Reds @ Cubs - Sun, May 28

Game Status: Pre-Game - First Pitch is scheduled for 02:20 PM EDT

Links & Info

• Current conditions at Wrigley Field: 62°F - Partly Cloudy - Wind 10 mph, In From CF
• TV: Reds: Bally Sports Ohio, Cubs: Marquee Sports Network
• Radio: Reds: WLW 700, Cubs: TUDN WRTO 1200 (es), 670 The Score
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

NLC Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Milwaukee Brewers	27	25	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	26	25	0.5 (111)	3	- (-)
3	St. Louis Cardinals	24	30	4.0 (106)	8	3.5 (106)
4	Cincinnati Reds	23	29	4.0 (107)	9	3.5 (107)
5	Chicago Cubs	22	29	4.5 (107)	12	4.0 (107)

	Probable Pitcher (Season Stats)	Report
Reds	Graham Ashcraft (2-3, 5.57 ERA, 53.1 IP)	No report posted.
Cubs	Drew Smyly (5-1, 2.93 ERA, 55.1 IP)	No report posted.

Reds Lineup vs. Smyly	AVG	OPS	AB	HR	RBI	K
1 India - DH	.200	.585	10	0	1	3
2 McLain - SS	-	-	-	-	-	-
3 Steer - 1B	.500	1.350	4	0	0	0
4 Stephenson, T - C	.300	.817	10	0	1	2
5 Fairchild - LF	.000	.250	3	0	0	2
6 Senzel - 3B	.200	.700	10	1	1	6
7 Newman - 2B	.278	.760	18	0	2	1
8 Fraley - RF	-	-	-	-	-	-
9 Barrero - CF	.250	.500	4	0	0	3
10 Ashcraft - P	-	-	-	-	-	-

Cubs Lineup vs. Ashcraft	AVG	OPS	AB	HR	RBI	K
1 Hoerner - 2B	.143	.686	7	0	3	1
2 Swanson - SS	-	-	-	-	-	-
3 Happ - LF	.500	1.125	6	0	1	2
4 Suzuki, S - RF	.143	.393	7	0	0	0
5 Morel - DH	.600	1.400	5	0	2	1
6 Mancini - 1B	-	-	-	-	-	-
7 Tauchman - CF	-	-	-	-	-	-
8 Wisdom - 3B	.222	.856	9	1	5	3
9 Gomes - C	.333	1.167	3	0	1	0
10 Smyly - P	-	-	-	-	-	-

Division Scoreboard

STL @ CLE 01:40 PM EDT
SF @ MIL 02:10 PM EDT
PIT @ SEA 04:10 PM EDT
^{Posted: 05/28/2023 12:20:00 PM EDT}

Linescore	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Cardinals										0	0	0	0
Guardians										0	0	0	0

Cardinals Lineup

1. Lars Nootbaar (L) CF -- .275/.388/.403
2. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B -- .290/.398/.505
3. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B -- .282/.376/.583
4. Nolan Arenado (R) DH -- .256/.303/.424
5. Brendan Donovan (L) RF -- .257/.349/.382
6. Paul DeJong (R) SS -- .258/.339/.546
7. Alec Burleson (L) LF -- .231/.288/.372
8. Tommy Edman (S) 2B -- .271/.324/.464
9. Andrew Knizner (R) C -- .230/.260/.419

Pitchers Used:

• SP: Jordan Montgomery (L) - 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 4.55 ERA (0 P, 0 S)

Guardians Lineup

1. Steven Kwan (L) LF -- .254/.342/.335
2. Amed Rosario (R) SS -- .243/.283/.346
3. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B -- .269/.348/.456
4. Josh Bell (S) DH -- .215/.327/.326
5. Gabriel Arias (R) RF -- .198/.286/.358
6. Tyler Freeman (R) 2B -- .300/.333/.400
7. Mike Zunino (R) C -- .186/.282/.351
8. David Fry (R) 1B -- .154/.214/.154
9. Myles Straw (R) CF -- .228/.309/.291

Pitchers Used:

• SP: Hunter Gaddis (R) - 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.26 ERA (0 P, 0 S)

Stats: BA/OBP/SLG
Links

• Gameday
• Baseball Savant
• Game Graph
• Baseball Theater

Does anyone who lives down that way who has recently driven NF19 ( Aufderheide Scenic Byway), is it snowy at all, or closed in anyway? I can't reach the number that the forest service tells me call about road conditions.

Hi everyone,
New here but not to biking in the city, and posting on the recommendation of a friend. My bike was stolen in Bed-Stuy last night—it was custom built and fairly distinctive, so I’m hoping against hope it turns up.
It was stolen out of my apartment vestibule on Monroe St. between 3:30 and 11:30pm on Saturday, 5/27. It’s a 44cm burnt orange Soma Saga Disc touring/road bike with 26-inch wheels. It was custom built and features drop bars, a rather tall seatpost with a weathered Brooks saddle, and an attached black trunk rack. At the time it was stolen, it also had silvertone plastic front and back fenders in so-so consition, cork tape on the handlebars, and a dark grey Ortlieb pannier attached containing my Kryptonite U-lock and a beach towel.
A very distinctive feature on this bike: there is a short piece of seatpost pipe attached vertically to the back of the cargo rack (this was for mounting a light so it would be visible despite a fully loaded rack).
Here’s a craigslist post (same text): https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/d/brooklyn-stolen-soma-saga-disc-cm-burnt/7626151571.html . Photo is not my bike but looks very similar and is the same model; I will update the post when I track down some good ones of my own.
Hoping against hope it turns up—any leads appreciated, and if found and returned I will pay you a cash reward.
Please, please get in touch if you see a bike like this out there.
Here are the parts it was built with: - Shimano Dura-Ace BS77 Double/Triple 9-Speed Bar End Shift Levers - Shimano Deore M590 9-Speed 170mm 22/32/44t Crankset, Black, with Bottom Bracket - Dimension Threadless Stem: 80mm~ 107 Degree~ Black~ 1-1/8"~ 26.0 - Nitto Noodle 177 Handlebar: 42cm Width 26.0mm Bar Clamp 140mm Drop 95mm Reach Alloy Silver - Tektro RL520 Ergo Brake Lever Set for Linear pull Black/Black - Shimano Deore M591 9-Speed Down-Swing Dual-Pull Multi-Clamp Front Derailleur - Shimano Deore M591-SGS 9-Speed Long Cage Rear Derailleur Black - Avid BB7 MTB 180mm G2 Rotor Graphite Front/Rear - Avid BB7 Mtn Disc Brake Caliper and 160mm G2 Rotor Graphite Front or Rear - CaneCreek 10 Thrdless Headset EC34/ 28.6 EC34/30 Blk - Brooks B17 Standard Electric Blue w/Black Rail - Dimension 27.2 x 350mm Seatpost Black - Shimano Deore M525A 32h Rear 6-Bolt Disc Hub, Black - Shimano Deore M525A 32h Front Disc Hub Black DT Swiss XR400 Rim 32h Mountain Disc 26" Black x 2 - KMC X9.93 Chain: 9 Speed 116 Links SilveGray - Shimano HG50 9-Speed 11-32t Cassette

