove gets into your bones, and before you know it, you're not only feeling it, but the spirit of the music has possessed you.  By the end, if he says he can't hear you, it's time to scream back with full force, so that there's no mistaking; try to blow their eardrums out with your enthusiastic screaming.

La primera vez que el cantante dice que no puede oírte, es posible que aún no lo sientes, pero se basa en ti.  Ese ritmo se mete en tus huesos, y antes de que te des cuenta, no solo lo estás sintiendo, sino que el espíritu de la música te ha poseído.  Al final, si dice que no puede oírte, es hora de gritar con toda su fuerza, para que no haya dudas; Intenta soplar sus tímpanos con tus gritos entusiastas.

This platinum-selling artist not only sings about sex, but these guys ooze with sexual essence.  It's the type of music to cuddle up and grind with someone at the show, then take it back to the bedroom.  You might not have been thinking about a one-nighter, but this is the type of bad influence that might just result in one of those unexpected encounters that leaves you with a perma-grin after it.

Este artista que vende platino no solo canta sobre sexo, sino que estos tipos rezuman esencia sexual.  Es el tipo de música para acurrucarse y moler con alguien en el espectáculo, y luego llevarlo de vuelta al dormitorio.  Puede que no hayas estado pensando en una noche, pero este es el tipo de mala influencia que podría resultar en uno de esos encuentros inesperados que te dejan con una sonrisa permanente después de eso.

Check out the live videos from the show on my Instagram.

Mira los videos en vivo del programa en mi Instagram.

Keep up on the latest from the BulletBoys and check out their show when they pass by.  Of course, you can keep up with the latest from me as well at Outlandish Writer, then come Party Like Pirates.  You can always cuddle up with one of my books as well.

Manténgase al día con lo último de los BulletBoys y vea su programa cuando pasen.  Por supuesto, también puedes mantenerte al día con lo último de mí en Outlandish Writer, luego venir Party Like Pirates.  Siempre puedes acurrucarte con uno de mis libros también.