D34 - On The Road to Retirement Day 1 of 4

After finishing up last minute tasks like cleaning up,  final trip to the bank,  the PD, and a stop for last minute hug from Kris, back home to play Jenga loading up the cars.   Couldn't have fit everything in without Nick.    $28.00 in gas to start off.

Headed towards Denver with the Camry and Shelby in a caravan @ 10:30 a.m.   

 

Trip was uneventful in the Camry with the cats except Peaches crate got off kilter making her annoyed.  Met up with super nice transport driver who appears to be Russian and left car in his care with plan to take delivery on the 5th.

 

Headed East from Denver on I-70 into dark clouds with all quiet in the beck seat.  We had some big rain storms near Deer Trail where Peaches was not a big fan but Monkey just slept through it.  He passed through lineman about 12:25 and the drive to continue to be smooth. 

The first indication that the drive is getting to Don is when for the first time he threatened to take my phone away if I didn't put it down. LOL. The drive continued through lots and lots of wind turbine farms as far as the eye could see. All I could see what's a bunch of wind energy making alternative sources but in reality don't work when it's severe winter, have a huge carbon footprint when the blades have to be disposed, and in my opinion are a blight on the landscape no, but other than that they're great. Haha.

Things got a little more interesting around the time we hit Burlington at about 1:20. Made me laugh when Don started striking poses while singing along to Prince's song When Doves Cry.  

We hit the Kansas border at 1:35 and Colby Kansas at 2:15. As I suspected more wind turbines and it's still Kansas. I find that most of Kansas looks just like the drive on I-76 through Roggen.  We loved seeing the signs here that said "NO NFL" and several Trump signs. Of course more wind turbines yay oh, I think this is going to become a theme.

We had our first construction zone of the trip just outside Colyer Kansas and changed time zones to Central Standard Time. You'll be surprised to know, more wind turbines. We made our first stop for fuel and Russell, Kansas.  

At this point we were trying to decide if we wanted to continue on past Salina to Topeka or if we wanted to stop for the night. After searching for multiple hotels we booked Holiday Inn Express only to find out that they did not allow pets. After calling to cancel the reservation and tell them that we are struggling to find somewhere to stay I found out just how important it is to be a Spire Elite member of IHG.  Once I name-dropped Mr. Northrup, she proceeded to explain to me that it was no problem at all that our animals would be noted in the system as service animals and we were welcome to stay there.  In no alternative universe would I ever consider Peaches or Monkey service animals but whatever it takes right.  The hotel was great, but this is where we first noted the change in personalities of our cats as Monkey proceeded to hide from the moment we got her into the hotel room and Peaches ran around investigating. If you know our cats that is exactly the opposite of their personality.  See below picture of the "service cat", more like that serve me cat.

HI Express Salina KS

I went on a scavenger hunt in search of food and beverages and found the best burgers from a little dive in downtown Salina called the Cozy Inn at 108 North 7th Street.  This is literally a small little brick addition to an existing hotel that has a small area where you can go inside but mostly there's just an outside walk-up window where you order. The burgers are about the size of a White Castle burger and come and a meal of 6 burgers, chips and a drink for $7.95.  I had the best conversation with a gentleman who lives in the area while waiting for orders. I highly recommend the Cozy Inn burgers if you're ever driving through Salina.

Cozy Inn

Dinner and a little bit of TV watching and everybody was ready to settle in after a very busy morning and 7 hours of driving, big day ahead of us tomorrow.

D34 - Truly Closing A Door

Quotemaster.org

Well it's just after midnight and I should be sleeping but my mind is racing and sleep is elusive.   In less than 9 hours from now we will pull away from the home we've shared and raised our children for the last 22 1/2 years.   This last week has been a flurry of activity.   It has been full of emotional highs and lows.    The highs have been great - spending quality time with my children,  signing sales documents, getting a handle on estate issues, seeing our granddog, meeting our new grandcat, and spending time with some good friends.   But, the lows have been so very hard that they've been almost crippling.   Saying "see you soon" (I hate the word goodbye unless you never intend to see someone again) to my beautiful children was  heartbreaking to say the least.   They are all so supportive but yet sad at the same time.  My final church service with people who have helped me navigate some difficult times felt like my faith safety net was pulled away but I know I'm being obedient.  Final lunches with true friends and missing out on a few because time just doesn't allow for it.  Hugs with neighbors eho are more like family - we have an amazing street of neighbors!  And lastly having to say goodbye and see you on the other side of the rainbow bridge to my 10 year old Bassett Hoover.  Her had been living his best spoiled life .  Love our furry family members.