Tokyo - Yokohama - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka - Tokyo

Hi all, going to go through our trip covering golden week and time around it (: It was myself (F21) and my partner (M24) and the reasoning behind the timing was mainly due to bank holidays in the UK being unfortunately placed perfectly in line with golden week this year! Despite this, I feel we actually got pretty lucky with it all. I'll put an emoji to note which days were for golden week but for the tl;dr we weren't affected that much.
Other important contexts, both interested in Japan for a few different reasons. Anime isn't a small one but I'm also a huge fan of the Yakuza games, he's into the JDM car scene, and we just enjoy travelling in general. We didn't do many things like Universal, Disneysea etc. but hopefully there's some things in here that people will enjoy hearing about! I'll go through some tips/recommendations for the casual readers first before going into the trip in depth - please let me know if there's anything else you want to know about!

Tips + Recommendations

Yamato Takkyubin Luggage Forwarding If like us you are going to be staying in quite a few different places, this service is so so so good I cannot overstate it. We had two big suitcases and one smaller one, we sent just the big ones for two of the trips and then for the final trip from Osaka to Tokyo we sent all 3 and just used our backpacks to bring essentials for the night.Pretty much all hotels will allow you to use the service, some may request you pay them with cash for the actual service but for all but one of ours we could use card. We sent Yokohama -> Kyoto, then Kyoto -> Osaka, then finally Osaka -> Tokyo. There are options for same day delivery I believe however we did both the next day and for a few days later. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I'll answer if I can!
Trip Planning I've been fortunate to be able to travel a lot so wasn't nervous about the actual travel, however Japan is such a far away country that I didn't want to go and get there then not know what to do and waste my time. In the past holidays with family were more about relaxing on a beach, or with my partner our city breaks are short as they are other European countries and so easier to return to if we wanted. I wanted to take a different approach to this trip so I made a big Google Sheet and Google Map with all the places I wanted to visit/see. It was never meant to be a strict itinerary as some people I showed seemed to assume 😅 But it really helped me to visually see where things I wanted to go to were, and then make a rough plan in case I did get stuck at some point.Anyway it was a really good idea in hindsight and I'm very glad we did it for this trip as our first time going! Here's a picture of the map looks like, we didn't necessarily do everything but we did most things - https://i.imgur.com/2xLyy7Y.png. I used mymaps.google.com, to be honest there's definitely betteeasier to use tools out there but I got this to work for me so I stuck with it.
Walking People aren't kidding about the amount of walking, although I think our top amount was still under 30k so don't worry too much. That said, if you don't walk a lot anyway then your feet are going to hurt. My partner was fine, I was awful. I thought my shoes would be fine and apparently they weren't so if you can pack walking boots please do. The other thing is I think the way you walk affects it too, my partner and I both had multiple pairs of shoes with us but where his converse boots were fine, the soles of my feet were awful in the same types of shoes 😭
Driving I am not a driver but my partner is. He has a full manual UK driving license and insurance, and so for Japan all he needed was to get the International Driver's Permit a little before we went. We rented a car for three different occasions, two times from the same place then the final was for a JDM rental. All was fine, the JDM place was confused for a moment as my partner has a Polish passport + UK license but we translated Poland for him and after that there were no issues! You'll need to check what you need depending on where you're from, it's easier for us due to the same driving side although when we rented for Daikoku and the Nagoya drive they did give us an automatic so just be aware of that if you want to request/drive manual. The rental places we used were Orix rent-a-car for the Daikoku and Yokohama -> Nagoya trip and we had a Mazda 2. For the JDM rental we used Omoshiro.

