Nomad Life - Day 207

Day Trip to DC!  After repositioning from Central Virginia, I had an opportunity to head into the City to get a new ID badge and visit with my work colleagues.  To make this happen, though, I had to remember all the lessons I'd learned during more than 10 years of living in Alexandria.  So, I got up at 0500 (before alarm, I guess because of the anticipation) and got ready to depart.  I would actually have left immediately but had to wait for the breakfast at the Best Western (Springfield) to open at 0630.  And they were late...  After scarfing down my food, I left the hotel (0645) and drove to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station (Park & Ride garage).  Fortunately, I was able to get on a DC-bound Blue Line Train that departed at 0700.  At the King Street / Old Town Alexandria Station (0710), I changed to a Yellow Line train and then continued on to L’Enfant Plaza (arrived at 0730).  It was only a short walk to the Security Office and I was the only customer at that time - as a result, I completed all the required tanks and got my shiny new ID badge by 0830.  During this window, my tentative plans with my cousin, Elizabeth H, fell through (she was feeling sick).  Fortunately, I'd texted a colleague (Thais) about my arrival (but almost no one else) and managed to meet up with her in the same building.  It was great to see her!  I did learn that she was planning to retire very soon - that will definitely be the end of an era...  Together, we took a Shuttle Bus over to the Navy Yard (left at 0845).  Thais showed me where to enter the building and then took me to the cubicle area where our project team now works (they recently changed office buildings after many years at L'Enfant).  For several hours, I mingled with my co-workers (including my outgoing client) and attended meetings in-person.  It seemed like everyone was very glad to see me!  Since I didn't want to get stuck in the city by staying too late, I said goodbye to everyone at 1145 and departed the building.  By then, it had gotten very hot (low 80s) outside but I was pleased to see that we had another wonderfully sunny day.  During the morning hours, I'd tried to coordinate with several people to meet for lunch - in the end, I made plans with Bridgette C (daughter of my late friend, Chris) in the U Street area of the city.  After entering the Metro System again at Navy Yard, I took a Green Line train to U Street (arrived at 1205).  As I was exiting the turnstile, I noticed a sign that explained how I could add my WMATA SmarTrip card to my Apple iPhone wallet - this will greatly improve my experience and keep me from getting stuck if I forget a "hard copy".  With that task completed, I walked to Busboys and Poets (located on 14th Street) - Bridgette joined me there at 1225.  For over an hour, we ate a great lunch and caught up with each other on life and work.  I'm very glad we were able to meet!  After saying goodbye at 1335, I walked (via 14th Street) to McPherson Square.  My main goal was to cut out a Metro train transfer but I also thought it might be nice to visit the White House.  A few times, I even thought about how it might be nice to stop by Ford's Theater (to watch events connected with the Lincoln Assassination on this date) or even head back to Waterfront (to visit the Titanic Memorial on the anniversary of the collision with the iceberg).  In the end, though, I just kept on target...  When I arrived at the latter location (1400), I found the area in front of it and the nearby Lafayette Square were under major construction.  I assume this was due to the upcoming 250th Birthday of the USA.  There were a few protesters but they weren't very enthusiastic.  By then, it was even hotter (high 80s) so I was looking to get out of the sun myself.  I walked a bit farther west to reach the Farragut West Station - on the way, I actually saw a Farragut Statue.  After boarding a westbound Blue Line train, I got stuck with some track delays.  Because I wasn't certain about how long it would take me to get back to my car, I actually got off the train at Pentagon City for a "bio break".  Ultimately, I arrived at Franconia Springfield Station at 1450 and was back at my hotel room by 1505.  Since I hadn't finished my telework day, I spent a bit more time online, taking care of work projects.  All of the running around, heat and extra work in my comfy room made me feel sleepy and I ended up taking an hour long nap (1700 to 1800) after work.  Actually, I might have gone longer but Mollie called...  Along the way, I skipped dinner and spent time watching movies.  At 2130, I went to the Fitness Center to work out again.  This time, though, I only rode the stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes (4 miles).  Finished with my day at 2200, I returned to my room for some more movies and only went to bed at 2330.  Altogether, today's work trip into our Nation's Capital was a success!