My mind tonight is replaying memories that are wonderful and I'm realizing that those live in my heart not a house.   New memories are waiting to be made and oppotunities for everyone to grow.  Here in Colorado and other parts of the US.  While we are closing the door literally and figuratively we are stepping out into a new faith and adventure. 

********

DISCLOSURE:  Sleep stopped eluding me as I was writing this and praying so this entry is being finished at 4:45 a.m.  It's going to be a long day.   More adventures from the road. 

D33 - Moving Truck Day ~ Empty House

Plans are just that and they're meant to change. With everything set for movers to come on Thursday morning, we were requested to have them instead on Wednesday. This meant we had to expedite the remaining packing.  It also meant that the movers were coming on the same day we were taking the Audi to the shop and signing closing documents on the house.  This of course had followed a Tuesday that was emotionally difficult, as it was saying once again goodbye to Mitch & Michelle when we delivered the washer and dryer, spending time with Courtney and ultimately having to say goodbye, and finally returning home in time for the appointment at the veterinarian where I had to put Hoover to sleep. 

There we lots of moments I didn't think we were going to be able to get everything done.  Things started to go downhill first off when we ran into a problem with the Audi and had to drive it in reverse all the way back to the house. We were blessed to have Joe Schrum come to the rescue told that you his garage where he'll have the opportunity to take a look at it.  We were able to reach out to the title company and go in early to sign the paperwork which was fortuitous because the movers arrived at 9:30 versus 10:30. The number of papers we had to sign at the title company was significantly smaller than I expected and that whole process only took about 10 minutes tops. Fingers crossed now that everything continues to go well and closing happens on the 9th as expected. 

Back home and after what felt like 10000 pieces of paper that had to be signed and learning that you can't ship anything inside of cabinets like hope chest or dressers, our wonderful group of Movers had all of our household belongings loaded on the truck. They were absolutely wonderful and I'll have a separate review blog dedicated to their service in case anybody needs to hire a moving company .  Of course the cubic footage was far larger than we expected but it is what it is.

 

 At this point we were in a holding pattern on the transport truck for the Shelby. We were so busy with everything else that we missed emails that the original transport truck had been involved in a accident at a truck stop and was out of commission. By the time they got ahold of us they had figured out a new plan that required the Shelby to be picked up on Wednesday in the afternoon.  That was fine until we got a call from that driver to tell us that she had broke a leaf spring while driving on I-70 in Denver and had to take the truck to a repair shop but anticipated he might still be able to make it that day. As the day went on it became apparent that they weren't going to be done with his repairs so we came up with a contingency plan where we would drive the Shelby to him in Denver rather than waiting until he could pick it up in Fort Morgan. 

An empty house and cleaning for the new occupants fill the remainder of our evening knowing that we would be able to get on the road no later than midmorning on Thursday.  Our last night in our home was bittersweet. 

D24 - When Reading Meets Obsession

 

When the amount of time you spend organizing and analyzing one of your habits or hobbies surpasses the amount of time you're spending actually doing it, does that mean you might have a problem? I'm asking for a friend . . . okay that friend is me!

One of them my favorites activities to participate in is reading. I consider myself to be a voracious reader and would rather he found curled up reading a book then doing just about anything else.  In a slow year I read about 150 books and in my highest reading near which was 2019 I read 244 books. Yes, I realize that's a lot. Yes, I realize that's not normal. Yes, I realize that I read more in a year than some people have read in their life.  No, I won't apologize because reading truly is my escape. 