Trip Report

Tokyo

25/04 - Airport, Shinjuku hotel, Shinjuku We followed a similar first day that I'm sure many of these reports will begin with - arrived at the airport, we had filled out the VJW forms and had both QR codes ready to go. Immigration had about an hour wait so longer than normal but we were also near the back of our plane and there was at least another full plane in front of us. Actually going through immigration was a complete breeze. Once through and picked up our luggage, we got a Welcome Suica, then headed to Shinjuku. We reached our hotel about 4 hours early for check-in, wasn't sure what to do for that time but they were happy to take our bags until we could go to the room (something that is consistent with all the hotels we went to thankfully). Jetlag was pretty bad, I was flagging by afternoon but we pushed through it and took the few hours to just walk around and see the sights. We spent some time in Hakone-yama before heading back to the hotel and getting cleaned up/accidentally falling asleep too early.
26/04 - Akihabara, Golden Gai Of course woke too early by not being as proactive as we should've with warding off jetlag but used that to leave early for Akihabara. After getting some breakfast we saw the Yodobashi Camera and went in there for about an hour just looking at all the floors 😅 It was raining a ton but it surprised us with how warm it still was and quickly realised why people prefer umbrella with no raincoat!! Spent pretty much the whole day in Akihabara, went round a ton of shops and also went into our first of many many arcades we'd go to. We went back to the hotel to return the items we'd bought then walked to Golden Gai as our hotel was about a 15-20 minute walk ^^ Had some delicious ramen, unfortunately didn't drink as my partner was finishing antibiotics for the first few days but it was still great to be there. Slept a lot later which was good.
27/04 - Kabukicho, Shinjuku National Garden This was more a day for me to fufill my Yakuza game sightseeing. Being so close to Kabukicho I was so excited to visit a city and be able to make my way round without a map loool. It was just the end of the blue festival so the iconic arch was still blue although I did get to see it red at the end of the trip so I wasn't too bothered about that. We went around Kabukicho, the square, again spent tons of time in the arcades and discovered how much we enjoyed the MaiMaiDX machines. Ended up getting one of the passports that save your progress and give you an extra play so if you like arcades then I recommend them!! After this and some lunch, we were going to do a walk to the national garden then realised I went the wrong way so we took the train. As a side note here, the Suica and train system is so useful. Very similar to using a card for the underground except it's actually clean. Walked around the national garden, it was very sunny and warm. Didn't know it had it before going but there's a starbucks in the middle of the garden and we managed to join the queue about 10 minutes before they stopped taking new orders. Had a nice time watching the sun set in that garden before heading back to the hotel.
28/04 - Teamlabs Planets Wasn't something I was going to initially go to however I checked out tickets the day previously and saw some for this day and decided we could do it as we had a ton of free time. I had chosen 2:30pm for an entrance time however it was such a nice day so we left early and spent time just walking around the docks. It was so so sunny, the area didn't have loads going on however it was still very pretty. We spent time in the parks and walking alongside the water. Teamlabs was pretty cool, I did enjoy the water based sections although dodging both influencer and family photos might detract from your experience. This was also where I realised I'd already become the stereotype tourist and was sunburnt :') I guess I had to learn my lesson physically and I did thankfully stop any further burning after this with diligent sun cream appliance afterwards pretty much every day. After this we went back to Shinjuku and after food we packed up ready to go to Yokohama.

Yokohama

29/04 - Bashamichi, Daikoku, Cosmo Clock ✨Showa Day Left our hotel at 11 and hadn't yet discovered the wonders of luggage forwarding so we brought all our bags with us on the train to Yokohama! Not too bad though, we got to our hotel a little early but they took our bags as we went and had lunch before the room was ready. Went around Bashamichi (another game location lol) before taking the train to central Yokohama. We had pre-booked the rental cars all before we left to ensure availability but there weren't any problems. This was also my partner's birthday which is something the rental staff realised whilst we were sorting out all the documents 😆. For Daikoku, we didn't need to pass through any ETC gates from Yokohama but it was the first time on the Japanese roads. It was a little nerve-wracking at first as there's very slightly different rules to UK roads but in general driving is fine. We reached Daikoku PA around 20 past 6pm, and it was about 2 hours until police moved everyone along. My partner was in dreamland with the cars that we saw, if you're into the JDM scene at all or just a petrolhead then you'll love it but it is a bit of luck with what you'll see. After we left Daikoku, we went back to our hotel. We'd checked in with them previously that we could keep the car with them as the hotel we had chosen had parking available for an additional cost. We left the car at the hotel then went out for drinks and to see the cosmo clock. Didn't ride it but it was very cool seeing it all lit up over Yokohama. We bar hopped a bit, then went back.
30/04 - Recovery... Not much to say about this day, my partner was fairly hungover so we returned the car to the rental place and then spent the day just chilling at our ryokan hotel and around Yokohama. No drinks this time round as we had a very long trip the next day!!

Nagoya (Road Trip from Yokohama)

01/05 - Expressways, Onshi-Hakone Park, Expressways, Shinshiro, Expressways, Nagoya I'll condense this one a bit otherwise I'll type forever but this was a really fun time. The driving totaled almost 6 hours by the end so it's not for the faint hearted haha. The point was that we'd stop a few times along the way though which is what we did end up doing. We sent our luggage with the forwarding service (to the hotel after Nagoya as we were just staying the one night), then had an early start as we went to the car rental for 8. We chose the same place we rented from for Daikoku and had the same sales rep sorting out any documents so it was a bit quicker although this time we did get a quick explaination on the toll gates. Anyone going on the expressways will need to know how to use them, we were a bit confused the first time but once you've done it a couple times it'll be smooth sailing (and it's such a good system for people with the automatic cards too). We left Yokohama and set our location for Nagoya. We went for about 2 hours before stopping in Odawara for a quick snack and pee break. Pretty overcast day but despite this we still decided to do a stop in a park on the way and went to Onshi-Hakone Park. It was very cool/bit scary going up the winding mountain passes but wow the views are incredible. We spent again probably a couple hours at the park, had some lunch, no view of Fuji but we could see a lot of the other mountains around which are breathtaking in their own rights (: It's right on Lake Ashi so we did get to see the pirate cruise going round. After this break we did another couple hours or so driving before stopping slightly outside of Shinshiro. Something I will say about the expressways is that it is insane how fast people go 😂 We're not about to try anything so it was sticking to the 120 on the signs for us but people just whizz by. Anyway, we stopped at a familymart in this village for a quick break and I know I've said it already but the views are so beautiful. It's green in the UK but it's something else, I kept wondering if it's just viewing through rose tinted glasses/greener on the other side but I don't think that's true at least about those countryside views. It was also one of the reasons we wanted to do the road trip instead of train at least this time round, we could stop in these places and take it in. After our stop there, it was back onto the expressway until we reached Nagoya. It was roughly 6pm when we reached Nagoya, we had intially booked the car for the whole day with return the next morning but they allow early return with Orix so we did that instead before finding our hotel and having some dinner. Not too much time in Nagoya but it was the first time seeing the bullet train which was cool. Nagoya itself has some nice sights, we were thinking about going to Liberty Walk the next day but instead we just decided we'd head to Kyoto once we left the hotel.

