Saturday Feels Over

 It is barely 10 am and I feel like this day has been completed and it is time to retire to bed. The Wife and I were up shortly after 4am to get ready, drive over and check-in for the hot-air balloon ride I had booked. We arrived ten minutes early, and I was shocked at how many people were there. We did our 'Liability" signatures, and after a short wait we were assigned to a van with our pilot, and away we went. I was somewhat amazed at how fast the crew gets a balloon set up and ready to ride. The Wife of course was snapping phone pictures at everything.

Once we were airborne, I began to feel a little anxiety, but as long as I was not looking directly down, the ride wasn't terrible. There were a couple times with the wind shift the basket would 'tremble' and I would hold tightly to the rail. Otherwise, it was a great time. The pilot was humorous, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. There had to been close to 26 balloons in the area we were launching from, and the pilot said this was one of the best mornings for a flight. 

After landing, there was a champagne (or OJ) toast, which we did not partake of. Then it was back to the headquarters. From there, the Wife and I decided to stop somewhere for breakfast, but with the southbound side of I-17 closed (best route home for us) we rambled through some of the north side. I ended up picking a Waffle House (the on at I-17 and Bell, RM) as I haven't eaten there in a few years, and turns out the Wife had never been to one. I love how quick they are, and the good prices. They did not disappoint. I even recounted for the Wife about how RM used to take us three kids there growing up many, many years ago, in Indianapolis. I think I drove by that one (still there) several years ago.

So now we are home. The Wife is going to take a nap (I am sure, though she says no). She has plans with the Daughter tonight. I'll probably go to the Post this afternoon. Think it will still be an early night though. I am feeling tired already.

PeacE

Another Friday

 This has been such an uneventful week. I guess in some ways that has been a good thing. Wouldn't want cataclysmic events happening every other time I turn around.

Did the Doc appointment Monday. Everything went as I figured. Increased BP meds, added a second diabetic pill, ordered new labs. I finally got in and did the labs yesterday. They wanted a urine sample, too, which I thought was weird. I have never had to do that before for lab work. Sure, for job interviews, but this obviously was not job related. Shrug. I peed in their cup. Should here by the first of the week what the results are, and have a follow-up with the doc in early November. I'm sure the cholesterol pill will change in dosage at that time.

The Youngest has his first marching band competition this weekend out near Verrado - about 45 minutes plus away, way out on the west side of the valley. I haven't checked with the Wife if we are going or not. I know she likes to get to every competition she can - though I don't always go.

I had a chance earlier this week to have breakfast with the two older Sons. It was nice to take an hour or so and just sort of catch up with what is going on with them. I understand more and more why RM loves to do the same when I get a chance to ask her out. In fact, we are scheduled for next Saturday. I need to figure out what time and where we should go.

Having gone to Tucson last week, and attending the concert, I went to take the car through the car wash a few days ago, and found the Daughter's shawl/sweater in the backseat. I texted her asking if she was missing it, and told her I was holding it hostage until she brought Doodad up to visit. She of course responded she now had an excuse to go shoppping for another one.... but then later added that they might be up in October when Doodad is on break from school.

See how wonderfully drab this week has been? Maybe I can do better next week.

PeacE

The Things I Do ...

 It's going to be a long day today. I didn't sleep well, not getting to bed until after 2:30am. I was tired, but for some reason just could not get comfortable and fall asleep. Then I had set my alarm for 7, as I wanted to get up and have plenty of time to shower, wake-up, and take care of a review or two I need to get done, before heading to breakfast with RM & PT. We're going to the Black Bear Diner franchise, where I have not had breakfasts there before, but the dinners are very good.

Tax Time is upon us, and that means the Wife is going to get cranky for the next several days. Like most people I know, they do their taxes as soon as they get their W-2s. Why the Wife waits until April 14th to do ours, I do not know. Then she does them twice, as she has to try itemizing everyone and then without to see which one gives us the lower amount to pay (or highest amount back - if ever). I think this morning, between breakfast and a couple other errands, I will see if I can talk her into let's using TurboTax this year. Pray for me.

I emailed into work yesterday, that I would not be able to make it online for the day, due to health issues. I had awoke with my mind completely just foggy. I had a morning "energy" drink to help clear it, but no such luck. I opted to not work instead of possibly messing up some important information. Then I slept another three hours (reason I couldn't sleep last night?). It finally cleared late in the afternoon, and could have logged in a couple hours, but decided not to do so. Sometimes we need a mental health day.

Guess I should get on to my other thigns this morning rather than sitting here trying to think of something to write about.

PeacE

It's Poker Night!

 As it happens every Thursday evening, the VFW has Poker Night tonight. It's not a bad little thing, and gets some of the younger members in to play. I think it is like a $5 buy-in, with 1 extra buy-in at $5 before the break, and 1-$10 buy-in after break. Or something like that. I don't know, because, well, I don't play. But I always tell the Wife it is Poker Night, so I can get out of the house. She doesn't directly ask me how I play/played, and I don't offer.

