FALLING IN REVERSE LIVE IN NYC AT MSG ON 6-23-2023

Now that the Iowa Casino Tour 2023 is over, I can shift my attention to the following concert happening on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Cedar Rapids that I am attending with Alex & Hannah:

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This is the schedule: 

General Doors: 5:30 p.m.
Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - Catch Your Breath
7:15 p.m. - Underoath
8:05 p.m. - Ice Nine Kills
9:25 p.m. - Falling in Reverse

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https://youtu.be/ lxGh4BZ81yY - FALLING IN REVERSE LIVE IN NYC AT MSG ON 6.23.23

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Blokus

Alex, Hannah, Karen, and I played a game called Blokus. I need to review what other players use as a strategy to play this gane as I didn't play well. I found this link: Strategy for Blokus

Speaking at the Wedding

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https://youtu.be/7QK1WxYTNU8

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Ditching the Cell Phone

I'm not going to have my cell phone with me when Alex and Hannah get married on June 25, 2022, which is a short 10 days! To wit, I am including the content of this article: 13 small ways to ditch your phone and live more in the moment

1. I removed the apps for Facebook and Instagram from my phone and enabled two-step authentication on my Facebook account. Now I have to access those sites via a web browser, and it's a nuisance. This helps me because before it was too easy to get to the content. Now I think twice if I want to go through the pain of verifying my credentials. — Rob Wittman
2. I unfollowed nearly all non-family Facebook friends. Now I still see family photos and keep in touch with long-distance friends, but spend a small fraction of the time I used to on Facebook. — Mary Biddle
3. When I make a plan for [true] human face-time, my phone isn't invited to join. It stays on silent in my purse. We eat, we walk, we go to the movies — we don't need a third wheel. — Talora Michal
4. I noticed a pattern of friends and family posting things online, and then us not having much to talk about when we would visit each other in person. You'd already seen all their vacation photos, where they were, who they were with, what they ate, right? So I went cold turkey and got rid of all social media platforms entirely. I experienced some serious FOMO at first, but now I don't even notice the difference. It's an opportunity to reach out more personally to family and friends to see what's new in their life, and for them to reach out to me more, too. — Taylor Seale
5. For years I used to wake up in the middle of the night to look at or answer a text or email. I realized my quality of sleep and quality of life were being affected, so now I keep the phone in a completely different room when I go to bed. — Stuart Sutton
6. I'm starting to keep a list of random things that come to mind throughout the day that make me want to run to the computer to find the answers. So rather than running to the computer throughout the day, I save it for one session. — Charlene Gaubis
7. If I want to be untethered, I leave my phone and a note that says where I'm going by the front door. That way, my family is aware I don't have my phone and has an idea where to look if needed. — Linda
8. As I teach my teenage daughters how to drive, I test them on landmarks and street names in our neighborhood. Rather than dangerously reaching for a phone to search for directions, hopefully, they will instinctively know how to get around phone-free. If they take a wrong turn on the way to the mall, it may add 10 minutes to their drive, but they will learn not to take that route the next time. — Greta Bailey
9. I keep envelopes addressed to my favorite friends ready to go. That way I can send some letters to brighten mailboxes for no reason whatsoever. — Stafford Wood
10. I keep a small stack of 3-by-5-inch notecards on my desk with a pen, pencil and a little wooden carrying tray. Any thought, no matter how wild or rational, is written down. Any emotion, whether good or bad, is written down. It helps keep me focused and engaged with the writing medium, and if I need to draw something or sketch, it's right there! This helps me keep tabs on my feelings without being fully distracted from whatever I was doing. — Nathan Venturini
11. My husband and I are trying to decrease phone and internet use. One strategy we're using is to wear watches. (He wears his grandfather's and I wear my mother's). We were always tapping our phones to check the time, and then it was insanely common to find ourselves on an unintended trip down a rabbit hole. — Charlene Gaubis
12. Build activities you enjoy with analog technology. I have hundreds of vinyl records I still play in the background. I love cooking every day while listening to NPR's All Things Considered on my old analog radio. Jokingly, I tell my wife, "I need to start cooking with Michel Martin or Maria Hinojosa." — Sergio E. Serrano
13. Find a service plan that only offers talk and text. When I'm out running errands or spending time with friends, I have no other option than to stay engaged with my surroundings. Don't get me wrong, I got the plan without internet service because it's WAY lower cost (another side benefit), but I really do feel a modicum of relief when I'm out somewhere that I'm not able to connect to Wi-Fi because it allows me to focus on what I'm doing and giving the people I'm with my full attention. — Taylor Parnell