Kyoto

02/05 - Shinkansen, Kyoto, Nishiki Market It was a really lovely day and we were taking the shinkansen for the first time. The shinkansen from Nagoya is only 34 minutes but we did end up buying reserved seats as the station was pretty packed. This is probably the main thing we noticed with Golden week, everything else was busy but not insanely so. Nagoya station was a lot busier but otherwise fine. We didn't have JR passes as when I used the online calculator it didn't come out to be worth it for our particular travel so it was full fare for us. The shinkansen itself was good, we would be using it again for Osaka back to Tokyo but due to Nagoya being closer to Kyoto I didn't reeeally think I'd need to book early. It's probably a good idea still lol but it worked out fine for us to book same day despite how busy Nagoya was. Once in Kyoto we took our time walking down to our next hotel. This was another ryokan style so that was nice, we also passed a garden which we noted to go to the next day (Shosei-en Garden). Our luggage had arrived and was waiting for us at the hotel already so we got refreshed then went out for the evening. We went up to Nishiki market then walked back towards our hotel again. Had a sushi train small dinner as we hadn't had any sushi yet and I've also only had a train once before. It might not be the best Kyoto had to offer but wow was it still better than anything I'd had in the UK!! We then spent hours once again in an arcade, if you like games the MaiMaiDX machines really are addictive :')
03/05 - Shosei-en Garden, Higashi Hongan-ji, Tō-ji Temple, Nijō Castle✨Constitution Memorial Day We woke up early, had breakfast at the ryokan, then went straight for the garden. It was a beautiful day once again so plenty of suncream applied. The Shosei-en Garden isn't the biggest but it's so beautiful, they have this pond that looks so still but my partner spotted a turtle and then you start to see more and more. They have some historical buildings around the place, we spent about an hour there before going to the next place. We walked down the road to the next place, this was Higashi Honhan-ji temple. Both locations weren't really that busy to be honest. Seeing this temple was nice but personally I did prefer the gardens. We next went Tō-ji temple. This is one of those locations that are on the 'must-do in Kyoto' but I did like it a lot. The 5 story pagoda was a cool sight. It wasn't so busy although we were going around lunch time so hungry crowds were likely taking a small break (: We spent an unreasonable amount of time just looking at the koi fish in the moat not even in the temple area 🎏 Finally we went to Nijō Castle. This was quite busy although we were one of the latter groups going around as it was nearing the end of the day. Another of the listed must do's but again I would say it's a cool place to see. If you do go, the tour around the main house is interesting and if you decide to climb the walls there's some nice sights of the area around. We finished up this day heading back to the market area and had dinner including a matcha beer. I'm not really a massive matcha person but I was up for trying all the different things, the beer sort of just tasted of normal beer but it looked exactly like a matcha-green coloured guinness.
04/05 - Arishiyama ✨Greenery Day This wasn't really a packed day as we were heading to an airbnb for a couple of nights. We used the luggage forwarding from the ryokan where they were concerned that we wouldn't get our luggage as soon as we wanted due to Golden week. I then let them know we were looking to get it sent for the 6th and they completely relaxed and said that would be perfectly fine 👌 For context if you've not been to Kyoto, the train system is alright but pales compared to Tokyo. Getting to our airbnb wouldn't be too long, about an hour, but as we didn't really have anything planned and only had our small suitcase with us we decided to walk to the next airbnb instead and waste time along the way. This way when we arrived it wouldn't be before check in time and it would keep us out and about. The walk was about 3 hours total although we lengthed it by stopping a few times. There were some celebrations happening due to Greenery day and Children's day being the next day. We stopped to listen to some music, stopped to have a starbucks, then finally we reached out airbnb in Arishiyama. The place was really nice, and it was fun to have a whole place for a few nights instead of a hotel. If you're wanting to, looking at airbnb's is a completely valid option when staying in Japan - you just might get warned before you arrive not to talk or laugh too loudly or the neighbours might complain/call the police 😅
05/05 - Fushimi Inari Shrine ✨Children's Day Initially were going to do both the bamboo/monkey forest and Fushimi Inari but ended up leaving a little later than planned so just committed to only Fushimi Inari. I was expecting fairly large crowds considering the day and the station was..... not great. That said, the station was very small and so although it was crowded we were also out of there fairly quick. This review of Fushimi Inari is going to follow almost everyone's - it was busy at the bottom and as you go up you'll get a lot less people. Even it being Children's day didn't stop us getting moments of just myself and my partner being alone so don't be deterred if the bottom is busy! Beautiful views, we did the full routes going to the top. It was a bit tricky at times but it's not a race, and you'll feel good doing the full thing. We reached the top, were able to partake in the prayers there, then had a great time going back down. There was a little area near the end with a bunch of cats; we turned a corner and saw one and a bunch of people crowding round to take a photo. Maybe only a few steps later you realise there's about 4 more just chilling around the place. It was a cool experience and definitely worth doing at least once if you're there.

