Tomorrow - not the Beatles

For some reason, the Jim Croce song "Tomorrow's Gonna Be a Brighter Day" has been in my head.  

And tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day

There's gonna be some changes

Tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day

This time you can believe me

No more cryin' in your lonely room

And no more empty nights

'Cause tomorrow mornin' everything will turn out right

I need to get back into a routine.  All that planning for Shelley's retirement and the related stress have been out of sorts.  

I’ve been busy with yard projects, which have left me sore and tired. I’ve removed buckthorn, replaced edging, cut tree limbs, cleaned the porch, removed old landscape material, mowed the lawn, and more. My right knee hurts, and my leg spasms. I thought it was sciatica, but there’s no pain elsewhere. This discomfort has lasted weeks.

So today I woke up feeling like I was stuck in a loop. It wasn’t a terrible day, but it wasn’t exactly amazing either—just one of those gray days where time seems to drag on and nothing much happens. I went through my usual routine, ticking off tasks, but everything still felt somewhat lacking. We’ve all been there, right? When routine feels like it’s dragging us down, and we’re just craving more energy, excitement, and a sense of purpose. But here’s the thing: it’s already behind us. We can’t change what happened, so all we can do is take a moment to reflect on it and then let it go.

Each day presents new opportunities. Tomorrow may bring a minor triumph or a moment of tranquility that today lacked. The future remains uncertain. Perhaps tomorrow will be the day I establish meaningful connections, complete the project I have been postponing, or simply find a few moments to breathe deeply and smile. Anticipating a better tomorrow does not imply idleness and passive waiting. It entails believing that positive change can be achieved through effort, introspection, and perhaps a touch of fortune. It signifies waking up with determination to make tomorrow slightly better, regardless of how insignificant that glimmer of optimism may be.

I have also been concerned with my anemia.  My cardiac Physician believes my blood loss may be heart-related, since all other internal bleeding issues have been eliminated.  On June 11, I will have a 2-hour scan to see if it is heart-related.  If it is, I'm unsure what to do, and I hope they find the cause.  Seven years with no answer is way too long!

I was invited to photograph Shelley's second cousin's child's softball game. That was fun, and I am pleased with the outcome. Some images are below.

 

 Until next time, carry on my friends, carry on!.  

Mothers day and beyond

We woke up early to prepare for a hike at Twin Falls, Witts Springs, Arkansas. Leslie, Taylor, and I packed while Shelley and the kids played. The warm day made the 4/10-mile hike the limit. We left around noon, driving 90 minutes to the park. The last two miles were on a narrow gravel road, including a washboard downhill section. We were glad we used our four-wheel-drive vehicles.

When we finally got to the waterfall, wow, it was absolutely breathtaking! But, sadly, there wasn’t a spot to have a picnic, so we just settled wherever we could and soaked up the fantastic view. Taylor Deacon Sawyer and I even hiked up to the top of the falls, and guess what? I was shocked to discover that a tiny stream created the falls! The larger stream had completely dried up! It was a bit of a mystery since it had been pouring rain around there.

After an hour and 15 minutes, we decided to head back. We planned to stop for pizza in a town around 5 o’clock. Unfortunately, non-four-wheel-drive vehicles got stuck on a mogul hill while going up. It took 45 minutes to clear them and start our journey. The hill was tough and had loose gravel, and I understand why only four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for that road.

We visited Jasper Pizza Company in Jasper, Arkansas, for dinner. They had run out of pizza dough and only one pizza was left, which wasn’t enough for seven people. Shelley and Sawyer went to the bathroom and returned to inform her they had miscounted and had three pizza doughs left. We bought the three pizzas, which were okay but not the best. It was a good experience at a small, local restaurant, but I wouldn’t seek it out as an option.

We got home around 7 o'clock, and everyone was worn out. We decided it was best to call it an early night since the kids had school the next day, and Shelley and I planned to go on a sightseeing trip with Leslie.

We were up by 7 o'clock because the kids needed to get to school on Monday. We took the kids to school while Taylor and I stayed back. Taylor worked, and I focused on the images I captured over the weekend. Once they returned around 9 o'clock, Shelley, Leslie, and I headed to War Eagle Mill. It's a unique site and worth the trip, but you only need to see it once.

