I’d mentioned earlier in the spring that Kim picks up two new hanging ferns every year so the birds can nest in them. This one has had two separate momma birdies choose it to birth and care for their young this year.

And yes, that’s a lot of poop! 🤣

Three baby birds in their nest.

Today’s leg of the trip takes us from Forrest City, Arkansas, to Elk City, Oklahoma.

Short jaunt.

Day One: Charlottesville to Forrest City

Day one in the books.

We pulled into Forrest City, Arkansas, at 8:30PM CST, so it was 9:30 in Charlottesville.

That comes to 14.5 hours of driving, including breaks for gas, food, and other things. Approximately 718 miles, or 1,155 kilometers.

We’re both pooped out. This is the longest day of the trip. Tomorrow will be quite a bit shorter but still productive.

Good night.

This is our little chipmunk friend, Chippy. He’s been around for at least three years now and he’s super cute.

I love watching him run around the yard. Recently I thought the little fella moved away. He didn’t, he just moved to the back yard!

It’s difficult to see but there’s a chipmunk in the center of the picture, sitting on a rock, in front of a wooden post. Its name is Chippy!It’s difficult to see but there’s a chipmunk in the center of the picture, sitting on a rock, in front of a wooden post. Its name is Chippy!

We have a little bunny visiting our back yard. Cute little dude.

Green grass with a little rabbit centered in the photo.

Got a little helper.

Green lawn (weeds really!) with a little red frog.

Good thing my fingers don’t need to read the keys to do their job.

Keyboard with some keys missing part or all of their letters.

Kim made this for me in 2002.

A large plate with a blue outer rim, lettering that reads Grill King in training…, and chili peppers on it.

Random shot of my desk. It’s always a complete mess.

In the shot we have a 3D printed Apple in six colors, an AirTag engraved R💀B, a Diet Pepsi, my Visio 1.0 tombstone, a mouse cable, a little red fridge, an empty protein shake box, and some candles in the background. 🤣

In the shot we have a 3D printed Apple in six colors, an AirTag engraved R💀B, a Diet Pepsi, my Visio 1.0 tombstone, a mouse cable, a little red fridge, an empty protein shake box, and some candles in the background. 🤣

Standing guard.

A little gnome standing guard in a flower pot.

Random, but I haven’t posted a picture of my surgically replaced left knee in a long time. It works so well now and the scar is barely visible. For me it was an excellent decision.

Now I’m waiting for the right one to completely fall apart. 🤣

Picture of my left knee with a long vertical scar.

Our Magnolia is very happy. My Mom had a Magnolia and when I see one I think of her.

A Magnolia blossom. White pedals with green leaves behind it.

It’s beautiful outside today. The current temperature is 86F(30C) but it doesn’t feel that hot in the shade with a slight breeze.

I’m on our back deck enjoying a beer and our beautiful blue sky.

Picture of trees with a blue sky and a few white clouds.

I haven’t had a beer in quite a while. Flying Dog’s Double Dog really hits the spot. Big flavor.

Cheers! 🍻

Picture of a Flying Dog Double Dog IPA with a flag and some vegetation in the background.

Doing yard work was not exactly how I wanted to spend my final day of vacation, but here we are, doing yard work.

I want to retire so bad. A week and a couple days off did nothing for my burnout except make me want more time off. 😃

I’m buying a Power Ball ticket next time I’m at the store. 🤣

Kim’s hydrangea is pretty happy.

A blue hydrangea.Hydrangea blossom cluster

Random East Coast Observation

In California we lived at the base of the Sierra Nevada. Right behind Exeter sits a hill called Rocky Hill.

In Virginia they would refer to that as a mountain.

We refer to it as a foothill. Those foothills get ever taller as you drive deeper into them until you’re into the Sierra Nevada.

Folks have never been west if hills are mountains to them.

The Sierra Nevada is extremely impressive.

Don’t take that as a slight. It’s what people know growing up here.

The Appalachian’s are also very impressive and I wish I had the stamina and time to hike the entire 2,000+ miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Looks like the cicadas are venturing out. I’ve seen a few now. Mostly a bunch of exuviae laying around outside.

But Kim found this dude outside.

Picture of a CicadaCicada picture close up.

Microsoft Offers Voluntary Retirement

Tom Warren ⦁ The Verge

US employees whose combined years of service added to their age totals 70 or more will be eligible for voluntary retirement, and Coleman says this will include “generous company support.” It’s not clear if this is a precursor to more layoffs at Microsoft, but it certainly looks like a method to avoid a bigger round of layoffs ahead of Microsoft’s new financial year in July.

Emphasis is mine. If I’d stayed around Microsoft until now I’d be able to retire. Take my 58 years plus another 30 years of employment (if I’d stayed) and I’d be taking that offer. 😄

Microsoft Cash Cow.My first go round with Visio was in 1993, I left for a spell and returned in May of 1996. Visio was acquired in November of 2001 and I left in August 2003 because I was a remote employee and Microsoft “moved” my job location to Redmond. I took the severance package.

First time seeing one of these in the wild. 😃

Things are starting to get really happy around here.

A gardenia blossom.I can’t recall what these are called. They look like carnations but they’re not. &10;&10;Beautiful two tone pink flowers with a grey green stem.

Beautiful day out. ☀️

Perfect for doing yard work.

Picture of the sky between trees.

Our Dogwood’s are extremely happy.

Picture of a Dogwood tree with beautiful white blossoms.

Ms. Gracie, living her best life.

OMG! My favorite IPA ever is back! 😍

Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA!

An image of Firestone Walker's Double Jack IPA.