Osaka

06/05 - Local train, Dotenbori, Den-Den Town We took a train from our airbnb to Osaka and went via the local train rather than the shinkansen. It was fine, we reached Dotenbori and our hotel was not far from the station. We got there a bit early again but our room was already available and our luggage had arrived too (: After getting refreshed we went out for the afternoon to Den-Den Town. This is Osaka's version of Akihabara, and we spent a lot of time with my partner looking in all the card shops. It was pretty rainy but not really a problem between the Lawson's umbrella and ducking into lots of shops ;) We spent time in an arcade for a while before heading out to Dotenbori market area and the bridges for the evening/night. Yet again another location in the Yakuza games so I had fun pointing out different places like the Mega Don Quijote or the crab restaurant. We had some food and ended up in a drinking place that used a QR code and website for ordering to the table which was dangerously easy to use haha. Had some really tasty sushi there too, I'll try and find the name if anyone is wondering! Took tons of photos there, the rain at night gave the city that classic look reflecting the neon lights everywhere.
07/05 - Kobe day trip We went to Kobe for the day, lots of rain but the main market area is all under cover so that was handy. My partner was looking for a new phone which he found, we also went to one of those places where they grill the food in front of you for dinner. It was great going in a scruffy elevator up to the restaurant and stepping out onto a really beautifully designed restaurant, and it wasn't very busy so we were able to go without reserving beforehand. Kobe itself is cool although we didn't explore too much outside the market areas due to just how hard it was raining, I think it was the heaviest on this day unfortunately.
08/05 - Nara day trip, Todai-ji We went to Nara and although the advice is to go early, we went for more mid-day time. It wasn't crowded at all so that was fortunate. We ended up walking past that famous mochi stall that you see on all the tiktoks of Nara. I wasn't expecting to see the making of the mochi and wasn't going to wait for it either however they started about 2 minutes after we found the stall so we did stay and watch and it was cool to see in person (: We tried the mochi, it's pretty good although for me it was a bit too dry from the powder. Was still tasty!!! Walked through towards the deer park and saw the pagodas around. When we reached the deer park of course we had to get some crackers and feed them. Oh my god they're so pushy!! It was actually so funny to interact with them, one tried to nibble me and we got headbutted a bit when we had the crackers but once you've given them all out then they'll leave you 😆. We sat on a bench for a bit and watched some other poor souls go through the same thing. Saw quite a lot of young fawns too which is cute. We kept walking up to Todai-ji, stopped for an ice cream, then went to the temple to see the huge Buddha statue. It was a good experience to see this temple, but at least for me it wasn't my favourite part of the trip. I know for many others though it's really great to see so don't knock it off your list if you're interested in it! I'm glad I went once but probably won't return. Spent some more time just chilling around Nara and looking at the temples and shrines around the place. We went back to Osaka for around 4pm. Spent the evening in Osaka again, no rain this time! Oh this was about the time I was developing a sore throat, a little bit nerve wracking but fully vaccinated + boosters and have had covid previously so was fairly certain it wasn't that. Even so, my partner was coughing a bit which is the start of the cold we both had for the rest of the trip 😔
09/05 - Osaka Aquarium, Dotenbori I didn't put the aquarium on my plan initially but we had another spare day in Osaka and I do like visiting aquariums + my partner likes penguins a lot and they had a lot there. It was a cool experience, a lot of families as to be expected but it wasn't packed so lots of opportunities to see the animals and fish :) The two whales were very cool, they're so massive. We also got to see their rockhopper penguin conservation area, you could see them sitting on their eggs. I recommend the aquarium to any families planning to be in Osaka, it's pretty easy to get to and the station gives clear directions on where to go to get to the aquarium and the nearby lego park. After the aquarium we went back to Dotenbori and looked around the various book-offs as my partner was looking for screen protectors. If you're interested in any Japanese media I can recommend them too, I found some games in there that were a lot cheaper than you find in the West in much better condition. Our coughs worsened by evening which wasn't great, we weren't doing much more in super crowded areas but it's obviously not good anyway. We were wearing masks everywhere beforehand but it made it more important. We did end up getting some Bron, if you're in Japan and have a cough then I do recommend it but just be aware that it contains codeine. We got some from a place that specifically had a pharmacy section, you bring the box to the cashier and they'll give you the actual bottle from behind the counter. Really really great stuff, much better than anything you can get without a prescription in the UK which was annoying as my cough was subsequently worse for about 5 days once I got back!! It's pretty much gone now though (lasted longer likely due to asthma but it was gone for my partner after a couple days of being back). Overall I really enjoyed Osaka, all the cities we went to were cool but for me Osaka was my favourite :)

Tokyo

10/05 - Shinkansen, Airbnb We left Osaka for Tokyo and took the Shinkansen back. We did splash out a bit and took the green car with seats on the Fuji side. I fell asleep for most of the trip but woke in time to see Fuji for the roughly 6-7 minutes it was viewable for. It was my only time to see Fuji due to the weather being almost clear that day aside from a single cloud going right across the mountain. It didn't block the peak though so I don't feel too robbed 😆. If/when we visit Japan again I would like to see it again closer but it was still a great sight. Once we reached Shinagawa station, we switched to the local train to head to our airbnb in Shinjuku once again (although closer to Shibuya this time whereas we were more North before). We were staying in a pretty close knit residential area but did a bit of a hello to the neighbours which was nice. We had done the luggage forwarding again but had set it to come the next day so we would be the people available for receiving it. Spent the time around the airbnb and also tried having an uber eats delivered (which worked great lol).
11/05 - Shibuya, Shinjuku We spent most of this day around Shibuya as we wanted a few souvenirs for family and also hadn't visited Shibuya properly. Went to the crossing, then spent time mainly shopping and going around one of the Donkis. Pretty rainy again but not a problem for a shopping day.
12/05 - RX-7 Day Trip (Lake Hinuma, Ibaraki Flower Park), Kabukicho We used Omoshiro Rent-a-car for the RX-7 (for those interested, here's the car - https://i.imgur.com/HRX4DYy.png ) and they were great. We had it pre-booked again before we arrived in Japan as it's a pretty sought after car to rent. Bit banged up but nothing major, and we had it booked for I think 8 hours? We did return it a little early as we didn't really have anything else to do and didn't want to be late with a return as the shop closed at the time we'd be returning it. A funny part of the terms you agree to is no Initial D style driving. For the trip itself, we didn't have anything major planned so I made a makeshift plan to just go a bit out of Tokyo and visit somewhere different. I found this lake on maps that'd be not too far, didn't realise until we were there that it's less a lake for sights and more for fishing 😅. No worries though, as the main reason was to get some driving in and enjoy having the car (which was achieved!). Got some snacks from a 7/11 then went off. We had a lot of time left so we drove to Ibaraki flower park, yet another quick find from scrolling around Google Maps. It was a very beautiful park, they have a rose market there as well as selling some fresh produce. It's a small charge to go in the park but it's worth it for the hour or more you might spend there and will go towards the park maintenance. Also being the middle of Spring of course it's going to be beautiful with all the new blooms (: We spent time there admiring the countryside and being sad about going back home the next day. We went back to the rental place afterwards, also during this drive was the time where we were finding it so funny how we were sticking to the speed limits in this beautiful car and being overtaken by massive trucks going so much faster. We did have a moment that was like from a movie though, we entered the expressway after the tolls and as we were pulling in an older Honda NSX was being driven next to us. The guy driving looked over and gave us a nod with a straight face before pulling ahead a little so we could be behind him. We ruined that movie mood by both being so excited by how cool the moment was but hey it's one of those things that won't be forgotten at least!! He zoomed off a few minutes later but we weren't risking anything to keep pace ahaha. We returned the car then went back to Shinjuku for our final evening in Japan. We went back to Kabukicho and I was able to see the arch in red :') Took photos of the karaoke place that's in the games, would've gone in but my throat was killing!! So we just stuck to being outside. We went back to the area around our airbnb, had our last dinner there then went and packed up ready to go home.
13/05 - Home :') Our flight was leaving a little before 9am so we were leaving the airbnb for 5ish. Early start but as we'd gotten packed up it wasn't too bad of a walk to the station. Grabbed our train, it was fairly early on one of the lines that goes direct to the station so we were able to get on with ease. The train was rammed by the time we reached the station. No problems getting through the airport, got to our gate and then flew home.