Nomad Life - Day 206

After several weeks of getting to visit with my daughters, the time had come for me to return to a more traditional Nomad Life.  This morning, I was awake at 0545 (before my alarm) and started teleworking from Mollie's apartment.  I got to say goodbye to Mollie and Alex when they departed for work (0730).  As they were departing, I got to see a cabinet that Alex had made for his classroom (it looked good).  During the next few hours of teleworking (lots of meetings), I also age breakfast (snacks), did laundry and made arrangements for lodging during the following few days.  Lunch was leftover rice (Mollie had made it for me), smothered in some delicious vegetable soup.  At 1330, I logged off of my computer, packed up my car and took Maple for a walk.  She was really good for me and I was reluctant to return her to the apartment and her crate.  The weather was overcast (with sprinkles) and the temps were in the mid 70s.  After logging one mile, I departed Fredericksburg at 1400.  Using some surface streets, I reached I-95 and headed north.  Even though I was going against the flow of rush hour drivers, I still encountered lots of traffic (most was near Quantico, Occoquan and the I-495/I-395 merge) - as a result, the drive to Springfield took longer than I'd hoped.  On the plus side, the weather improved during this time.  When I reached the area near my hotel, Best Western (Springfield), I somehow got lost because I incorrectly understood my Google Maps.  Eventually, I reached the lobby of the hotel, checked into my room and was able tor resume teleworking (1520).  Along the way, I thought about leaving for some outdoor fun but, in the end, decided to stay in my room because it had gotten so hot.  Fortunately, the hotel had a Fitness Center and I planned to maximize use of the equipment after my work day was completed.  That time arrived at 1710 and then started working on my Nomad Life blog.  At 1800, I attended Monthly Knights of Columbus Meeting (via Zoom).  Along the way, I skipped dinner.  After a bit more work online (finances, travel planning, blog entries), I went to the Fitness Center for a workout (2000).  First, I walked a mile on the treadmill and, after that, I rode the stationary (recumbent) bike for 40 minutes (8 miles).  My workout was completed by 2115 and I returned to my room for movies and reading.  Bed time at 2245.  Hoping my repositioning will make tomorrow's required visit to DC easier (crossing fingers)...

Nomad Life - Day 205

I had a second weekend day with Mollie!  In anticipation, I was up at 0630 (no alarm set) and did some blog catchup before Mollie was awake too.  It was 0800 before I saw my daughter and, when she came into the living room, we talked for a bit.  I learned that she had a hair appointment and I realized that this gave me some time to go to Mass.  After locating a Parish in downtown Fredericksburg and saying goodbye to Mollie (0815), I drove to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.  I arrived just before the Mass began (0830).  Unfortunately, I had trouble parking (the church lot was packed) - in the end, I left my car in front of a nearby home and was a bit late entering the church.  The service was interesting, with at least 10 altar servers, several Latin prayers (including the Credo) and a good Homily.  Overall, the church seemed very "fancy" to me.  When the service ended, I left the church (0935) and walked back to my car.  By then, it was already 65 F, with higher temps coming towards the city.  Next, I drove back towards Mollie's house.  As always seems to happen, I found myself on US-1...  However, I realized that I was hungry and that I should have a good opportunity to find some breakfast food.  Sadly, this ended up being a bit harder than I'd hoped.  After striking out on several other choices, I stopped at the Valero near Mollie's house.  In the little store they had at that gas station, I was able to pick up some low priced and healthy (banana!) snacks.  As I was checking out, the clerk gave me a new loyalty card - not sure I needed another one...  By 1000, I was back at Mollie's apartment and discovered that she had just returned from her hair appointment.  Since she apparently hadn't eaten either, Mollie made eggs for the two of us (I ate my banana). After our mail, we started getting ready to go out for the day.  Realizing that Noon was approaching and I was running out of time for one of the bonuses, I ended up doing my morning Duolingo in a rush.  This slight delay led Mollie to ask if I actually was going to be ready soon (!).  Wrapping up this silly habit, I joined her in the car.  We'd toyed with bringing Maple on our outdoor excursion but, in the end, decided against it.  Instead, we departed Mollie's apartment at 1150 and drove east.  Mollie and I had talked about adding a new site to our Virginia State Park Challenge list and we'd figured out that neither of us had been to Caledon State Park.  Like several other units of the VA State Park system, this one was also about 40 minutes from Fredericksburg.  The drive gave us another chance to have a nice talk.  With minimal traffic, we arrived at the Visitor Center parking lot at 1230.  We used Mollie's State Park pass to gain free entry and parking and then went inside the VC.  From the displays and a friendly Park Ranger, we learned about the families that had lived on the property since the mid Seventeenth Century (some relatives of George Washington were included).  Mollie expressed interest in getting in part time or volunteer positions - we'll see if that idea goes anywhere.  On the property, there was a "Salamander Meander" event scheduled to begin (about 30 minutes later) but Mollie and I decided no to join it because she didn't have waterproof boots.  Instead, we started hiking on trails in the park.  We had a paper map but this was only a little helpful - sadly, there was a lot of poor signage.  The trails, though, were very well maintained.  Another bonus: the weather was wonderful (60s and sunny).  Along the way, Mollie and I tried to estimate the age of the trees.  She told me they looked really old but I thought they were newer.  Later, we learned that many of the trees we'd seen (Poplars) were around 300 years old!  That'll teach me to argue with my Dendrology trained daughter!  Eventually, we managed to make our way to a pretty Potomac River view.  Mollie had brought some Belvita sandwiches and we ate these while sitting at a nice picnic table in the shade.  During the break, we made plans for the route we planned to walk back to the car.  This decision ended up taking us on some different trails.  Initially, we headed towards what we thought was a boardwalk (we were wrong and cursed the map again).  After that, we went through some wooded areas on mountain bike trails.  During this time, I believe we passed an old homestead but there was no interpretive signage.  Another highlight: we encountered some interesting birds.  After wandering around the wood fof a while, we ended up on a service road at the end and came out in an area where there were some maintenance buildings.  It wasn't intentional but this error allowed us to access the Potomac Heritage Trail before we got in the car.  Our five mile walk was done at 1500 and we both agreed we'd had good time.  Even better, this was my 30th Virginia State Park (out of a bit more than 40).  Afterwards, we departed and backtracked towards Fredericksburg.  We noticed something (near Caledon State Park) called the "Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail" and agreed that we'd try to walk that someday in the future.  During our drive, we debated where and what to eat and then finally decided to get some late lunch at Wawa.  In the iconic Mid-Atlantic lunch stop, we made sandwiches to order and got a really good deal on the food.  With "lunch" in hand (1535), we headed back to Mollie's.  After we arrived, Mollie warned me that Alex needed to use the Guest Room for a Game Night.  With this in mind, I skipped relaxing and taking Maple for a walk and, instead, tried to catch up on more work before Alex returned from Beaverdam.  I was still working (at 1800), trying to get my work done when Alex arrived.  At that point, he told us that Mollie had the evening wrong.  Oh well, I'm much more caught up on blog entries!  Meanwhile, Mollie made dinner for everyone but, since I was still full from the late lunch, I ended up skipping dinner.  During this same time period, Mollie sewed another seam rip in my hiking pants.  She's very handy!  By 1815, I'd finished my work on the computer and joined Mollie and Alex in the living room.  While they watched a "documentary" (on the lives of people with Autism and Asperger's), I went through all the magazines that had arrived at Mollie's over the last few months.  In the end, I left only a few for her (she told me she might use them for a school project) and threw out the rest.  At 1905, I went walking with Mollie and Maple in the neighborhood.  The weather was still very nice and the extra steps took me to more than six miles of walking for the day.  Back at Mollie's apartment, we found some ticks on the dog and this led to everyone getting a shower to make sure we hadn't also picked up any.  As a result, it was almost 2050 by the time Mollie was ready for a to watch something else on the TV.  She told me we needed to have another movie night and, because she said I would like it, Mollie turned on a film called "K-Pop Demon Hunters".  Alex even watched with us and, I must admit, it ended up being mildly entertaining.  It was also long, though, and we weren't done with the movie until 2220.  Even though I was actually really tired, I didn't go to bed until 2300.  Very glad I made a return visit to see my daughter!