Remember that Time When

I was hopeful about the 2021-2022 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team a year ago, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. By now, the season has been over for about 2 months and attention is being directed to the 2022-2023 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team. However, before moving forward, here's a look back at what I thought a year ago: Way Too Early Optimistic Thoughts about the 2021-2022 Iowa Men's Basketball Team.

Also, question for Future Me - did I arrive at HSSB at 5 AM today and walk my up/around³ routine before beginning my Disaster Recovery and/or Knowledge Management work? Provide an answer below, please:
Yes, I did

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1. Was the 2021-2022 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team season a success or frustration? It was a season of highs and lows. The team was riding a wave. First, there was the frustrating loss at IL to end the season (a game that was within their grasp at the end of the game), followed by a series of successes. The team found a way to win 4 games in 4 days on the road to the Big 10 Championship!! Then, the team went into their first round game in the NCAA Tournament against Richmond. Iowa had a chance to win that game but, in they end, they lost and the team that I had picked to win the NCAA Championship was knocked out of the tournament - a true bracket burster! After the game, there was such compelling sadness & disappointment on the faces of Connor McCaffery & Jordan Bohannon at the post-game press conference - truly, their faces are burned in my mind and I don't think it is likely to be an image I will ever forget. Connor declared that it was the worst game they had played that season and barely could get his words out. Because of C-19 and being granted an extra year of eligibility, Connor has the option to return for the 2022-2023 season, despite going through Senior Night festivities on February 28, 2022. Doing so is why JoBo was sitting next to him. However, when he was asked about returning, it didn't sound like he would return.
   
2. Did I attend Carver-Hawkeye Arena games with either Fred (of Fred and Julie) or Brian Rock or Alex? Did I find a way to attend multiple games with all 3 of them? Did I attend any games with Jason Lest? I attended two games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, one with "just" Brunch and one with  Brunch and Wubs.
   
3. Did I begin 6/2/2022 with my up/around³ routine before beginning my Disaster Recovery and/or Knowledge Management work? Yes, I did.
   
4. It is now 23 days (3 weeks, 2 days) until Alex and Hannah's June 25, 2022, wedding - who's ready to PARTY!! I am ready. I want to say, for the record, I believe the day will be totally awesome and exceed every expectation I could conceive in my head about their wedding day.
   

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Ds 4 Sale ... and None are Going into 830 Studios

Here's a reality check. I am not playing drums in my Ideal Band. The latest prospect I had for an Ideal Band is a group that rehearses on Saturdays. With Alex & Hannah's wedding coming up in 80 days (2 months, 2 weeks, 5 days)^*, I am not going to take on playing drums in a band. I don't want to allow myself the opportunity to lose focus. Yet, I continue to torture myself when I look at Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist > Musical Instruments for Sale. It never fails to reveal drums for sale that I will never buy. I need to be actively playing in an Ideal Band, with paying gigs, before I can justify to myself any new-to-me electronic set. That's why when I see electronic sets (the $50 bass drums ad is collateral damage because of how the search results in Facebook Marketplace where sorted), ranging from

1. $499 for the Yamaha
2. $700 for the Roland
3. $750 for the Alesis
4. $1400 for another Roland
5. $2500 for another Roland

I smirk as I know I am not buying any of them.