After returning from the mill, we packed bicycles and snacks, picked up the kids from school, and headed to Gully Park for biking and play. Later, we went to City Park Restaurant which had a unique setting with a large pavilion, restaurant, and tables. Upon arrival, patrons scanned a QR code to access the menu, start a tab, and place orders. Efficiently managed by a staff member, the restaurant allowed patrons to keep tabs open and order throughout the meal, closing them when ready to leave. This innovative approach reduced labor costs and enabled phased ordering.

Following dinner, we proceeded home, where I meticulously packed our belongings for the morning departure. We are all experiencing fatigue after three consecutive days of festivities and shared enjoyment. Earlier in the day, I had mentioned that Jordan’s childhood film was “Rock Doodle,” prompting them to start watching it. At 8:30 PM, approximately 20 minutes remained in the movie, and they deemed it prudent for the children to retire to bed. Consequently, we retired to our accommodations, obtained a restful night’s sleep, and prepared to embark on our return journey on Monday.

We’re up bright and early at 6 o’clock, and I’m busy packing the car while the kids get ready for school. By 7:30, they’re off to school, and Shelley and I head home. It’s a pretty long drive—about 10 hours—but the weather’s been so lovely, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble. We arrive home around 5 PM, and we’re both extremely tired after unloading the car and attending to a few things that needed our attention while we were away. We’ve got to hit the hay! It’s the end of Shelley’s first retirement vacation, and I’m not sure if she’s ready for another one anytime soon.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Vacation continues

On Friday, we got up bright and early at 7:30 AM. Sadly, we didn’t get a great night’s sleep because the room was warm and the bed was super soft. By 8:30 AM, we were all packed up, and Judy whipped up a yummy breakfast of eggs, potatoes, fruit, and rye toast. It was absolutely delicious!

At 10:30 AM we headed to Fayetteville. There was little traffic until we reached Bentonville, where we faced about 4 miles of slow-moving vehicles. Just after 2:00 PM, we stopped at Lake Fayettville Park to explore the area and the bike trail around the lake. Although it was just over a five-mile ride around the lake, there were very few waterfront views, and it was hilly!

We got to Leslie’s around 3:50 PM, right when Deacon hopped off the bus. I unpacked and had a blast playing with Deacon while Shelley and Leslie went to grab Sawyer and Leighton from school. We even built a marble run tower that was taller than him, but it took a tumble before I could snap a picture!

The kids were thrilled to have us both there and immediately started building with blocks and playing games inside. After an hour, Taylor prepared some brats for dinner, which turned out to be quite tasty. For dessert, there were Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Almond Ice Cream Bars and cookies.

After dinner, the kids dashed outside to kick a soccer ball and bat a baseball. I even took a quick 20-minute break to be the ultimate tickle monster, which totally wore me out! By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, we were all beat and decided to call it a night. Taylor, however, stayed up a bit longer to catch the Razorback vs. LSU baseball game, which was delayed by four hours.

I was up at 5:30 AM, struggling to fall asleep. Leslie was awake, and we chatted until 7:00 AM when everyone else was up. I suggested we visit the Rolling Pin Cafe, a small local breakfast spot. Established in 1993 by Gayle Teague, the cafe serves Southern favorites. Leslie and the kids loved it, and when we arrived, the kids knew what they wanted—outstanding biscuits with sausage gravy. Sawyer also loved the biscuits with chocolate gravy.

After breakfast, we visited the Fayetteville Farmers Market, a popular destination for both locals and visitors. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023! As the oldest farmers market in Arkansas, it has over 70 vendors each season. All vendors are carefully screened and must source or produce their items within a 60-mile radius of Fayetteville. It’s a truly hyper-local market offering a variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, cheeses, fresh-cut flowers, baked goods, honey, and jams. We picked up some sourdough cookies, which were unique and very sweet.

The Farmers Market covers four blocks surrounding the beautifully landscaped town square.