Nomad Life - Day 204

When I woke up this morning (0615, before alarm), I felt sore from the workout the night before.  Thinking that I'd be soon departing (as I'd discussed with Brenna), started getting ready to depart.  Meanwhile, Brenna was still sleeping...  When our departure time (0800) for Mr. J's Bagels arrived, it was clear that the plan was changing.  Trying to be efficient, I packed up my car and spent some time working on travel planning, taxes, reading, Duolingo and puzzles.  Along the way, I heard from Mollie that she had an emergency with Maple (her dog) and might not be home in Fredericksburg at the time I arrived.  As a result of this development, I decided to delay my departure from Harrisonburg until it was more convenient.  At 0830, Brenna was finally ready to go to breakfast and I decided we could drive together (since I was staying longer).  Outside, it was another wonderful day, with temps in the high 50s and lots of sun.  Instead of going to the "normal" Mr. J's (located near the JMU Campus), Brenna took me to the one on the west side of Harrisonburg.  No matter - we got the same tasty food!  I ordered (at 0850) a bagel sandwich on a "maple syrup bagel", with Taylor Ham and a side of breakfast potatoes.  Brenna got something similar but with bacon.  We both enjoyed the food and ambiance (Mr. J's is kind of a family tradition).  We finished eating at 0915 and then drove a short distance to Hillandale Park so we could go for a walk.  Brenna introduced me to the Friendly City Trail and we logged three miles on the paved trail.  We also had more good conversation - I knew I'd miss this benefit of Dad-Daughter visiting...  During this time, I got more updates from Mollie - she said she wanted to meet up in Beaverdam (near where Maple was getting some vet care) and offered an opportunity to go kayaking on Lake Anna.  I was very excited to hear about that!  Brenna started to develop a blister (in her flip flops) and (at 1045), we agreed to return to Brenna's apartment.  After double checking that I wasn't forgetting anything, I said goodbye to my daughter.  We had a wonderful week together!  By 1100, I was in my Subaru and headed east (on back roads and US-33) .  The temps had risen to 70 F and it was still a wonderfully sunny day.  As I drove, I noticed signs for the "Spotswood Trail" - this was the first time I realized it was close to the route used during the early Nineteenth Century expedition I'd read about in a book recently.  I crossed the Shenandoah at Swift Run Gap and continued east on US-33).  At one point, I noticed signs for James Madison's Montpelier (his home) and decided to get off the four lane US Highway to check it out.  To reach the landmark, I followed VA-20 into rural Orange County.  Along the way, I passed lots of signs about the upcoming "Gerrymandering" ballot initiative; actually, I've been seeing those for weeks but this area seemed particularly divided on the subject.  At 1215, I arrived at Montpelier and was surprised to find out they had a "fee free" day!  Montpelier was hosting an event called "We the Kids" but they told me everyone was welcome.  Immediately, I called Mollie to ask if I could tarry in that area and she said it was OK because she still wasn't done with her dog.  For the next hour, I explored the house and the grounds, learning a lot about the fourth president.  From several points, I got wonderful views of the Shenandoah ridge in the distance - what a beautiful panorama!  I toured the home and even met some reenactors (Mr. Madison and Colonel Monroe).  Before departing, I paid my respects at the family cemetery, where there was a big obelisk in memory of the Fourth President and Father of the Constitution (a smaller stone memorialized his wife, Dolly).  By 1315, I was on the road again (temps 72 F) and drove, by a series of zigs and zags, to Beaverdam (the route was VA-20, VA-629, US-522, VA-208, VA-652, VA-601, VA-715, VA-739, VA-800 and VA-684).  During this transit down the western side of Lake Anna, the gas prices were ridiculously higher than I'd been seeing elsewhere.  On the positive side, traffic was light and the weather was still wonderful.  Near the end of my journey, I passed by the historic train depot in Beaverdam.  Mollie and Alex had told me about it several times but this was the first time I ended up near it.  At 1415, I arrived at the home of Alex's parents by 1415 and spent some time visiting.  Despite hours of care and attention for Maple, Mollie and Alex were still worried about their dog.  As a result, there were some delays in the afternoon plans with my daughter.  In fact, I thought everything might be canceled.  However, at 1600 (with kayaks fully loaded in Alex's truck), Mollie and I departed for Pleasants Landing (located on the southeast corner of Lake Anna, near the dam).  About 20 minutes later, we launched our kayaks from the Marina there and then spent time paddling on the water.  The weather was still wonderful (albeit a bit windy) and we were treated to signs and sounds of so many cool birds (Bald Eagle and Osprey among them).  After about 75 minutes (2.5 miles),  we wrapped up my first paddle of the season and re-loaded the kayaks in the truck.  Since it was nearly 1730 by that point, I suggested we get some dinner at the Marina's restaurant: El Gran Patron (Mexican).  We got seats on a patio outside and enjoyed enchiladas.  I even got a margarita!  We continued our nice conversation - it was great to see Mollie again.  We finished our meal at 1820 and headed back to Alex's parents' home.  While I unpacked the truck with Alex and visited a bit with his parents, Mollie went to get some (cheaper) gas nearby.  After saying my own goodbyes, I waited for my daughter at the exit of Alex's parents' neighborhood.  When she drove by (1920), I followed her in the direction of Fredericksburg (Alex stayed with his parents so he could complete a household project he was working on).  Maple came with our little car convoy.  Somehow, Mollie took me on back roads (with the last part of the drive being on US-1) all the way to her apartment.  This was a pleasant, mostly traffic free route with an opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset.  We arrived in Fredericksburg at about 2000 and Mollie set up the TV for us to watch a movie.  After learning that I'd never seen "Twisters", we started that film.  I was surprised that it wasn't horrible, although I told Mollie I still like the original better.  The wine we had while watching the movie made it a bit better, though!  At 2200, we wrapped up our evening together and, after I went to the guest room, I did some reading and Duolingo before bed (2300).  It was a wonderful day of great weather, breakfast & walking with Brenna and paddling & movies with Mollie!

