We thought it would be fun to just hang out rather than rush to do things. Additionally, the local area is emptied as people rush to cabins ‘up north’ and other vacation destinations for one last long weekend of 2025. The Mackinaw Bridge is closed on Monday for the annual bridge walk.
I rose at 6:30, but I didn’t manage to make more than a cup of coffee in the first thirty minutes. I finally found some focus and started writing and recalling the events of Friday (now I am recalling Saturday). It was the month-end, and I updated my balances for my IRA now at US Bank’s Wealth Management folks. And I know that you do not always get a positive return, but goodness, it is nice to book increases that were higher than my expenses, by far. I have just a few dividends and interest, besides this IRA, for my retirement (plus the value of my house, which is also appreciating, but I expect that bubble to burst sooner or later).
I believe I have enough, though you are never really sure, and I will apply for Social Security next year. My biggest challenge over the next four years will be healthcare, which the Trump administration has not made easier. Also, the DOGE cuts to the Social Security Administration could mean that the SSA will be unable to accept my application. Next year could be exciting (and expensive).
But putting aside all the money, I was able to dress, have breakfast in the lobby, and publish the blog. Deborah joined me for breakfast at the hotel, and then we spent the morning together. We decided to pick up Deborah’s car (she was still using the loaner) and then try The Corner, a gaming and food place in Ferndale.
After gassing up the borrowed Mini Cooper, washing off some bugs and bird incidents, we dropped off the car and got Deborah’s hot blue Mini Cooper. We parked it and put two hours on the virtual meter, and walked into The Corner. Deborah’s order of a breakfast pizza went sideways; they replaced it and did not charge her for it. I had chicken with a biscuit that was excellent.
Trekking: The National Parks was a game that Deborah was considering, and we found it in their collection (they have a convenient list accessible by QR code). We looked at another game, and although highly rated, it seemed like a game with layers of rules, and I thought we could learn and finish Trekking in the time.
As it was our first play, we had a few misplays, but soon Deborah’s and my meeple were trekking all over the map of the USA. We enjoyed the map and the rules, and the gameplay flowed smoothly. It was a fun race-style game, and Deborah crushed me by ten points! Next time!
Deborah had a few things to take care of, and I was fading with the time change. I got a nap at the hotel, and Deborah and I reconnected a few hours later. We decided to try the new movie Nobody 2, although neither of us had seen the first one. We bought tickets and then headed to dinner. It was awful with us not getting the dim sum menu, which looked excellent. I will not, as it is unfair in this setting, name the place. But next time, we will get the dumplings and like them.
The movie was enjoyable and had the right balance of comic book-like violence and humor. We laughed through it. In the story, they did ‘build memories’; it was some unusual vacation memories, including grandpa blowing up the water park. Setting your expectations to just fun, the movie is recommended.
I was fading again, my body and mind confused at the time, and I was ready to sleep. Deborah dropped me off. I was asleep, just lying on the bed, soon. I rose, put on my PJs, and soon could not sleep. I seemed to fade in and out, and then sleep overtook me. Morning came too soon!
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