6/23 - 7/15/14

A week and 2 days until I take vacation. I can't wait! Even though this week is kind of like a mini-vacation. I have 3 days off in a row. Nothing to do for 3 days! It's almost as if it's a primer for what's to come. I need it. I feel like I can finally relax. I am glad that my busy-ness, as well as our story, are finally coming to an end. Our story continues with play week. Usually play week is the busiest week of our year. This was not the case this year. And we're only halfway through it! “Volunteering” at the theater is one of the highlights of my year. I enjoy being apart, I enjoy the work, and I enjoy some of the relationships that are being forged. I'm a little surprised at how few parents actually want to help. It's frustrating, so I “volunteer” extra time. Susan puts in extra as well. In order for a child to be a part of the production, their “parents” have to “volunteer” for two committees. One before play week, and one during play week. Susan helps get the costumes ready, for our pre-show obligation, and I help run the backstage during the show. However, Susan helps out backstage every night, even though only one of us is “obligated” to be there. Plus, we work every show that we don't watch. And, we only watch one show. We don't have to, we just do it because we like it. We want to have the show go well, and we realize that they need help, since so few of the parents are willing to help. It's sad. I guess they don't enjoy it the way we do. It is a huge part of our life. I guess to them it's just peripheral.

I was happy that my work was willing to be lenient with my schedule so I could “volunteer” my time. Susan's work was very supportive as well. A new job, and she's already had to go out of town, had a play happen, and now going on vacation next week. What a job! I had never heard of the play before. And, I wasn't really sure what was going on most of the time, during the first few run-throughs. But by the time I watched it on Saturday night, I thought it was a really good show. After the final show Saturday night, we are also “obligated” to help clean the theater. It makes sense, since we rent it, we should leave it like we found it. I am not opposed. But again, the lack of participation by some of the parents is overwhelming. I don't get it. Afterwards, there is a huge party for the cast and crew. We had a good time. I was surprised at how friendly people were with us. Somehow now we've elevated ourselves in this organization. I guess people see how much we care. Plus, now they've been seeing us for years. We got out of there just after last call. I had a meeting at work the next morning at 8 am, followed by a full work day. I was glad I had taken it easy. That day was followed by another work day. Yeah hours! The day after that was Stella Mae's birthday. We took her to the fair. We love the fair. We pretty much go every year. We let her friend come with us, which was new. Although, the friend is not very fond of the rides, so Stella didn't get to go on the rides she wanted. She was bummed.

Susan and I got to see everything we wanted. We had a great time. We got to see Super Diamond! They were great. I hadn't gotten to see them before. I recommend them. We gave the girls until 10 pm, but they were ready to go by 9:30. God bless'em. The next day is when I started writing you this current story, followed by a work day, then the 4^th of July. Stella Mae went with her friend's family, so we kept it really mellow on the 4^th. We went over to our friend's house, had some of the best ribs I've ever had, and got home by 10 pm. I had to work the next day. I got some bad sh*t on Saturday night, and spent all day Sunday recovering, so I don't call that “off.” That was followed by two more work days. No complaints. I wrote you on Wednesday. Thursday I worked, then went to the opening of the new restaurant that Susan works for. It was awesome! This company is doing some really cool stuff. Friday was her company picnic. Are you kidding me!? Gourmet picnic food, with as much local craft beer as you could handle. Awesome! That was followed by another work day, then we went out to one of the local casinos with my parents and Sister, for my Dad's birthday. The food was great, but playing digital slots is a boring, expensive, waste of time to me. Sunday we went to the swap meet, to get some necessities for our upcoming cruise. That was followed by two work days. Now here I am, at the end of this string of 41 days, relaxing before my last surge towards the cruise. Life is pretty interesting!

Daughn

6/18 - 6/22/14

I'm already having trouble trying to recall all the details of the events I wanted to describe to you. And, before I continue with the story, there is one new thing I'd like to convey. I've started doing this thing where as I'm vegging out late at night, I listen to my band's rehearsal, in total darkness, letting my mind wander. There have been several times where my mind wandered someplace good, and I felt like I should write down the idea that I had. So, instead of wishing I would have written it down, I've decided I will. However, that involves getting up, turning on the light, and actually writing it down. Over the course of a while, I've found myself better able to discern which ideas are worth getting up for, and which are not. Last night, as this occurred, I had the realization that this process may be the exact same way the term “bright idea” came from. An idea worth illumination, for annotation. Oh well, I just wanted to share that with you. And now, back to the story:

Three days of going to work, in a row, is a pretty rare thing to me in itself. But I had to rearrange some things to be able to accommodate our trip to the Grand Canyon. I was grateful that the changes were able to be made. Susan's new job was accepting, and so was her Sister's, so the three of us got to go. I offered for Stella Mae to go, but she was not interested. At first I was a little bummed, but later, as the details of the trip unfolded, I realized it was better that she had not come. So, Wednesday night, after work, Susan and I made the trip to Indio to meet up with her Sister. Indio is about 2 hours from us, and incidentally, 2 hours closer to the Grand Canyon, so it worked out great, cutting down our Thursday drive. I'm not going to get too much into the family drama part of it. I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that their Cousin, who was arranging the whole thing, was being a totally shady b*tch, so there's no real need to go on about that. Except that to mention that it was obviously a point of conversation for some of the 6 hour car ride, and part of the unease for which the trip was being made. I had to keep my mind from wandering to the dark side. I surprise myself sometimes at how mean I think I could be.