Nomad Life - Day 203

Last full day with Brenna (tears)...  As usual, I got up at 0630 (with alarm) and started teleworking.  Brenna joined me in the living room at 0715 and it was nice to visit with her (and make plans for the evening).  My daughter departed at 0815 but, meanwhile, I kept working.  Along the way, I ate breakfast (snacks) and, later, lunch (leftovers).  Through the full day of telework, I never left the apartment - this really sucked because the weather outside was wonderful (60s, sunny) again.  At around 1630, I wrapped up my work week and ate an early dinner (leftovers).  I had just started working on a photo backup project when Brenna arrived home.  I'd thought we'd be getting ready to go out for our afternoon activity but she decided to take advantage of leaving work early to focus on some personal business. Meanwhile, I kept working on my blog, photo storage and later watched a new episode on my streaming services.  Finally (at 1730), we departed (in Brenna's car) for the Sentara RMH Wellness Center.  Brenna has been raving about the facility and asked (nearly every time I've visited) if I would like to have a workout with her.  Today was the day!  We arrived at 1745 and I had to agree with my daughter - was a VERY impressive facility, with a fitness track, extensive equipment, lap pool, children's pool, lockers, etc.  After registering as a guest and getting a tour (from my daughter), I began walking with Brenna on the large indoor track (1800).  It was nice to exercise with Brenna but she didn't stay with me for long.  For my part, I kept moving for about forty minutes - by the end, I'd completed two miles (20 laps).  Along the way, I encountered a man (with noise canceling headphones) who was loudly singing songs as he walked along, seemingly oblivious to the rest of us.  When I finished my step goals, I moved on to a nearby stationary (recumbent) bike.  Between 1845 and 2025, I rode 8 miles in 40 minutes.  For some reason, I had to work very hard to reach my cycling goal.  During this time, I also watched CNN, which had non-stop live coverage of the approaching Artemis II landing.  At different times, Brenna came by to check on me and, at one point, she gave me a towel to dry off the sweat.  She also texted me several times, updating her own workout progress.  With my biking complete, I got ready to go swimming in the lap pool.  Unlike what was required (a lap lane reservation) when I visited the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in Vermont, I was able to just chose a lane and get started.  I then spent 45 minutes doing laps and managed to complete 48 lengths (0.75 miles).  This was a drop off from my old 50+ stamina but I was pleased to have been able to get through an entire workout of the pre-Nomad Life variety.  When I was finished working out (2015) and quickly got changed so I could meet Brenna in the lobby (2030).  When we departed, I thought we were going straight back to her place.  However, Brenna mentioned that Jesse had driven down to eat dinner in Harrisonburg.  He had already arrived at a nearby Cook Out restaurant and we joined him (2045).  Since I'd already eaten dinner, I only ordered a milkshake, which turned out to be more of a thick ice cream - I could barely drink it!  Armed with some good food, we visited with Jesse until almost 2200.  As we were wrapping up, there were suddenly LOTS of college kids arriving to quench their munchies.  After saying goodbye (because we were all tired), Brenna drove me back to her apartment.  After arriving (2215), we immediately said goodnight.  However, I did some light reading and Duolingo before finally heading to bed at 2245.  Feeling very good about my workout at Brenna's wonderful gym!