Final Notes

I had such a good time in Japan, I loved being there and hope to return within the next few years if life permits!! We definitely missed some of those 'must-do's' such as Osaka Castle, any of the theme parks, Arishiyama Monkey Park, actually doing Karaoke, and some of the food options due to my own anxieties walking into places lol. That said, I don't regret the things we did end up doing and it just means I'll have to fit some of those into my next trip 😉. Although my partner would like to visit more Northern areas like Hokkaido or Sendai so we'll see!
We didn't have probably as much packed into each day as could've been but for me this was perfect and a great time for my first time. If you managed to read all this then thank you very much, and please let me know if you have any questions about the trip!! I'll be happy to answer. Thanks for reading!

I’m a 24 year old male. And I’m uncircumcised. My parents never taught me about how to handle an uncircumcised penis. As a kid I was never told the important factors of how to clean the penis, the foreskin, how to deal with it all. Now that I’m grown up I’ve got curious of some things.
My penis has foreskin obviously, but is it that condition known as phimosis? I think that’s what it’s called. Now my foreskin isn’t tight. It doesn’t cause me discomfort at all. During sex, urinating, etc. no infections. I’m not sure if that’s because of a certain type of the phimosis condition or I may not have it as bad? I’m curious should I be doing something about it? I want to make sure I’m taking care of my penis so I don’t get any complications down the road. Thanks!

Major League Soccer

Home	Away	Time	TV	Match Thread
Sporting Kansas City	Portland Timbers	3:25 PM	FOX	Match Thread
Nashville SC	Columbus Crew	8:55 PM	FS1	Match Thread

NWSL

Home	Away	Time	TV	Match Thread
Washington Spirit	NJ/NY Gotham FC	5:00 PM	Paramount+	Match Thread

Canadian Premier League

Home	Away	Time	TV	Match Thread
York United	Cavalry FC	5:00 PM	OneSoccer	Match Thread

USL Championship

Home	Away	Time	TV
Loudoun United FC	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	6:00 PM	ESPN+

MLS NEXT Pro

Home	Away	Time	TV
Earthquakes II	Timbers2	5:00 PM	MLSNEXTPro.com
Atlanta United FC 2	Toronto FC II	6:00 PM	Apple TV
Chicago Fire II	Crown Legacy FC	6:00 PM	Apple TV
Houston Dynamo 2	Austin FC II	6:00 PM	Apple TV
MNUFC2	Colorado Rapids 2	6:00 PM	Apple TV
New England Revolution II	Inter Miami II	6:00 PM	MLSNEXTPro.com
St Louis CITY2	North Texas SC	6:00 PM	Apple TV
New York City FC II	FC Cincinnati 2	7:00 PM	MLSNEXTPro.com
Philadelphia Union II	Columbus Crew 2	7:00 PM	Apple TV
LA Galaxy II	Whitecaps FC 2	10:30 PM	MLSNEXTPro.com