That sheer volume of books is what leads to the problem that comes with over organizing.  I have to date marked 1,912 books as completed reading.  I use the Goodreads application to maintain an accurate list of the books that I read. It does a great job and I'm very pleased to be able to search quickly to determine if I've already read a book.  Nothing annoys me more then to get 15 or 20 pages into a book that sounds familiar only to realize that I have wasted precious time reading something for the second time.  I know there are some people who will read the same book multiple times but that is not me. I love the idea of being able to immerse myself in a book and I find it difficult to do that if I already know the ending. I'm also that person who would never flip to the back of the book to find out how the story ends, that's practically blasphemy. Ha ha.  On a side note, of course I'm not comfortable enough with just having Goodreads track so I have a spreadsheet with multiple tabs that keeps an accurate list of all the books that I've ever read. I know, I know but what's a girl to do.

With the challenge of keeping an accurate record covered, the next problem comes with what to read next. Another hard-and-fast rule that I have for reading is that if you are reading books by an author who has multiple books in a series, you absolutely need to read the books in order. I don't understand how reading books out of order doesn't drive a person crazy. It would ruin it for me to know what's going to happen when you read out of order.  Yeah yeah, that's just one of the things that's odd about me.  I find myself at this point getting obsessed with researching what books are available for checkout, keeping list of books in series, and taking the time to make sure I make recommendations of books for purchase to the electronic libraries that I have cards for check out.  This becomes the great time sucker for sure. One search leads to a series of rabbit holes and next thing I know hours have gone by the wayside. I always think that once I have a plan of attack on which books and what authors are next in the queue then I am pretty much good to go for 6 to 9 months. Yeah right!  Ironically if I had just randomly selected the next book I would have had even more time to enjoy reading. Of course that would mean I would have missed out on having some of my OCD needs met in the process.

Gone are the days when I could just go into the library and browse through the stacks until I found something that met my fancy.  In fact with the advent of electronic readers, I find myself choosing print versions less and less often. That however is a topic for a completely different blog entry. 

D22 - Real Relationships???

EVALUATING RELATIONSHIPS: 

 Not For The Weak At Heart!

 

(https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ralph_waldo_emerson_100740)

I find myself wondering about the timing of this message that seems to be weighing on my heart.  I wonder about whether the subject is something that needs to be broached and if so what are the consequences.   I ponder if enough time has transpired to truly have a good grasp on the questions and the feelings. 

I've always considered myself to be the kind of person that what you see is what you get. In no way do I consider myself perfect, in fact quite the opposite, but I have always thought relationships with others are based upon genuine feelings and trust.  This however tends to set people up to be disappointed in human nature. Not everyone that we come in contact with will adhere to those same values, and in fact some have mastered just the opposite, which has left me discouraged and disillusioned. 

When we're busy dealing with the day-to-day bump and grind we often just go through the motions when it comes to relationships.  We respond often times without even putting much thought into the words or the delivery, let alone how they're going to be received.  Divided loyalties can put us into a position of having to decide how to behave.  When in reality just being honest is always the best.

Having time on your hands gives you time to "evaluate" for lack of a better word, the relationships you felt you maintained over many years.   When you don't provide value tangibly it can become apparent that the seeds of those relationships may have been planted very shallowly and the substance of the relationship doesn't appear destined to stand the test of time.  It's a confusing conundrum to say the least, not so much because of feelings but rather of wonderment.

How people treated you and how you thought they felt becomes somewhat of a puzzle.  I find myself digging deeper into comments, actions, conversations and even some written words and wondering just how naive I may have been when I opened myself up to people.

I'm conducting an experiment of sorts to test out a theory that I have.  It seems to me that people always make light of relationships on social media as opposed to real life relationships.  I've heard people state that online relationships are shallow and insincere.  So far I'm finding that far more of those relationships online feel honest and authentic. Online people have the option to scroll on by if they choose, rather than that which happens in person when sometimes people merely placate you with platitudes.  I often wish life came with a crystal ball that allowed us to see others intentions, but that's not how life works and we are accountable to give without having any expectation of anything in return.

If you've gotten to this point in the entry I hope you aren't thinking badly for me, or feeling sad for me because I'm personally not feeling either of those but rather I'm feeling enlightened. I would suspect there maybe some that read this will wonder if it's addressed to them, to which I would say that we each need to search our own hearts and consider daily our personal motivations for actions.   I for one am trying to not let this jade me about interpersonal relationships.  We're all human and prone to survival of the fittest instincts. 