Nomad Life - Day 202

Before I arrived in the Shenandoah, Brenna had asked if I could chaperone a Field Trip at her school.  Of course, I eagerly accepted!  Today was the day for the event and I was up at 0630 (no alarm required).  Unfortunately, I had a very fitful sleep overnight.  I believe the temps in the apartment (and the clothing I'd wore the night before), along with the couch I was sleeping on, created the issue.  Regardless, I started teleworking as soon as I was awake.  Brenna woke up shortly after I did (0700) and got ready for work.  She gave me more details about the Field Trip and then departed for the school (0815).  Meanwhile, I continued teleworking (meetings).  At 1045, I took a break from my job and headed to a nearby Walmart for a gas fillup (1055).  Immediately after that, I picked up lunch (to go) at Wendy's (1100) and then drove to Brenna's school.  Starting at 1115, I spent nearby four hours volunteering with Brenna's class.  After I joined my daughter, we (along with nearly 25 students, four teachers and the other chaperones) got ready to head to the nearby Harrisonburg Children's Museum.  Once again, it was a wonderful day of weather (high 50s, rising into the low 60s, and sunny).  Through each step of the Field Trip, the kids were very enthusiastic (singing songs at times).  We walked about a mile from their school to the museum and then had a wonderful time exploring the exhibits.  Brenna assigned me to shadow three young people through the Theater Room, Arts & Crafts Room, Airport Room (complete with control tower, regional jet and TSA screening area), Hospital Room, Farm/Barn Area (crops and Farmer’s Market), Kitchen Room and assorted other locations.  I was very impressed with the way the kids played with all the “Grown Up” tools!  Most of them seemed to enjoy my presence, with some trying to validate my identity as the dad of their teacher.  On the way back to school, we had to climb a big hill and the kids all started singing "Golden" (from the "KPOP Demon Hunters" movie, with it's "Up, Up, Up!" lyrics).  Soon after that, I got the most hilarious image of Brenna that I’ve ever seen (sadly, no camera ready).  During a shortcut through a city park, the kids broke into runs, rolls down hills and unbridled exuberance,  My daughter was an island of calm stability amid the chaos!  It was clear that those kids love their teacher and I could tell that the feelings are mutual.  After saying goodbye (and getting hugs from) the students, I departed for Brenna's apartment at 1445.  On the way, I bought snacks at Walmart (1500).  At the apartment, I resumed teleworking.  Brenna got home at 1730 and we talked more about the field trip - I told her I hoped we could have a relaxing evening in the house and she agreed.  For some reason, though, Brenna then went into her room to "rest" and I didn't hear back from her for a while.  To pass the time, I watched a new episode on my streaming services.  Since I'd already gotten nearly three hours from walking with Brenna's class earlier in the day, I only had one mile left to reach my step goal.  For this reason, I went walking in Brenna's apartment complex parking lot (1910).  In the end, I got the last mile completed (10K step goal achieved).  Meanwhile, Brenna texted to ask if we could get takeout from Vietopia and I agreed.  Soon after that (while I was still walking), she went to pick up the food.  She returned home at around 2000 and I joined her at her apartment soon after that.  I found her watching an episode of "The Rookie" but, before long, Brenna asked if we could watch a movie.  I suggested one called "As Luck Would Have It" that I thought she'd like.  For the next few hours (with minor interruptions for other conversations, eating and Brenna's calls with Jesse), we enjoyed the film.  One minor interruption was when Brenna and Jesse laughed at me because I seemed to be a huge fan of Hallmark Movies.  I replied that I had been doing "research" on so I would know what to share with my daughters when I visited.  The movie finally wrapped up at 2215 and I said goodnight to my daughter.  For the rest of the evening, I did some more reading and checking on the news.  It was finally time for bed at 2315.  What a great day of volunteering with Brenna's class!

