Boo! I'm Here

It has been quite a while since I sat down and put some words here. Much has been happening since the last post. Natalia has been doing great and the same complaints as usual is that I do not see her as often as I would want or she would want but that is life of a single father. I spend ll my days that Natalia is with me at home as she still loves to just be home with me. The park however does have a bit more priority, so we spend a few hours every weekend in the park.

"Anything that just costs money is cheap"

- John Steinbeck

Still playing games with Natalia and getting ready for Halloween. Decorating the house and this year we decided to build a life size scarecrow and had great fun as a family project. This weekend will be great getting Natalia ready for Halloween and participating in the local activities on the mountain.

My reading has slowed down a little as I have been picking some boring books but I always get through. Rarely do I just quit a book and I did a few weeks ago being the first book of no interest. Currently read the Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy and loved continuing the stories in the universe. Also read another Steinbeck novel in Tortilla Flat and liked the setting and characters as his previous books. Went back to classic science fiction and read a HG Wells rare classic, When the Sleeper Wakes and found it pretty good. My big series, The Civil War Battle Series I finished and I will highly recommend that series to anyone. Currently back to reading Civil War fiction in The Battle of the Crater and getting through that book.

“It has always seemed strange to me...The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.”

- John Steinbeck, Cannery Row

Since my last post I have hiked San Bernardino peak but haven't been out as much as earlier this year. It has been great finding Raquel, her group and love of the outdoors and adventures. The other hikes have been more local and more adventurous lately which have been fun. The group also met up to do a local trail to Keller Peak fire tower and on this trip I brought Yuli along and another dog joined us well (Linus). That was a very fun hike and one I hope to repeat. The dogs behaved great and never tired.

I finally found a great gaming group and have made it a regular thing on Tuesdays. Some weeks just one game night is not enough and a friend and I join another group or just play a few hours 2 player games here. I look forward to game night as they get me through the week until I get to be with Natalia again.

I am still blessed and honored to still be working as part of the US Navy memorial detail and since last post have been honored to be part of 2 other "high profile" services. Sadly both tragic and heroes taken far too soon from us. The last one being one of the Las Vegas victims, an American hero was laid to rest. A very sad day for America.

Along with finding a game group another blessing has entered my life and I am finally again a bit more relaxed and look forward to the near future in hopes such blessings continue upon me that reflects from me onto others. A much welcomed feeling as lately I have been struggling.