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Five Days

We’ll be leaving for our trip to the Midwest this Friday after work, hoping to be on the road around 4:00-ish. We’re planning on driving in to Liberal, KS, about six hours away, then finishing the trip Saturday, another ten hours or so, into Ottumwa.

I’ll be meeting a pair of Brandy’s friends when we get up there. I’ve heard some crazy stories about her friends already; I can only imagine how bonkers it’s going to be with the three of them together.

We’ll be in Iowa until next Tuesday, the 21st, then we’ll head out to Dyersville for the Field of Dreams movie site, then the Farm Toy Museum before heading out to Rankin, IL. The protracted baseball season makes its very delayed debut on Thursday so David and I will have that to keep us occupied.

We’ll stay in Illinois until Friday, Getting us home from the 2 day drive on Saturday evening.

We’re going to be in the car for a long time on our trip, but each of us getting to see friends that we haven’t seen in a while will be nice.

I’m going to do my best to keep better notes of where we go and what we do so my post-trip write up will be more accurate and detailed than my recollection of our trip to Colorado. Hopefully I’ll have the recap up before August 1. But no promises. 🙂

Until then, I leave you with a word from Nicholas Sparks memoir Three Weeks With My Brother:

“Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work’s important, family’s important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’s coming.”

-Phil

Is This Heaven?

No. It’s Iowa.

On the agenda for our next trip is a trip to Iowa to see Brandy’s parents.  On our way out of Iowa, we’re going to swing through Dyersville, home of the Field of Dreams movie site. 

Carved out of the corn fields of the century-old Lansing farm, the site holds the diamond where the 1989 Academy Award nominated movie was filmed.  Since then, the site has become a tourist attraction, including the farmhouse, which offers tours daily.

(more…) “Is This Heaven?”

Almont, CO

And the surrounding areas

June 4-8, 2020

The Western Slope of Colorado is a region that contains many counties and much of the water that can be found in the state. Nestled in the Western Slope is Gunnison County, home of Gunnison, Almont and Crested Butte, CO.

Admittedly, I’d never heard of these places before I met Brandy. She’s a fan though and we went on our first major “couples trip” last weekend.

(more…) “Almont, CO”

Planned Trip: Rankin, IL, July 22-25

Before I go into my planned trip, I’m happy to say that my permanent pass for the Air Force Base is ready and I’ll be picking it up in the next day or two.

Secondly, I’m going to say, I love working for Presbyterian. Despite losing money by the elimination of elective surgeries during the COVID crisis, they’ve continued to pay all of their employees even if there’s no work for them (caveats included though.)

(more…) “Planned Trip: Rankin, IL, July 22-25”

Goings On and What’s to Come

Since my last trip, a lot has happened, yet simultaneously, not a lot has happened.

On February 29, I met Brandy. Her and I have so much in common, but yet we are such completely different people. I quickly realized though that this is a woman that I am madly in love with. She brings out the best in me and for that, I am forever thankful.

(more…) “Goings On and What’s to Come”

Quarantine Breakout! Planned Trip: Crested Butte, CO, June 4-8

I met my partner, Brandy, on February 29, 2020. Before that, I’d never even heard of Crested Butte, Colorado. She had spent some time living there though and absolutely loves it. She has apparel, pictures in her (our) house, she talks about it constantly. In fact, she had an annual trip planned with her mother for shortly after I met her.

Then came the COVID.

(more…) “Quarantine Breakout! Planned Trip: Crested Butte, CO, June 4-8”

Thanks, COVID…

As we sail through the month of March under social distancing and stay at home orders, getting out to see the sights I’ve sought has been impossible.

But fear not! My plans and desires persist and shall not fail! I’ve had some developments recently that will allow me to travel more, more frequently, and to farther away than I initially was seeking.

As we move through this scary time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must remain optimistic and look forward to the time when we can travel, eat, and shop freely. Those days are within our grasp. I promise.

Until then, continue dreaming of that great horizon.

-Phil

Belen, NM

February 15, 2020

Belen, New Mexico, was settled in 1740 and incorporated as a city in 1918. Its proximity to the geographic center of New Mexico earned the city the nickname “Hub City” and Belen became a centralized transportation hub including access to rail, interstate highways and air travel.

As a main stop on the AT&SF railroad, Belen was home to one of the many Harvey Houses throughout the country. Many of the Harvey Houses were torn down or lost to fires or floods, but the city of Belen made effort to restore their Harvey House and reopen it as a museum.

(more…) “Belen, NM”