Drifted Notes

AJ took AE to a grief camp in the Dallas area.  It was good to have a break from AE and AJ and I know that he had a good time. Since I was not there, I dont have much to say about it.

AJ and I went to Fredericksburg this weekend. We got in Friday night and settled into our Airbnb. On Saturday mid-morning, we jumped on a wine tour bus that took us all over the area, stopping at different wineries. It was a great time, and I enjoyed getting to see more of the town and the surrounding area.

The only downside was that AJ had a little too much to drink. When we got back to the Airbnb, she ended up falling asleep, and I could not get her to wake up for dinner. We missed our evening plans, but it happens. We all live and learn, and I know next time we will pace things a little differently.

AJ and I needed a little getaway for a few days, so we headed down to Austin to see what the nightlife was like. It turned out to be just an okay time. Honestly, the whole scene felt like it was geared toward a much younger crowd.

One thing that stood out was how judgmental people seemed about the way we dressed. We went into a nice restaurant close to our hotel that looked good from the outside, but the way we were treated was disappointing. Because we were in everyday clothes, the service was poor, and the server acted like we didn’t belong there. His attitude only changed when it was time to pay.

By then, the damage was done. Instead of my normal 20% tip, I only left 1%. When he asked why, I told him plainly: treat everyone who walks in the door with respect. If he had done that, he would have gotten the 20% without question.

Nothing really stood out this weekend.  AJ, AS, AE and I went to Sea World in San Antonio.  I am just documenting that we went.

For Thanksgiving this year, we decided not to celebrate in the traditional way. Holidays are hard for AJ and me, so instead we chose to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. AJ, AS, AE, and I made the drive from Texas, and it turned out to be one of the hardest trips I have ever been on.

AS had just come home from the Marine Corps, and it is always great having him around. But AE does not do well in the car for long distances, and the two days of driving tested everyone’s patience. AJ had not been able to get his meds renewed in time, so there were many stretches where he went without them. That meant lots of impulse issues and constant shrieking, which drove everyone crazy after hours on the road.

By the time we checked into the Airbnb on day two, we were already worn down. On day three, we finally made it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was incredible to see, and we managed to get some great photos, but AE continued to act out and not listen. Between the challenges on the drive and the behavior at the park, we cut the trip short and decided to head home the next day.

The drive back took another two days, and during that time AS and I agreed that I will not be taking AE on long road trips again. AS even said he will never go on another if AE is along. That might sound harsh, but after this experience, I understand his point.

We got back home on Thanksgiving Day. As much as the trip had been a struggle, we were thankful to be back. On the way home, we picked up a turkey and all the sides, and we managed to have a Thanksgiving meal after all. I was very thankful the grocery store was open

AS got out of the Marine Corps today. I wish his mom was here to see this, because I know she would be very happy. It feels strange to think back to when he was younger, and now to see the man he has become. Watching him leave home at such a young age and then grow through the experience has been something to witness. I am a proud dad, and I know if his mom were still here, she would be just as proud.

During this time, AJ and I went on our first No Destination trip. We left Texas and headed north to South Dakota. We didn’t have anything on the agenda except to see National Parks, and the only plan we had was the date we needed to be back home.

The first couple of days were spent traveling from Texas to South Dakota. Our first stop was Badlands National Park. Looking back, I don’t think we gave it enough time, so I plan to go back one of these years to really explore it more. We did take a helicopter tour over the park, and that gave us a sense of its size—it is massive. At first, I did not realize just how big it was, especially since we only found two trailheads from the road.

From there, we headed to Piedmont, South Dakota. We tried to go to Wind Cave, but it was closed and there were no tours available, so we went on to Mount Rushmore. We ended up taking another helicopter tour around it and were able to see everything from the air. After that, we went to Custer State Park, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. I wish I had taken more pictures there.

We spent a few days in the area with one of AJ’s friends, KH, before driving out to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. Instead of waiting two hours to park, we stopped at the base and hiked up. That hike was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys hiking. The different views along the way gave us an experience you would never get by just parking in the lot.

From there, we drove to Colorado, went on the zip line over the Royal Gorge, and then made our way back home.

It was such an amazing trip that AJ and I promised each other we would continue this tradition every year.

This weekend we went to a family reunion for AJ’s side of the family. It was a really good time, and the cabins where we stayed were very nice. I did end up accidentally calling AJ by VS’s name once, and of course it happened right in front of her entire family. I was a little embarrassed, but honestly, what do you expect? It was bound to happen at least once, especially when you have two widowed people dating.

Other than that moment, everything went really well, and it turned out to be a great weekend.

Over the weekend AJ, AE, and I went camping at The Arrowhead – Tawakoni Tipi Resort with BA, LA, and their family. It was an okay time overall, but one thing really got to me. AE kept playing in the fire, putting a long piece of metal in and using it to burn things and even people. AJ was not doing anything about it, and it went on for two nights. By the second night, I had enough. I ended up leaving very early in the morning just to get away while they stayed behind to explore other areas.

When I got home, I discovered that AE had broken something in the house. I sent a photo of it to AJ, and her response was that they would just not be spending much time at my house and to pack up their things. I really thought at that point she was breaking up with me. So I packed up all of their belongings and took them over to her place. By then, she had already moved out of her apartment and was living closer to me, so it did not take long to drop everything off.

When AJ got home, she was surprised to see all of their things stacked in her living room. She was confused as to why I did that, and I explained that I thought she was breaking up with me. Looking back, I realize we should have communicated more, because that was not the case.

AJ and I went to San Antonio this weekend for my birthday, and BA and LA met us there. We ate at Dick’s Bar and Grill, which was a fun experience, and then visited the Alamo before walking around the area to take in the sights. The River Walk had its usual energy, and it was nice just being out, enjoying the day and the company.

All in all, it was a really good weekend and a great way to spend my birthday.