Nomad Life - Day 201

Another day in Harrisonburg with Brenna!  I was up at 0630 (alarm required) and started teleworking immediately. Brenna came out of her room at 0715 and we talked for a bit while she got ready.  For breakfast, I ate snacks and leftovers - I then said goodbye to Brenna when she departed for work (0815).  For the rest of the morning, I teleworked and then ate leftovers for lunch.  Along the way, I did another load of dishes for Brenna and folded some more clothes.  At 1345, I left Brenna's apartment to do some errands.  Outside, it was pleasant (50s) and sunny.  First (1400), I topped at Home Depot to get items (trash bags, fabric softeners).  Next (1410), I dropped off items (including Brenna's wiped iPhone) for recycling at Staples.  On the way back to Brenna's, I took a call from Viking (Ezra) and ended up creating a new itinerary for Egypt and Jordan in late 2028 through early 2029 - we'll have to see if anyone wants to go with me!  I arrived back to Brenna's before 1430 and resumed teleworking.  During one brief break, I set up a shade (curtain) for Brenna's back door.  When Brenna got home (1645), I stopped teleworking and thought we'd be departing for Edinburg (where Jesse lived).  However, she told me she didn't feel well and went into her room to rest.  During this unexpected break, I thought about going for a walk but wasn't sure how much time I had.  My hesitation ended up being a mistake because there was never another opportunity (and I never got anywhere near my 10K step goal).  At 1745, Brenna told me she finally felt well enough to depart for Jesse's home.  Prior to that, though, she insisted on stopping at McDonalds (so she could get a soft drink).  Once we finally got out of Harrisonburg (US-33), we used I-81 and, eventually, US-11 to reach Edinburg.  As usual, there was lots of scary traffic for Brenna to contend with - this was probably even more exacerbated because I was her passenger...  When we arrived at Jesse's 1815), we discovered that he wasn't home and I thought about taking a walk nearby with the remaining sunlight.  However, he drove up just as I was lacing up my hiking boots.  For the next 30 minutes, we toured Jesse's home - he (and Brenna) had made lots of changes since I visited the last time.  Along the way, I helped Jesse move some furniture (yard, patio, side tables, etc.) he'd picked up from Facebook Marketplace - he knew just where to put these items and it improved the home even more.  During this work, we got into an interesting conversation about a wall hanging related to the local area.  At a local yard sale, he'd found a map which had a small note about "George Washington surveying the Fairfax Line".  This led to me looking up (on Wikipedia) information about the Fairfax Line and the discovery of the Fairfax Stone (located in West Virginia).  This inspired me to go looking for more slices of Americana on my Nomad Life.  Brenna talked again about how she didn't feel well but, with hydration, she eventually felt well enough to depart for dinner.  At 1915, we rode with Jesse to a much anticipated restaurant (Brenna and Jesse had told me it was "the best") - it was called Pizza Bella and it was located in a strip mall in Edinburg.  Despite this inauspicious start, the the food ended up living up to the hype.  We ordered a large garden salad, 10 boneless wings (teriyaki), a gyro (with fries) and a "meat lovers" pizza.  Initially, I thought this was too much food.  However, we somehow ate all of it.  Along the way, we had more great conversation, mostly about the future, and I told some funny stories related to my work.  When it was time to go, there were no leftovers!  Afterwards (2130), we headed back to Jesse's home; Brenna wanted to stay longer but Jesse admitted that he was tired and had been planning to go to his parents' home for the night.  Reluctantly, Brenna steered us back towards Harrisonburg (2145).  Like we'd seen on the way north on I-81, the traffic was just as frustrating and scary.  Happily, Brenna made the roughly 30 minute drive without incident.  After we returned home (2230), we said goodnight and I spent time reading and doing Duolingo exercises.  I finally went to bed at 2330.  Very glad to visit with Jesse at his home and adopted town!