 

When we returned, we were tired and needed some rest, although Grammy took a quick Pokémon class from Deacon. I was excited for the SEC Softball final between Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but it was canceled due to rain. The rest of the day was spent playing baseball and other games.

For dinner, Taylor made smoked bologna. I had never tried it before, and it was pretty tasty. We consumed it like a burger with lettuce, mayo, and tomato on a bun.

Smoked Balogna

It was 9:00 PM when we all were ready to call it a day. Shelley had been working nonstop, and she really needed a break! She exclaimed that this was a perfect example of why she needed a week of rest after spending so much time with the Grammys.

Carry on my friends!

Vacation

This is the first official trip for two retirees, as Shelley retired on Friday, May 2. We had planned to leave at 6:00 AM and drive to Arkansas. However, Leslie (Shelley’s daughter) called last evening and said Sawyer (the 4-year-old) had the flu, so we reevaluated our plans in case the entire family got sick, and visiting wouldn't be wise. 

After waking up and packing, we left for the High Trestle Trail in Iowa. Later, we planned to visit Judy, Shelley's longtime friend, in Kansas City. By then, we would have information about Leslie's family health condition and decide whether to go there on Friday or return home.

We hit the road by 7:45 AM, with clear skies and a temperature of 60 degrees. It was wonderful weather for a drive and a bike ride. Since we aren't using E-bikes and Shelley isn't a strong rider, we decided to ride three miles on each side of the high trestle bridge, starting in Madrid, Iowa, and heading west to Woodward, Iowa.

The drive to Madrid was longer than it would have been since we had stopped to see Slater, Iowa. It's a typical farm town of 1,500 residents that experienced significant growth in the 1970s and has remained largely unchanged since then. It has a charming downtown, but many storefronts are vacant. The town features an animal hospital and veterinary clinic, a market, a gift shop, a real estate office, a bike shop, an auto repair shop, a coffee shop, and a bar and grill.

We arrived in Madrid at 11:00 AM and hit the trail by 11:20 AM. The trail is a smooth concrete path that goes through two small tunnels and passes an old mine shaft before covering the 2.25 miles to the High Trestle Bridge. It’s a sight to see and might make some people anxious. Shelley said she felt like she was looking through a kaleidoscope, and the height was quite noticeable. In the evening, they light up the panels, creating an impressive sight based on images found online.

Shelley is riding across the High Trestle Bridge

On the bridge

Bikes are mounted on poles to see the Bike crossing.

Retirement is good!

Access to an old mine

We continued to Woodward, where a campground was next to the Whistlin’ Donkey bar and grill. It was a great spot to share a sandwich for lunch before heading back to Madrid. We also noticed that all the street crossings had bicycles on poles to mark them. That was unique! We returned to Madrid around 2:00 PM. The ride was about 11 miles, and Shelley was tired. We averaged about 9 miles per hour.

Great place for lunch - Whistlin Donkey

We decided to drive to Kansas City and stay with Shelley's friend Judy. The trip was mostly smooth, except for Interstate 35 in Missouri, which is the worst I have ever seen. It's almost like a washboard, since the repair work is handled by a company that specializes in something other than road repairs! There were no traffic problems, and we arrived shortly after 6:00 PM. 

Judy had choir practice, so we unloaded the car and went to Talk of the Town Grill and Bar. The food was average at best, but it was enough for a decent dinner. It's not a place I would look for, but it's convenient.

We got back to Judy’s around 8:30 PM and were both tired. Since Judy won't be home until after 10:00 PM, we decided that sleep was the best option!

Carry on my friends!

She retires

May 2, 2025 was the date Shelley decided to retire. She said she didn't want a party because "nobody would come." She expressed that dinner with me the night she retired was all she needed. She craved a Lobster Roll at Smack Shack. Despite that, I still arranged some surprises to celebrate the occasion.

First, I contacted Judith, her high school friend, with whom she has kept close contact her entire life. I verified she could make the trip from Kansas City to surprise her on Shelley's retirement day and meet us at Smack Shack.

I also reached out to Shelley's daughters, Allison and Leslie, regarding the idea of surprising her at the restaurant. This would be challenging since Allison has four young children and Leslie has three. Luckily, everything fell into place, and they booked flights to arrive at 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2.  