The trip itself was great. There were times when we were having so much fun that we almost forgot that there was a sad reason for the trip. Boy, the desert is desolate. 6 hours of nothing! But, strangely, the view was beautiful. Her Sister has a better car, so she drove. I was glad to be a passenger. I rarely do any traveling anymore, it was a nice change of pace. We got to the Grand Canyon around 7 pm on Thursday. Just in time to find the spot for the ceremony, and see the Sun set over the Grand Canyon. There was a fire in the distance, and it literally looked like the Sun was scorching the Earth as it set. We have a photo of it. I 'll let you know when we post it, so you can check my Facebook. It really was cool. Speaking of cool, well actually I can't even really speak about it, The Grand Canyon!!! 3 weeks later, and I still cannot get over it. If you haven't been, put it on your list. And not your long term list either, get there! Words, and pictures, could not, can not, describe it. Like the realization I had about “bright ideas” last night, I had a similar sensation at the Grand Canyon with the word “breathtaking.” The sight of it literally took my breath away. I had to keep remembering to breath, it is that awesome!

We had trouble finding lodging, but eventually settled into a motel that looked exactly like the motel from the movie Vacancy. We were all a little frightened, but decided it was better than the alternative. We even watched the new version of Evil Dead while we were there, classic! The next morning we got back to the spot on time, but of course, the Cousin was nowhere to be found. First 10 am, then 11, then 1! At least we got our sight seeing done. We didn't get back on the road until after 2 pm, 2 hours later than expected. The whole way home, I kept missing the fact that the next turn would not be the Canyon. I'm going back there! We eventually arrived at our home at 3 am. Just in time to get a little sleep before our parent's meeting at 10 am, for the upcoming play. Then we went to another wedding. Do to traffic, we barely made it on time, which worked out fine, because the ceremony was late too. It was the quickest wedding ever. Everything took place between 4 and 6 pm! I was not disappointed. We went to an after party at our friend's house. It was pretty cool, we hadn't done that in a while. But, I had to work the next day, so I took it easy. If you're keeping track, that's 11 straight days of activity.

Daughn

6/12 - 6/18/14

I could probably spend the rest of the year writing about what has occurred during the past three weeks of my life. But I don't want to do that to you. I will, however, do my bet to recap it here today, without, hopefully, finding the need to add on a part two. If my memory serves me correctly, I last wrote you on the 11^th of June, so that is where we shall begin today. As if I know where to begin. I really feel like this is my only day off since then. Granted, I have not gone to my place of employment everyday since then, but, none the less, I have been occupied everyday since then. I am glad to have this day off to recuperate. Although, I do have this, and one other thing to do today, before I “hang out” with my guitar player. At least I got to sleep in, and am doing my own things, on my own time, which makes all the difference in the world. Today could not have gotten here soon enough. It all started when my Mom and Sister came down for my Cousin's graduation on the 12^th of June. I did not go because I was working, and am not talking to his Mother, so, luckily, that does not really play into the plot. Except for, however, the fact that it was the reason my Mom and Sister were in town. They wanted to take us out to dinner on the 13^th, Friday the 13^th! It was delicious and uneventful. The dinner was in part to celebrate Susan getting a new job, and also in part to celebrate my parent's 45^th Wedding Anniversary. Although, it was odd that my Father was not there. He was at an East Coast wedding.

My Dad has always been fairly close with his older Brother, and now they share the Anniversary date of June 14^th. How cute! The 14^th will also be shared with our friend, who got married on that date this year as well. It kind of sucked because she had us all facing West, into the setting Sun, for an hour, by the time the ceremony ended. I was unhappy. I don't like her that much anyway. I just closed my eyes and listened. The reception was in the San Diego Museum of Art. That was cool! We got to check out the entire Museum, I have to go back. It was well worth the trip. It also reminded me of how little we actually do. The Museum is only 20 minutes away, and I have never been! I felt like I was on a different planet. That's sad. The 15^th was Father's Day. It was, once again, a bit odd that my Father was not there. Celebrating Father's Day, and I'm the only “Father” at the table?! It felt strange. We got to go to one of my favorite places. It wasn't crowded. It was delicious. We had a nice time, although at first we thought they weren't open. We were patient, and our patience paid off, yeah me! After doing some grocery shopping, we went over to my Mom's house for dinner. We had a good time. The next three days were work days. Susan started her new job down near the beach though, and since we share a vehicle, it meant I was Trolley bound. I don't really mind taking the Trolley. I figured out the schedule. I pick it up a block from home, and it drops me off two blocks from work. Not bad!

The Trolley is a little more expensive then I would expect, but it is still pretty convenient. My only gripe is that without my vehicle, I have no solitude for lunch. I always bring my lunch, and to eat it in the break room, doesn't feel like much of a break. Especially since it also means that I have to find something to do for half an hour, whereas, usually, meditating in my car does me just fine. Our whole lives have changed since I last wrote you. I'm really just starting to get the grasp of that right now. I mean, I have known that, but sitting here delineating it, is really driving the point home. As I'm sure you are starting to become aware, there really is no way I'll be done with the rest of my story by the end of this paragraph. I'm going to have to continue anon. In it's own way, this actually seems like quite an appropriate place to break. It literally took this entire time to get from one Wednesday to the next. And I thought I'd give each week it's own paragraph, silly me. Even funnier, is that I thought I was really trimming the fat. I thought I was blazing through events, and still didn't even get close to all I wanted to say. Unfortunately it seems that I'll have to break this into pieces. I do, however, promise that I will not let it consume the rest of the year. But, as you can tell, there have been significant changes in our lives occurring, and I have to be able to touch on them all. I hope each week doesn't take up an entire session, or else I'll never get caught up. Just know that we are all well, and happy.

Daughn