Nomad Life - Day 200

Brenna woke me up with bright lights and coffee making at 0630.  Since I'd gone to bed so late (due to getting carried away with a good book), I hadn't even set my alarm...  As a result, this was an uncomfortable awakening.  Reluctantly, I started teleworking and did my best to continue the small talk until Brenna departed (0715).  In my unusually tired state, I still managed to power through the whole day teleworking.  Meanwhile, I ate a light breakfast (snack foods) and lunch was a short stack of pancakes I made in Brenna's kitchen.  At times through the day, I did chores (laundry, dishes, minor household repairs, etc.) for Brenna.  After getting done with my work day (1645), I worked on my blog and caught up on reading and puzzles.  Brenna got home at 1715 and seemed glad with the work I'd done around her apartment.  Like me, though, she was also very tired.  Despite the fatigue, she started making dinner (ground turkey burgers) in her air fryer - I tried to help her (in improving the consistency) and we were mildly successful.  Jesse arrived at 1750 and showed a lot of concern for the cooking of the poultry (because he is always in Ultra-Run mode, he is very knowledgeable about food).  We all talked for a while about their upcoming (pre-engagement) couples counseling and I wished them well.  At 1715, Brenna and Jesse departed to meet with the counselor.  Meanwhile, I worked on my blog a bit longer before departing myself - I wanted to find a good place for a walk nearby.  I should note that I'd been procrastinating all day about doing errands Brenna had mentioned - with the decision to seek out some steps towards my daily goal, I had (once again) postponed the shopping trip.  Recalling a walk I'd done (with Brenna and Jesse during my last visit to Harrisonburg) at Lake Shenandoah I drove to the nearest parking lot for the trail system.  The weather was still very pleasant (temps in the 50s but clear and sunny).  The parking lot had signs about paying a fee for activities on the property but I checked all the other cars - no one had any indications they'd followed the parking rules.  With the remaining light I had, I ended up completing two full circuits of the lake.  Along the way, I encountered lots of birds and a few deer - only a few other people were nearby.  I was finished with my walk at 1945 and made my way back to Brenna's house (arrived at 2000).  Discovering that my daughter and her boyfriend weren't back yet, I thought I had correctly predicted 2030 as the time that their counseling would end.  While waiting for them to return, I worked some more on my blog, did some reading, Duolingo and puzzles.  Jesse and Brenna returned at 2015 and were laughing when they told me their counseling had ended about 45 minutes earlier.  They confessed they'd been "watching me" (using the "find my phone" app) and knew that they had time to go grocery shopping without me realizing that they weren't still with the counselor.  Excitedly, they showed me their bags of groceries (they'd had time to shop while I was walking) - My daughter informed me that I would need to judge two different dessert offerings they planned to make for me: Brenna would make low sugar brownies from a box and Jesse would create homemade healthy "cheesecake".  At first, I told them I was uncomfortable being the middle of such a competition but Brenna insisted.  In the end, I admitted that both offerings were really good and told them it was too tough to find a winner.  In passing, I did note that Jesse had to come up with his own combinations of cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, graham crackers (etc.) - "Giddy Brenna" was definitely on display after this - she joked that she'd worked hard too.  Later, we sat together on Brenna's couch and watched YouTube selections (mostly from "Wreck it Ralph").  Meanwhile, I drank a few of Brenna's old "Twisted Teas" (they were VERY old).  We had lots of laughs but the tiredness from the morning wasn't getting any better...  Jesse finally departed at 2215 and Brenna said goodnight to me soon afterwards.  Before calling it a night myself, I read some more but finally went to bed (on Brenna's couch) at 2330.  Feeling good about the opportunity to help out my daughter, get to know her boyfriend better and spend time in cooler spring air!

Nomad Life - Day 199

After a night on Brenna's couch, I woke up early (0630 with alarm) and started teleworking.  I got to spend a little time with my daughter before she left for work (Teacher Work Day) in Harrisonburg (she departed at 0815).  Meanwhile, I stayed at her apartment to continue teleworking.  My breakfast was snacks, which I used to power through several meetings.  It was actually a rather slow work day after lunch time - I made a "Nomad Life" meal with food from my car that I prepared in Brenna's kitchen.  Despite the slowness, I continued working, with no breaks until 1700, when Brenna arrived home.  After she got ready, we departed for Shenandoah National Park (with a quick stop for gas) at 1745.  To reach the hiking trailhead I had in mind, Brenna drove east (via US-33) until we could enter the park at the Swift Run Gap entrance.  We used my lifetime "America the Beautiful" pass to get inside and then drove about 10 miles north of US-33.  We ultimately stopped at the Appalachian Trail parking lot at Milam Gap.  While exiting the car, I noticed that Brenna hadn't worn good shoes and had no coat, which was kind of surprising (because of the lower temps).  Undaunted, we left our car (1815) and started hiking towards the southeast.  Initially, this took us from the trailhead, across Skyline Drive and onto the blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail.  The whole area yielded some good memories (it was one of my first-ever AT hikes), birding opportunities (so many Eastern Towhees!) and funny photo opportunities (Brenna almost fell into a creek we crossed).  We didn't see another living soul (or animal) but continued to be mindful of the decreasing daylight.  Through it all, we got some exercise and good Daddy-Daughter time.  After turning around at the beginning of a large descent (about one mile from the car), we re-crossed Skyline Drive and walked towards the northwest on the AT.  On the west side of the road, we passed a rocky outcropping that allowed for some great sunset photos and selfies.  We ended up walking nearly another mile before turning around; we reached the car (after about 3.5 miles of walking completed) at 2000.  By then, it was nearly dark and the presence of a lot of deer nearby made both of us nervous about potential animal encounters during the return drive to Harrisonburg (this was, after all, where Brenna had actually hit a deer a few years ago).  As a precaution, Brenna drove VERY slowly on Skyline Drive, much to the chagrin of several other guests to the National Park.  Since I'm her dad, though, I was glad that she was being careful - we avoided catastrophe and were able to turn our attention to dinner plans.  This ended up being a difficult conversation because of the lateness.  Brenna insisted that we shouldn't stop anywhere that was within 30 minutes of closing (to avoid being rude to the staff) and that ruled out a lot of restaurants.  At one point, I just pointed to some fast food locations we were passing (near US-340) but Brenna rejected them ("not healthy").  Eventually, we stopped to check on a Brewery and Burger joint but learned they'd already closed (at 2000).  The place that I'd been wanting to visit (an Italian Restaurant, located near Massanutten, we'd patronized before) was actually open but the debating and (stopping at other places before we finally reached it) soured both of us on the place.  Instead, we drove into Harrisonburg and stopped at Applebee's for dinner.  We arrived at 2045 and were both relieved to find that they stayed open until 2300).  Once seated, we looked over the menu and it started yet another debate - luckily, I was able to convince Brenna to order from a "Two for $25" menu.  Despite my daughter's report that this wasn't going to be a good deal, in my opinion, the food (salads for both of is, rice and "Mexican" chicken for me, cheeseburger for Brenna) was very good.  I even had a "Hurricane" drinks (Brenna thought that was funny).  After our walk, it was nice to relax and keep talking together.  We were finally done eating at 2155 and made our way back to Brenna's apartment.  Both  of us were very tired by then so didn't linger in conversation for long.  We said goodnight at 2230 but then I got very caught up in a book I'd been reading ("Shaman") while laying on Brenna's couch and didn't actually go to bed until 0030.  It was wonderful to spend so much time with Brenna this evening! 

