Daily Ramblings – Back Home

Tags

Getting Organized, Home, Michigan, Normalcy, Phoenix Trip, Relaxing

After a long day of flights yesterday, I am back home. It’s nice to be back to normalcy and my daily routines. I had to get unpacked today, go through mail, and get everything back up and running.

Tomorrow I’ll get back on track with my normal schedule of blog postings. If you just started following me over the last few weeks–thanks! I really appreciate the follows. As mentioned before I have about 17 days to hit my 500 follower goal. If any of you know anyone that could benefit from my blog, send them my way.

Until next time…

Dave

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Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Final Day

Tags

family, Friends, Games, Good Food, Happiness, Joy, Movies, Phoenix Trip

I’m writing this early because I’ll be busy cleaning up my brother’s house and getting packed up for my flight on Thursday the 13th. This trip was a terrific time. It started with my niece’s wedding. It was a wonderful ceremony and went off without a hitch.

Then it was a full week of reconnecting with friends, good food, and lots of laughs. It was also a great time to hang out with my brother, play some games, and binge watch some shows on Amazon and Netflix. I also got in some writing, reading, and some much-needed quite time to think about things and reflect.

I like my reflection time. I think about all kinds of things, like what my life would be like if I did this or that in my past or what I could change today and what effect that would have on my future. I like thinking about my family, my friends, books I have read. I even like to think about thinking sometimes.

I hope all of you enjoyed my Phoenix trip! I did. Friday, I’ll be back to my posting schedule. I really appreciate all of the new followers and the time you took to investigate and learn about my blog.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 12

Tags

2136 trilogy, Amazon, Barbados, Netflix, Phoenix Trip, Relaxation, To-do List, vacation

My brother and nephew took off this morning for a week in Barbados. I have my brother’s house to myself and looking forward to just relaxing and doing nothing but knocking out my daily to-dos and watching some shows on Amazon and Netflix.

Yeah, I know. It’s lazy, but that is what vacations are for. I’m also going to get in some reading today. I’m reading the 2136 trilogy and for an Indy writer it is really good. Well, that’s it for today.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 11

Tags

Amazon, Brother, Friends, Good times, Great weather, Nephew, Netflix, Phoenix Trip, Xbox

Today is just a hangout day with my brother at his home. We’re watching a new show on Amazon, called Fortitude. It is really good so far. We have to run some errands today so my brother can get some last-minute things for his trip tomorrow with his son to Barbados.

I’ll be here at his house until the 13th, just hanging out and relaxing for the last three days I’m here, before heading back to Michigan. This was a really good trip. I got to hang out with some of my friends who I used to work with out here. I got caught up with some folks I haven’t seen in a while.

It was also really nice to hang out with my brother and see my niece get married. My brother’s son will be coming over today to hang out and sleep the night here so they can get to their flight early in the morning. While they’re gone I’ll be knocking out some reading and get caught up on some Netflix and Amazon shows I’ve been wanting to watch.

That’s it for today, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 10

Tags

Brunch, family, Friends, Fun times, Loved ones, Phoenix Trip, The Windsor, vacation

I met with one of my gal friends for lunch at The Windsor. It is a nice place with a active, bistro atmosphere. We had a great time catching up.

I have learned a few things about friendships since I’ve been back. Some say they want to meet and don’t. This was a good indication of who was really a friend and who was sort of a friend out of convenience.

Anyway, the gal I met with (I withhold names to protect their privacy), was so nice to talk to. I like hearing other people’s stories and the things they have had to deal with. I find it really interesting to hear other people’s stories because their experience is so unique. There are always lessons to learn, insights to gain, and connecting with someone is really nice.

Anyway, the food was amazing. I had an Egg Benedict and a Bloody Mary. We talked for a few hours. It was a really nice time and I will try to hang out with her again before I leave Phoenix on the 13th.

Now I am back home, hanging out with my brother. We’ll get back to playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider and hanging out. He got sick a few days ago and is fighting either a cold or the flu but he is getting over it. He is headed to Barbados on the 11th with his son for some vacation. I’ll be staying at his place while he’s gone.