With that plan in place, I organized a surprise gathering at the house on May 3 at noon. Judith is an outstanding baker, and she volunteered to make the cake. I was stressing over the food options when my friend Carolyn, who is the best at hosting social gatherings, offered to help. She said, "Londell, I love doing this when spending other people's money." So, we headed to Costco, and after spending $300, we were ready for her to prepare the food for Saturday.

Leslie and Allison would take Shelley for massages in the morning so I could prepare for the party. Shelley knew North Dakota State was playing St. Thomas in St. Paul at noon on Friday, so keeping the party last minute planning a secret was easy!

I also found out she had a work party at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30. They held it two days early because Wednesday is when most people are in the office. I reached out to Lana and Dada, her two closest friends at work, and asked them to help gather farewell videos for me to compile for her to see and keep as a keepsake. It was quite challenging to coordinate collecting the videos while managing Shelley's suspicion with a flurry of text messages during the process of creating the video.

I finished the video and arrived at Shelley's office at 1:30 p.m. When she returned from the restroom, she was surprised to see Dada (her co-worker) and I sitting there. She was even more surprised when I explained what we did and showed her the video. The video can be viewed here. Surprise, one accomplished!

The next surprise arrived on Friday. I had been running on fumes because my sleep was heavily disrupted by all the "white lies" I needed to tell Shelley to keep the surprises secret. On Friday, I attended the first of three games between North Dakota State and St. Thomas in St. Paul at noon. Shelley had to go to the office to return all the work items. However, she found it difficult to leave. I thought she would leave by 10:00 a.m., but it was closer to 1:30 p.m. before she could bring herself to go, one last time. She decided that a stroll through Fort Snelling State Park would be a perfect way to start her retreat.

Goodbye, bagel at the office!

Post retired in the park.

 

Since she took a 90-minute walk, I grabbed the last-minute supplies and got home, which allowed me to hide the party items.

Since I didn't want her best friend and daughters to meet at the same time at the restaurant and turn it into two separate surprises, I had Judith and her friend Tony arrive at our house at 4:30 p.m., and we planned to carpool to Smack Shack. When Judith arrived, I told Shelley it looked like another siding, roofing, or window salesman was coming to the door, and I didn't want to answer it. Shelley said to ignore it, but I told her they saw me.

Shelley was all revved up to tell them she was uninterested, and when she opened the door, she was speechless! Bingo, surprise, two went off without an issue! Shelley was in tears of joy. Did not expect that to happen.

Judith and Tony surprise Shelley

The next issue is why a table for six was reserved when we arrived at Smack Shack. Shelley's Uncle Bill (Neil) contacted me earlier in the day about Saturday's party. Shelley might have seen my phone, so I covered the extra two seats by asking Bill and his wife, Pat, to join us for dinner. While Shelley did not yell at me, she expressed disappointment because she wanted to spend time with Judy. It was a perfect way to cover for the table of six.  

We arrived and were seated at the table. Judith chose the seat I needed Shelley to sit in to hide Allison and Leslie's arrival. They all looked at me oddly when I arranged the seating, but they followed. When they arrived, Shelley was so excited. The video LINKED HERE says it all!  Surprise three, achieved!

Once Shelley regained her composure, we enjoyed the company and dinner. After two hours, we would head home and have an outdoor fire, but the temperature was below 50 degrees. So, we stayed inside and queued up the second congratulation video I made with friends and family. The first video she saw on Wednesday featured only co-workers. I did need to leave three people out of the video she saw on Friday because they mentioned the party. They were added to the final video, which can be seen at this link.  So far, three successful surprises and one more to go.

I arranged to take my sister to the airport on Saturday at 6:00 a.m., which gave me time to pick up last-minute supplies for the party. I got home around 8:30 and prepared breakfast for Shelley, Leslie, and Allison so they could get ready to leave. I was working with a very TIGHT schedule. I had less than 120 minutes to clean the house and prepare for the party! Luckily, Judith (who decided not to get a massage) and Tony helped out, or I would have failed. Judith can make things look much more presentable than a North Dakota farm boy (me).