Nomad Life - Day 198

Another weekend day!  This morning, I was awake at 0630.  Sadly, it was raining outside and I (again) had to give up on ideas of walking on the nearby New River Trail.  Instead, I spent time reading and working on Duolingo and puzzles.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Super 8 (Fort Chiswell).  Beyond that, I worked on my blog and updated information related to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (recorded my miles and was impressed by the results).  After packing up my car, I left Fort Chiswell at 1015.  By then, the temps were 55 F and it was raining steadily,  Armed with research I'd done earlier, I drove north on I-81 (lots of crazy drivers and heavy truck traffic) until I was able to exit on to VA-177.  This route allowed me to arrive at St. Jude Catholic Church by 1100 - just in time for Easter Sunday Mass!  The church parking lot was packed and I felt very fortunately to find a seat in the back of the sanctuary (outside the glass doors).  The service featured a very young priest, lots of young families, pretty piano music (although it was unfamiliar music for each prayer), lots of altar boys and deacons, very few icons/statues.  Overall, I was impressed!  I left the church at 1200 (even though the service was still wrapping up) so I could continue north to Brenna's home.  I used VA-177 to get back to I-81.  By then, the rain had stopped while I made my way (with lots of traffic) through Salem and Roanoke.  As usual, there was the regular (annoying and nasty) truck behavior - I haven't missed this drive...  Fortunately, the number of vehicles thinned out to the north of Daleville and I had a rather easy drive (with good speeds) as I drove towards Lexington.  Even better, the sun came out from behind the thick clouds.  After a LOT of effort, I made it to an area near the I-64 merge (Staunton) that featured a lot of speed cameras.  Feeling quite hungry by that point, I stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel (1340).  Because it was Easter, there was (understandably) a long waiting list.  When I told Brenna I might be delayed (and gave my location), this led to some funny phone calls - she thought I was at the same Cracker Barrel as she was (in Harrisonburg).  I eventually got to sit down (1350) but there was a long delay for the food to arrive.  Despite these (First World) frustrations, I enjoyed a delicious meal of Hash Brown Shepherd's Pie (with a hash brown crust, pot roast meat, fewer potatoes than usual).  I also had some nice (very warm) biscuits.  The food was very rich!  Finished with my meal 1500, I drove north on I-81 until I could exit the Interstate to the south of Harrisonburg - from there, I drove a short distance (via back roads) to Brenna's.  When I arrived (1530), I found Jesse waiting to greet me (along with my daughter).  We did some visiting for a little while and then got changed and left to visit the nearby Cross Keys Battlefield.  Neither Brenna or Jesse had ever been there and I was glad to see that they enjoyed this first site contained within the Harrisonburg, Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefield parks.  From signage nearby, we learned that an important battle was fought in the area on June 8, 1862.  This conflict had significant repercussions for the Shenandoah Valley and the Peninsular Campaign (to the east).  We were treated to lots of walking on some well maintained trails - we also got pretty views of Massanutten and Shenandoah NP.  It was breezy and cooler (50s).  More importantly, though, Jesse was recovering from a long distance race (he'd competed the day before).  He was uncomfortable but was a trooper!  Next, we moved our car to the little hamlet of Port Republic, where another battle took place the following day (June 9, 1862).  In this area, we found the site of a covered bridge (burned during the battle), a cemetery that included a stone marker for a CSA soldier who died in 1862 (perhaps during the battle?).  Eventually, we moved to the area near the "Coaling", which was a tall hill that sheltered Union cannon emplacements until the guns were overrun by persistent Confederate soldiers.  We climbed to the summit of the ridge and got some very nice views of the Shenandoah Valley (and City of Harrisonburg) below.  At the base of the hill, we found a historic Episcopal Church that featured pretty Easter Decorations.  With our outdoor time completed, Jesse drove us back to town, where we visited the Capitol Ale House for dinner.  After arriving (1945) we ordered appetizers (salads, pretzel, artisanal cheese, sausage) and began to have a rather entertaining conversation about things that made Brenna laugh.  I got some local beers and later ordered a brownie dessert (Jesse and Brenna shared it with me).  We were finished at 2100 and returned to Brenna's apartment.  After a bit more visiting, we said goodbye to Jesse (he had to drive back to his home about 30 miles to the north).  In all the excitement, I  never made my step goal for Sunday (dang).  With the day coming to a close, I spent time reading and talking with Brenna.  Bed time (on Brenna's couch) finally arrived at 2330.  What a great Easter Sunday - excited to spend the week with my daughter!