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What's interesting is that the $2500 price is only $.01 more than what I would pay at Guitar Center.

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^* I say this because I want to be focused on Alex's wedding and fear that any Ideal Band that comes to light in the next 80 days would only serve as a distraction. I realize that is one of my (many) character flaws in that I like shiny objects.

My Boy Becoming a Man

The most stressful thing I've done is deciding to become a homeowner. This happened on April 1, 1994. My life has not been the same since. I know there are people - I can think of 3 friends off-the-top of my head - who have moved several times since I graduated from college in May 1992. Compared to them, yes, certainly, I am boring.

I mention becoming a homeowner because there was a phone call last night with Alex, who had exciting news: Alex and Hannah [(his fiancee) + (my future daughter-in-law)] are trying to become homeowners. This is occurring 143 days (4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days) prior to their wedding on June 25, 2022.

I hope they get the house - here are some details about it:

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Overview

Welcome to Riverchase! This conveniently located townhome is close to so many amenities, and you'll have all the time to enjoy them with no exterior maintenance to worry about! Once you step inside this well kept home, you'll be greeted by beautiful new engineered hardwood floors, wonderful vaulted living space complete with a fireplace to keep you cozy on these chilly days and a freshly painted dining area and kitchen with new sink and countertops. Upstairs you'll find 2 spacious bedrooms that have been freshly painted, full bath and a washer/dryer combo in addition to the washer/dryer you'll find in the finished basement. The basement has a full bath, bedroom, new flooring and plenty of storage. Brand new roof completed 11/6/21 Schedule your showing today!

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Iowa Basketball Results from 11-12-2021

From: Iowa basketball's rout of Kansas City fueled by Keegan Murray's latest career night:

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...the Hawkeyes stormed past Kansas City for an 89-57 win Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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I went to this game with Alex & Hannah.

Catching Up

There's a lot going on. To catch up:

1. On Friday, May 7, 2021, Alex graduated from UNI - I think I mentioned this earlier
2. On Saturday, May 8, 2021, Alex proposed to Hannah, his girlfriend - I think I mentioned this earlier
3. On Monday, June 7, 2021, Alex received a job offer at Wellmark in Des Moines
4. On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, Alex accepted the job offer at Wellmark in Des Moines
Shifting to the future
5. On Friday, June 18, 2021, Alex is moving to an apartment in Des Moines
6. On Monday, June 21, 2021, Alex starts his job at Wellmark in Des Moines

Provoking Thoughts I

I came across two different websites that I wanted to at least mention. I think each are deserving of their own post.

The first is Bryan Reeves website which includes a post called "Choose Her Everyday or Leave Her". Reeves is a talented writer. He lays out a case for how to live as a husband. Basically, his argument is to choose the person you say you love. For me, it's Karen, but the words could be applied to whatever person you are with. For example, the article would instruct my son, Alex, to choose Hannah, his girlfriend. Reeves goes on to imply that you do not live your best life when you do not choose your partner every day. I have a habit of reading an article and finding a small nugget of information that I take with me after reading it. There are other points Reeves makes that I believe should be shared so that is why I created this post and am mentioning the site. Before reading the article that made me want to write this post, you MUST read "his story" here.
I read Choose Her Every Day (Or Leave Her) prior to "his story" but that was a mistake. The context I didn't have is not what I wish upon you. Only after doing so are you allowed to read additional words full of insight. I'm not even going to include a direct link to the article I read - you will have to find Choose Her Every Day (Or Leave Her), which was published on May 2, 2015, on your own. The previous sentence has enough of a clue for you to find the article.

Last in the series until ...?

Alex and Hannah, but not Megan, Karen or I, are going to this on Saturday in Des Moines: Iowa vs. UNI men's basketball: The end is nigh Saturday's showdown in Des Moines is last in the series until ...?