We were all ready by noon, and people were arriving, but Shelley was not. She was taking her time and was 20 minutes late for the surprise. Unfortunately, it wasn't a perfect surprise event. Just as she stepped out of her car, her cousin pulled into his driveway. Since they rarely see each other, she sensed something was going on. Oh well, it was a lovely gathering that she thoroughly enjoyed. Shelley looked at me and asked if there were any more surprises. I apologized for all the misleading details to keep the surprises, but this was the last one!

The spread!

Family members - rare to see all in the same room

The way we felt after it was over

Closed Saturday with a fire

 

So, it was a success. I was exhausted! Setting up three huge surprises and keeping them a secret took more work over five weeks than I had expected. It finally happened once she joined me in the retirement world!

Until next time, carry on my friends!

Follow the runners

Today, I had the chance to support and take photos of my son and his fiancée during their first 50 K run. It was the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 50 K challenge.  The Bull City Running Company, a local running store, hosts the race. It's a smaller event with about 100 participants and is very well organized.

They woke up at 5:00 AM to head to the race while I cared for Lulu (the dog). When they reached mile 13, I went to the race site, about 40 minutes away, to cheer them on for the second half. I managed to meet them four times before the race ended. At the first stop, Kira was in third place. They were averaging about 30 seconds per mile faster on the return of the out-and-back course, averaging about 10:24 per mile going out and well under 10 minutes per mile coming back.

They finished with an official time of 5 hours, 29 minutes, and 9 seconds, averaging 10 minutes, 21 seconds per mile. Kira finished second, and Jordan ranked in the top 15. It was a great run for both of them!

It was a fun day.  Carry on my friends!

A few days away, I needed that!

Given that Jordan and Kira are currently home and I am responsible for caring for the dog over the weekend, a brief excursion could provide a refreshing respite from my customary routine. I departed Cary on Tuesday at 10:00 AM and embarked on a journey to Hanging Rock State Park. Throughout the day, I engaged in hiking and photography activities within the park before subsequently lodging at a hotel in Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Since I arrived in Mount Airy before sunset, I walked downtown to explore the sights. Gaining fame as the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith and the supposed inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in the "Andy Griffith Show," Mount Airy has capitalized on its connection to the series. It hosts annual events like Mayberry Days and attractions such as Floyd's Barber Shop and the Andy Griffith Museum. The University of Greensboro estimated that the local impact of these attractions brings in about $5 million each year.

Floyd's is still open.

Wally's Service

I was exhausted from all the walking and climbing, and even though the Comfort Inn, Mount Airy had a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE bed, I was able to get some sleep. The hotel was also very dated and not in the best location. I woke up at 6:30 AM and tried to get much-needed rest without any success. I decided to get breakfast and head out for more sightseeing.

After breakfast, I went to HB Rowe Environmental Park, which was established in 2010. It was a letdown compared to what I expected from their website. It's a nice place for a walk, but it’s pretty similar to most parks in larger cities. After a quick walk, I hit the road to Pilot Mountain.

Pilot Mountain State Park was a fantastic place to visit. It offers stunning views and easy trails. Spending half a day there and having a nice picnic would be simple. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

After Pilot Mountain, Bethabara Historic Park in Winston-Salem, NC, was the next stop. This was another letdown after reading the website. After less than 20 minutes, I headed to the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden and the Bog Garden at Benjamin Park in Greensboro, NC. This area is perfect for a full day of leisurely strolling, lunch, and relaxation. It is well-maintained and offers a wide variety of activities and peaceful spots. However, I visited during off-peak hours on a Wednesday. I assume weekends are overcrowded and might take away much of the tranquility I enjoyed. Here are some images to give a sense of the beauty. 

By the time I finished walking the Bog, it was time to head to Chapel Hill, where I was going to grab dinner at Time Out Restaurant before heading to the Eastern Carolina vs. the University of North Carolina softball game. It was a phenomenal game that went 9 innings, with NC beating ECU 6 to 5.

It was a great two days!  Carry on my friends!