Well, that’s it for today, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 9

Tags

Beer, family, Friends, Good company, Good Food, Phoenix, Scotch, vacation

Yesterday, my brother and I played some more video games. We also finished up the series Patriot on Amazon. Last night we connected with some friends and met up at one of our favorite cigar bars. I had a beer called Pie Hole Port. I ordered this simply because I liked the name.

It was great reconnecting with my friend who is a computer programmer. I really enjoyed last night. My brother and I also went to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. He had fried chicken, while I had the meatloaf. It was really yummy!

Today, I’ll be meeting with one of my old managers for lunch. Then it’s back home to work through Shadow of the Tomb Raider some more.

It’s raining in Phoenix. This is typical this time of year. Arizonans welcome the rains because they are a welcome respite from the heat of summer and fall.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 8

Tags

family, Friends, Gaming, Good Food, reconnecting, Relaxation, TV Series

Yesterday was a day of watching Amazon Prime, playing some video games with my brother, and meeting some friends for dinner. We met at Los Dos Malinos in Phoenix. Boy, talk about some great Mexican food. I had the carnitas plate with rice and beans and it was tremendous. It was really nice meeting with my friends yesterday, getting caught up in their lives and enjoying our time together.

Today, my brother and I are chilling out, watching some more of Patriot, playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and heading out to a favorite restaurant for fried chicken. Then, we are heading over to one of my brother’s favorite cigar bars, called Magnums. I’m meeting one of my previous programming consultants. We have been friends a long time.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. I realize my posts have been short, but want to enjoy as much time with my brother and friends as possible. Enjoy your Thursday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 7

Tags

Amazon, Brother, family, Friends, Happy Hour, Phoenix, Video Games

Yesterday, was a nice day. The weather was awesome and I had a nice dinner with my wife. She is a special education teacher by day and a female bodybuilder at night. We had to separate because of my Dad’s condition, requiring me to come home and help out my parents.

It may be strange to some that my wife and I are separated for this reason but I learned a long time ago that the rules we create for ourselves are just that–rules we impose on ourself–not imposed by others. Society has a way of imposing things on us. There are expectations of owning a home, having a traditional family, doing what everyone else is doing. What I have found is that these social norms are not the norm for most of us. When I made the decision to balk at the expectations of society and truly live my own life, life became lighter, relaxing, free.

Today, I’m meeting some friends at one of our favorite haunts. It’ll be a great time to reconnect, learn about what’s going on in their lives and spend some time together laughing. Right now, my brother and I are watching Patriot on Amazon and will kick into some gameplay on his Xbox a little later. We are enjoying Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The graphics and storyline in this game are beyond awesome!

That’s it for today, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix – Day 6

Tags

Brother, Eating out, Friends, Phoenix, TV Shows, XBox Games

Today will be the first day of just hanging out with my brother. I’m meeting with a friend later this afternoon, but that is the only thing I have as far as meetings go. It’ll be good seeing her again. The game plan for today is to watch some Amazon, play some game, and get a meal out somewhere. I am really enjoying myself.

I have also scheduled lunches and happy hours for the remainder of the week. Wednesday lunch and happy hour, Thursday happy hour, and a Friday lunch. I also have a meeting with a colleague this Sunday for brunch! It’s going to be a great week!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix Day 5

Tags

Colleagues, Friends, Great weather, Happy Hours, Lunches, Phoenix Trip

Last night we had another dinner with the newlyweds. Today, my brother and I sent Mom and Dad home to Michigan. They had a great time while they were here. Today will be a day of coordinating with my friends and colleagues to schedule some time together while I’m here. It’ll be great fun!

The weather here is perfect! Blue skies, moderate temperatures (evenings in the 50s and days in the 70s). My brother and I will also be playing some video games (yeah, I’m a total geek when it comes to games!). We’re looking at Red Dead Redemption and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Both of these games are on the XBox One.

The rest of today will be doing laundry, getting connected with friends to set up lunches and happy hours and knock out my daily to-dos. It’s going to be a great time!!

Until next time…

Dave