^{All Times Eastern}
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Team	Season & Round	Points Scored	Opponent	Result
Chicago Bears	1940 NFL Championship	73	Washington Redskins	W 73-0
Jacksonville Jaguars	1999 Divisional	62	Miami Dolphins	W 62-7
Detroit Lions	1957 NFL Championship	59	Cleveland Browns	W 59-14
Philadelphia Eagles	1995 Wild Card	58	Detroit Lions	W 58-37
Cleveland Browns	1954 NFL Championship	56	Detroit Lions	W 56-10
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders	1969 Divisional	56	Houston Oilers	W 56-7
San Francisco 49ers	Super Bowl XXIV (1989)	55	Denver Broncos	W 55-10
Dallas Cowboys (1/2)	1967 Eastern Conference Championship	52	Cleveland Browns	W 52-14
Dallas Cowboys (2/2)	Super Bowl XXVII (1992)	52	Buffalo Bills	W 52-17
Arizona Cardinals	2009 Wild Card	51	Green Bay Packers	W 51-45 (OT)
Buffalo Bills	1990 AFC Championship	51	Los Angeles Raiders	W 51-3
Kansas City Chiefs	2019 Divisional	51	Houston Texans	W 51-31
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers	1963 AFL Championship	51	Boston Patriots	W 51-10
Washington Redskins/Commanders	1983 Divisional	51	Los Angeles Rams	W 51-7
Carolina Panthers	2015 NFC Championship	49	Arizona Cardinals	W 49-15
Indianapolis Colts	2004 Wild Card	49	Denver Broncos	W 49-24
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams	1999 Divisional	49	Minnesota Vikings	W 49-37
New York Giants	1986 Divisional	49	San Francisco 49ers	W 49-3
Green Bay Packers	2010 Divisional	48	Atlanta Falcons	W 48-21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Super Bowl XXXVII (2002)	48	Oakland Raiders	W 48-21
Atlanta Falcons	2004 Divisional	47	St. Louis Rams	W 47-17
Miami Dolphins	1984 AFC Championship	45	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 45-28
New England Patriots (1/2)	2011 Divisional	45	Denver Broncos	W 45-10
New England Patriots (2/2)	2014 AFC Championship	45	Indianapolis Colts	W 45-7
New Orleans Saints (1/2)	2009 Divisional	45	Arizona Cardinals	W 45-14
New Orleans Saints (2/2)	2011 Wild Card	45	Detroit Lions	W 45-28
Minnesota Vikings	1987 Wild Card	44	New Orleans Saints	W 44-10
New York Jets	1982 First Round	44	Cincinnati Bengals	W 44-17
Seattle Seahawks	Super Bowl XLVIII (2013)	43	Denver Broncos	W 43-8
Denver Broncos	1997 Wild Card	42	Jacksonville Jaguars	W 42-17
Pittsburgh Steelers (1/2)	1996 Wild Card	42	Indianapolis Colts	W 42-14
Pittsburgh Steelers (2/2)	2017 Divisional	42	Jacksonville Jaguars	L 42-45
Cincinnati Bengals	1990 Wild Card	41	Houston Oilers	W 41-14
Baltimore Ravens	2012 Divisional	38	Denver Broncos	W 38-35 (2OT)
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans	1992 Wild Card	38	Buffalo Bills	L 38-41 (OT)
Houston Texans (1/2)	2011 Wild Card	31	Cincinnati Bengals	W 31-10
Houston Texans (2/2)	2019 Divisional	31	Kansas City Chiefs	L 31-51

1* [903] Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs ~ Under 8 -120
1* [906] New York Mets vs. Colorado Rockies ~ Over 12.5 -110
1* [912] Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers ~ Over 7.5 -110
1* [923] Washington Nationals vs. Kansas City Royals ~ Under 9 +100
​
2* [911] Chicago White Sox -1.5 +165 vs Detroit Tigers
2* [913] Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 +150 vs Minnesota Twins
2* [922] Cleveland Guardians +124 (Hunter Gaddis) vs St. Louis Cardinals (Jordan Montgomery)
​
MLB YTD Records
Overall: 97-109 (47.1%) +1.31
MTD: 48-45 (51.6%) +23.44
L/7 Days: 6-17 (26.1%) -22.87
Y/Day: 3-3 (50%) +2.9
Avg Odds Risked / Pick: -103
​
All Sports YTD Records
Overall: 398-414 (49%) +37.38
MTD: 54-57 (48.6%) +15.22
L/30 Days: 63-65 (49.2%) +22.62
L/7 Days: 7-20 (25.9%) -26.93
Y/Day: 3-3 (50%) +2.9
Avg Odds Risked / Pick: -113

Recently got our first canoe and searching for good sections of the river to stop along to let the dog out, break camp for a hour or so. Would also appreciate insight on good day trips around Duluth as time constraints don't allow for frequent trips to the boundary waters.
Thanks!

If you’re planning on moving to Texas, you’re not alone. With its low cost of living, booming economy, and diverse culture, Texas has become a popular destination for people from all over the world. However, moving to a new state can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. In this guide from the Moving Truck Driver website, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know to have a successful relocation to Texas, including tips for finding housing, navigating the job market, and making the most of your new home.

Tips for Finding Housing in Texas

When it comes to finding housing in Texas, it’s important to start your search early and be prepared for the competitive market. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect place to call home in the Lone Star State:

1. Research the Area: Before you start looking at specific properties, take some time to research the areas you’re interested in living in. Look for information on crime rates, school districts, transportation options, and local amenities like parks, shopping centers, and restaurants.
2. Use Online Resources: There are many online resources available for finding housing in Texas, including popular sites like Zillow, Trulia. These sites allow you to search for properties by location, price, size, and other factors, making it easy to narrow down your options.
3. Hire a Realtor: Working with a local realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great way to find the best properties that fit your needs and budget. They can also help you negotiate lease terms and provide valuable insight into the local housing market. Moving Truck Driver has relationships in most areas of the country, working with countless realtors throughout the years. If you would like a recommendation for finding a the right realtor for you, please let us know and we will be happy to make the connection.
4. Attend Open Houses: Attending open houses is a great way to see properties in person and get a feel for the local real estate market. Be sure to bring a list of questions to ask the agent or landlord, such as details on the lease agreement and any additional fees or deposits.
5. Consider Roommates: If you’re looking to save money on rent or want to live in a larger property than you could afford on your own, consider finding a roommate or roommates. There are many online resources for finding compatible roommates, such as Roommates.com.
6. Check Social Media Groups: Social media groups can be a great resource for finding housing in Texas, particularly in larger cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Look for local groups that cater to renters or those looking for roommates, and be sure to ask for recommendations from members.

Popular Cities and Locations to Consider

Texas is a vast state with many popular cities and locations to choose from. Here are some of the top destinations that you may want to consider when moving to Texas:

1. Austin: Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin is a vibrant city that offers a diverse culture, outdoor activities, and a thriving tech scene. It’s the state capital and home to the University of Texas at Austin.
2. Houston: The largest city in Texas, Houston is a hub for business and industry. It’s also known for its world-class museums, restaurants, and performing arts scene.
3. Dallas-Fort Worth: This metropolitan area is home to two major cities, Dallas and Fort Worth. Dallas is known for its shopping, dining, and nightlife, while Fort Worth is famous for its Western heritage and cowboy culture.
4. San Antonio: This historic city is home to the Alamo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the famous River Walk, which features shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
5. El Paso: Located on the border with Mexico, El Paso has a unique culture that combines Mexican and Texan influences. It’s also home to the University of Texas at El Paso and the Franklin Mountains State Park.
6. Corpus Christi: This coastal city is known for its beaches, fishing, and outdoor activities. It’s also home to the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay.
7. Galveston: Located on an island off the Gulf Coast, Galveston offers historic architecture, beautiful beaches, and a vibrant arts scene. It’s also home to Moody Gardens, a theme park and nature reserve.

