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

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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 4

Tags

Adventure, Day 4, family, Friends, Getting stuff done, Phoenix, reconnecting, Relaxing

Today is a recovery day. The wedding yesterday was terrific, but we are all really tired. We have been relaxing today, watching some shows on Netflix. I’m going through my daily to-do list and knocking out all of the things I am scheduled for including this blog posting.

I’m going to wait until I return to Michigan to get my photos up. It’ll take up too much time going through them now (I took a lot of them including videos). I’ll check in again tomorrow!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix Day 2

Tags

family, Friends, Newlyweds, Niece's Wedding, Phoenix, Rehearsal Party

Today, was my niece’s wedding rehearsal dinner. The big day is tomorrow. The ceremony is at 10 am outside and will run until 3 pm. It’ll be a great time!

I met with the spouse’s family and got to reconnect with family who all came to AZ. We went to a pizza parlor and had a great night of eating pizza, wings and getting reacquainted. It was a terrific time and one that I will remember for some time.

Don’t worry folks! I’ll be getting pictures up later, once I have gone through all of them.

Happy Friday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Phoenix, here I come!

Tags

family, Fun times, Niece's Wedding, Phoenix, Travel, vacation, Warm Weather

In approximately 6 hours, I’ll be on a flight with the folks headed to Phoenix, AZ! I’ll be there to see my niece get married and meeting with lots of friends and colleagues.

It is going to be an awesome trip!!!

I should be able to keep up my posting schedule while gone but wanted to tell you what was up today. My Wisdom Wednesday posting will be avoided in light of time constraints. We are heading to the airport in about 45 minutes.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thank you!

Tags

Arizona, family, Friends, New Followers, Niece's Wedding, Phoenix, Thank you, Thanks

Thanks for following Daily Ramblings! I appreciate all of the new followers this week. I hope all of you continue to enjoy the content that drew you to the site in the first place.

Announcement!

I am heading to Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, the 28th. I’ll be there until the 13th of December. My family and I are going to my niece’s wedding. It will be great fun!

I’ll do my best to keep up my schedule but wanted to forewarn you that I may miss a day or two hanging out with my friends and family in Phoenix.

Have a great Sunday all!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Happy Thanksgiving

Tags

Cranberry Sauce, family, Friends, Gratitude, Parades, Pie, Stuffing, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Today, we’ll be bypassing Thinking Thursday for a Thanksgiving Day Post. Today, in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is the start of our holiday season in the U.S. and is always a nice time of year. Today, there will be parades, big meals, and football.

Thanksgiving is a day we Americans take the time to think about what we are grateful for. I believe Thanksgiving is a daily affair because it makes me feel good to isolate those things that I am grateful for daily.

Here is my list:

I am grateful for my family.

I am grateful for my friends.

I am grateful for God’s love.

I am grateful for the abilities I have.

I am grateful for my health.

I am grateful for the family dogs.

I am grateful for this life.

For those of you that celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy some time off with your friends and family, eat some great food, and share some well-deserved time off. Take a moment today to write down or think about the things you are grateful for–it is a great exercise and you’ll feel terrific.

Until next time…

Dave