For me, I'm moving into this new stage of life secure in the knowledge that I already have or I am in the process of letting people know how I feel.  Some relationships that I've had for decades may go by the wayside but isn't that just part of life.    I'm choosing to continue to do things that make others happy and to love others regardless of whether the feelings are mutual.  It allows me to wake up every day with hope. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you've made it all the way to this point.  

D21 - REVIEW ~ The Art Spot, LLC (Fort Morgan, CO)

 MAKING MEMORIES . . . AND ART TOO!

The Art Spot, LLC is a quaint Art Studio located in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  Launched by the great owner Darlene Segelke Ruyle and assisted by local artist Maria Cisnowski, they have launched a unique and well-loved business that provides so much more then just an art project.  Their mission statement on their web page says it all.  

The Art Spot is a happy creative place where you can have fun with art and connect with friends, family, co-workers, or team members. We'll share our passion for all things creative and in the end you'll go home with a finished piece of artwork and a warm heart.  

I personally have had the opportunity of attending multiple classes with them in a community event setting but my personal favorite has been the last couple where I've had the opportunity to do them with family.  There is so much more to that experience then just painting on a canvas or other medium, it's the camaraderie, the silliness, the nervousness, and ultimately that support amongst classmates who are mostly all there as people who believe they have no artistic ability yet manage to create a personal masterpiece. For me it's a time to just relax and enjoy a slower pace of life doing something that's just fun. How many of us don't take time and our busy lives every once in awhile to "just have fun".  The opportunity I just had with my kids Mitch, Michelle, Courtney, and Brad creating "Patriotic Outdoor Signs" turned into a chance for each person to put their own spin on what they wanted their sign to look like.  And that's truly the beauty of this class and this studio is that there is no right or wrong way to create art. They merely give you the supplies, the basic ideas, and then a big nudge to just create.

The Art Spot offers such a broad range of classes multiple times a month at very convenient times for those people who work.  They have a wide selection of projects such as a series on gnomes, a series with an old truck, seasonal tree paintings, fun yet silly characters, and so much more. They have started branching out into painting on items such as fabric bags and wine glasses.  Don't want to go to a class with strangers? Problem solved, they can do a private class for individual groups with enough people and allow you to select the project that you want to work on together.  All of this at prices you just can't beat.

I personally want to say a huge thank you Darlene and Maria for helping create some memories for me and my family before my husband and I make our big move away.  As I make trips back to the area after our move this will definitely be one of the things on the to-do list with my kids.  This is what quality time is really all about. (Insert tears here 😭)

  

https://www.theartspot9.com

D18 - REVIEW ~ Topgolf (Colorado Locations)

 Topgolf Is Top Notch

(https://topgolf.com/)

MY REVIEW 

TOPGOLF is a MUST do activity for people of all ages. This venue provides a day of entertainment that includes good food, good drinks, good ambience, and a great bonding experience for everyone. This is definitely not just for people who consider themselves to be golfers but rather for anybody who enjoys having a good time.  We frequented two of the three locations in Colorado and have been please with both experiences.   It was a great family outing for us and our adult children. Imagine driving golf balls from a three-story building at targets in an enclosed area. Better yet don't imagine it go check it out.  Fair warning, Topgolf is extremely popular and you will want to make reservations with plenty of time in advance.  Theoretically you can just walk-in but my understanding is the wait can be very long.  With locations in 29 States this is an activity that you can do almost anywhere. It is definitely worth the drive to the nearest location.  See below for links to locations and some other information from their website.

What is Topgolf? 
It's a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy. Paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu, climate-controlled hitting bays and music, every Topgolf has an energetic hum that you can feel right when you walk through the door.

How does it work?  
Topgolf offers a wide selection of games that utilize micro-chipped golf balls and Toptracer technology (select venues) to keep track of every shot. Player's shots will be relayed back to their bay screen showing the accuracy and distance of each ball. Our giant targets make it fun for everyone – Guests of all ages and skill levels can score!

Plan an Event!
No matter the occasion, make it more eventful at Topgolf.

Locations in AL, AT, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, NB, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA

Find one near you at:  https://topgolf.com/us/locations/

FACEBOOK - https://m.facebook.com/topgolf