These are just a few of the many popular cities and locations to consider when moving to Texas. Each one offers its own unique culture, attractions, and lifestyle, so be sure to research them thoroughly and choose the one that best fits your needs and preferences.

Navigating the Job Market in Texas

One of the first steps in navigating the job market in Texas is to research the industries that are thriving in the state. Texas is known for its strong energy sector, with a large number of oil and gas companies based in cities like Houston and Dallas. Additionally, the technology industry is growing rapidly in Austin, which has been dubbed “Silicon Hills” due to the high concentration of tech companies in the area.
Once you have identified the industries that interest you, it is important to start networking with professionals in those fields. This can include attending industry conferences and events, joining local professional organizations, and reaching out to people in your network who may have connections in Texas.
Another important aspect of navigating the job market in Texas is to tailor your resume and cover letter to the local market. This can include highlighting any relevant experience or skills that are particularly valuable in Texas industries, as well as using language and terminology that is commonly used in the local job market.
Finally, it is important to be flexible and open to opportunities in different parts of the state. While certain industries may be concentrated in specific cities, there are often job opportunities in other areas as well. By keeping an open mind and considering a variety of job options, you can increase your chances of finding a job that is both fulfilling and financially rewarding.

Making the Most of Your New Home in Texas

Texas has a lot to offer, from its diverse culture to its unique geography, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy your new home. Here are some tips for making the most of your new life in Texas:

1. Get to know your community: Texas is a state with a strong sense of community, and getting involved in your local neighborhood can help you feel more connected to your new home. Attend local events and festivals, join a community group or club, or volunteer for a local charity to meet new people and become more engaged in your community.
2. Explore the outdoors: Texas is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the country, from the rolling hills of the Hill Country to the rugged canyons of West Texas. Take advantage of the state’s many parks, hiking trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities to stay active and explore your new surroundings.
3. Embrace the culture: Texas has a rich cultural heritage, from its cowboy and ranching history to its vibrant music scene. Take in a live music performance, visit a historic site or museum, or attend a local rodeo or county fair to experience the unique culture of your new home.
4. Try new foods: Texas is known for its delicious cuisine, from barbecue and Tex-Mex to kolaches and pecan pie. Sample the local cuisine and try new restaurants and food trucks to discover your new favorite dishes.
5. Take weekend trips: Texas is a big state with plenty to see and do, so take advantage of weekend trips to explore different cities and regions. Whether it’s a beach trip to Galveston or a wine tasting tour in the Hill Country, there’s always something new to discover in Texas.

Why Choose a Moving Service that Specializes in U-Haul and Penske Trucks

Choosing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks has several benefits. Firstly, U-Haul and Penske trucks are known for their reliability and durability, making them ideal for long-distance moves. These trucks are regularly serviced and maintained to ensure they are in top condition, which reduces the likelihood of breakdowns and delays during the move. Secondly, these moving companies, typically have a large fleet of trucks available in different sizes, allowing you to choose the truck that best suits your needs. This is especially important if you have a large household or need to transport heavy or bulky items, as you can select a truck with a higher capacity.
Moreover, moving companies that specialize in U-Haul and Penske trucks often have experienced and well-trained drivers who can handle the logistics of a move efficiently. They are knowledgeable about the best routes to take and the regulations that need to be followed when transporting goods across state lines. They also have the necessary equipment and tools to load and unload your belongings safely, minimizing the risk of damage or loss. Additionally, many of these companies offer additional services such as packing, loading and unloading, and storage solutions, making the entire moving process more convenient and stress-free.
Overall, choosing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks can help ensure that your move to Texas is a smooth and successful one. With a reliable truck and experienced drivers, you can focus on settling into your new home and starting your new life in this exciting and dynamic state.

A Practical Checklist for Moving to Texas

With a practical checklist, you can make the process much smoother. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your move to Texas is successful:

1. Plan Ahead: Make a detailed plan for your move, including the date of your move, the items you need to pack, and any services you may need, such as a moving truck, packing supplies, or professional movers.
2. Declutter and Donate: Before you start packing, declutter your belongings and donate any items that you don’t need or want anymore. This can save you time and money in packing and moving unnecessary items.
3. Change Your Address: Be sure to change your address with the United States Postal Service at least two weeks before your move to ensure that your mail is forwarded to your new address.
4. Update Your Utilities: Contact your utility companies and inform them of your move, so that they can discontinue service at your old address and start service at your new address.
5. Research Local Services: Research local services in your new area, such as schools, healthcare providers, and grocery stores. This can help you feel more comfortable and settled in your new home.
6. Prepare Your New Home: Make sure your new home is ready for your arrival. Clean it thoroughly, unpack essential items first, and set up necessary utilities and services.
7. Meet Your Neighbors: Introduce yourself to your new neighbors, join community groups, and attend local events to get involved in your new community and make new connections.

Conclusion

Moving to Texas can be an exciting and life-changing experience. Whether you are relocating for a new job opportunity or simply seeking a change of scenery, the Lone Star State offers a unique blend of culture, diversity, and natural beauty. However, it’s important to be well-prepared for the transition and to take steps to ensure a successful relocation. By utilizing the tips and tricks outlined in this ultimate guide, such as utilizing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks like Moving Truck Driver, researching popular cities and locations to consider, navigating the job market, finding housing, and making the most of your new home, you can make your move to Texas a seamless and enjoyable experience. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to embark on a new adventure in the Lone Star State!