I have never been much of a gambler, and I have no idea where that comes from. Maybe my younger years, I don't know. The Wife and I were given a trip to Las Vegas several years (like 15 years or more) from the company I worked for at the time. They had booked us a room at the Mirage for Fri-Sun, paid for the airline flight, and gave me $500 for "spending cash". By the time we were leaving Vegas, we had spent the $500, and I pulled $40 out to pay for parking when we got back to Phoenix. That $500 paid all our meals, the Star Trek exhibit at the Hilton, and a few penny and nickel slots. Had to do the slots just to say I pulled a handle on one in Vegas. Oh, and we did Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, too!

There are several casinos around the Valley. I have only been to one of them and that was more than 20 years ago - when it was the only one, and wayyyyy out on the east side of town. Since then I think they have added like 6 or more around the metropolitan area. I just have no desire to play slots. I consider myself 'decent' at poker, but really am not good with blackjack. Craps - I've tried it, but just not my thing either. I don't mind doing a little roulette. I think I pretty much have tried most gambling things a casino would have over the years with 12-hour turn-arounds to Laughlin. Just not my thing.

The Wife and I tried a new breakfast place today. It is a little more East of us than I like to drive for food, but she insisted. Was called the Original Breakfast House, and the food was okay. Staff was great, and the prices per serving size seemed good. I guess they had been there for years (I never heard of them, but that doesn't mean much) and had a California surf/Hawaii theme going on. Lots of people going in/out and on a weekday morning around 9am. 

Anyways, I'm tired of ramblin' on about nothing.

PeacE

Friday Once Again

My typical Summer Friday has come around again. The oldest son is up (early for him) and getting ready to get the dishes done so he can play on the computer the rest of the day. I have been up for a bit now and gotten through my emails, social medias, etc. and now figured I should put something here for you to waste 30 seconds of your time reading.

Tonight is work for me. I plan on getting to sleep as fast as possible, as we have plans for tomorrow. Seems Sis' step-daughter is in town with her baby, which makes it Sis' first grandchild. That being the case, we are using tomorrow as our July 4th get-together, since the holiday is on a Thursday, and the niece is only in town through this weekend. Stuman and his brood will not be attending though, as he has some Army gig in Cali he has to go to. I think it is drill weekend, not additional training. Which just means more carne asada for me. I know I am going to mess up my weight now.

I am thinking about breakfast out for the son and I this morning, but haven't been able to think of a place yet. Maybe Old Country Buffet. I haven't done breakfast there in a long time.

PeacE

The Importance of Breakfast

No, I am not going to give the same old speech about how breakfast is the most important meal of the day, or how you should eat a nutritious one, or don't let your kids eat sugary cereals (because I like those ones best). I got a look at why breakfast is so important this morning.

The past ... oh, I don't know ... couple years? PT and I have been meeting up for a breakfast every now and then. I usually enjoyed them because it got me out of the house (feeling stir crazy) and having the chance to have adult conversation, instead of yelling at the boys because their bickering and fighting is driving me nuts. Sure they were only about an hour or so long, but it was like a break in the regular routine for me.

The middle son was staying at home with me today. This morning I decided we needed to get out to the store, one that has a Thursday only meat special sale going on. I wanted to get it done before it got too hot, or worse, they sold out of some of the meat specials. Afterwords, I asked if he had had breakfast this morning (I generally let them get their own). He had said no, so I said, why don't we got o Denny's and have some then. So we did.

My middle son is 10, and is the typical boy with the growing syndrome, where it seems they have hollow legs. He ordered up the Lumberjack Slam, while I only had a Santa Fe Skillet. As we sat there waiting on the food, it dawned on me how this was a great thing. Being able to have some one-on-one conversation, seeing the growth he has done, not physically per se, but mentally. His laughter and that sparkle of mischief in his eyes just made me feel a bit sentimental about everything. It made me realize, that this breakfast, was important to me, even if he does not realize it. Maybe years down the road he will remember and cherish the few times he and I got to go out and have breakfast, just the two of us. And to think I do this off and on for all three of the boys.... and would the Daughter, too, but that is a long drive to meet her for breakfast.

Yeah, feeling like I am doing something right as a parent...

PeacE

Mid-Week Crisis: Breakfast, or Not?

Another Wednesday has rolled around. This morning I was able to rest in bed, though not really sleep, for at least an hour more before I felt the need to get up to relieve the bladder. That one hour can sometimes make a large difference in how much of an asshole I am going to be for the day.

I have gone through my regular morning routine, in a shorter amount of time than usual. I don't know if that is a hint of things to be, or just that there wasn't as much interesting content (kinda like around here). I find myself debating an important feature this morning.... whether I should have breakfast, and if so, what.

Most mornings, a simple cup of coffee along with my four-way-too-many pills. Other mornings, I feel ravenous and toss back maybe a cup of juice and a bowl of cereal. On special mornings, I have a couple left-over pizza slices. That was yesterday, and the left-over pizza is all gone now. Dang kids. Nothing like a couple slices of cold pizza to start the day. This morning's selection that sounds half way decent, is a small container of what appears to noodles, ham, and cheese.... or maybe just the cup of raspberry lemonade kool-aid. I haven't decided.

Hmmm, I better decide something soon. The big tummy is growling....

PeacE